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Hi. It's #WorldSuicidePreventionDay 
I'm about to be serious and do a thread. Apologies in advance. Last year, I lost my 19 year-old nephew to suicide. Before he died, I spent so much time worried sick about him. I knew he felt alone and "other," as a gay boy in the deep south.
I'm about to be serious and do a thread. Apologies in advance. Last year, I lost my 19 year-old nephew to suicide. Before he died, I spent so much time worried sick about him. I knew he felt alone and "other," as a gay boy in the deep south.
Many of the people around him - including some of the closest people to him - found it hard to accept him for who he was. He was bullied, had trouble in relationships, and he sought relief in drugs and alcohol. I spoke to him on the phone for about an hour the night he died -
We talked about hopeful things. The future. Him maybe moving to LA. I think he was trying to make ME feel okay. Because he was a selfless, sensitive, creative, sweet, funny boy. And though I had been afraid for him, I thought that night, that maybe he had turned a corner.
The next morning, I got the worst phone call of my life. Suicide rips through those left behind like a shotgun blast. I will never not feel that pain. You learn to live with it, but it always hurts. It wasn't my fault, but I will always blame myself. Because it WAS preventable.
I know it's hard to talk to each other right now. I know sometimes it feels like we can't have the simplest of conversations without name-calling and moral platitudes, but I beg each and every one of you to listen. Please. If someone is hurting, try to listen without judgement.
If someone who loves you tells you who they are - that's who they are, okay? And you telling them that who they are is "wrong" or "bad" can create a chasm in them that will never close.
If you can't love without judgment, let that person know the fault is yours, not theirs.
If you can't love without judgment, let that person know the fault is yours, not theirs.
AND If you tell someone who you are, and they can't support you, the fault is theirs, not yours. If you feel alone, if you can't sleep, if you're in pain, if you're not getting what you need from the people around you, please PLEASE reach out. Tell someone what you're thinking.
If you're having suicidal thoughts, please get help. Please call/text any of the numbers below.
The world is better with you in it.
Don't leave your aunt all alone doing twitter threads on #WorldSuicidePreventionDay
Nobody wants that.
The world is better with you in it.
Don't leave your aunt all alone doing twitter threads on #WorldSuicidePreventionDay
Nobody wants that.
In the US: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 for free and confidential support. In Spanish, call 888-628-9454.
TrevorLifeline, a suicide prevention counseling service for the LGBTQ community, can be reached at 866-488-7386.
TrevorLifeline, a suicide prevention counseling service for the LGBTQ community, can be reached at 866-488-7386.
The Crisis Text Line provides a live, trained crisis counselor via a simple text for help. If you are in the US or Canada, text 741741. In the UK, text 85258, in Ireland text 50808. Befrienders Worldwide can connect you with help anywhere in the world: https://help.befrienders.org/ 
