Saving a Life from Suicide

Essay by sthrnbelleUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, March 2004

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Every 42 seconds, someone attempts suicide; every 16.9 seconds, someone completes it. Suicide is the eighth leading cause of all deaths; third for persons aged 15 to 24. Although suicide rates over the past 40 years are relatively stable, the incidence of suicide among 15 to 24 year olds has tripled; the rate among 15 to 19 year olds has quadrupled. However, it is estimated that 80% of people, who died of suicide, mentioned it to a friend or relative before dying (Jamison 10).

Tammy fell into the 15 to 19 year old category, which put her at higher risk to commit suicide. We were sophomores in high school with everything going our way. No cares, no worries, just living it up being teenagers in high school. She was beautiful: blonde hair, blue eyes, and a great sense of humor. We had gym class together, and we were always last to be dressed out and first to be dressed again for our next class.

We had our giggles and our serious talks about guys, but never did we talk about important things in our lives, like how she felt inside or if she was even happy. Maybe that's why I missed those signals Tammy was sending out before she decided to commit suicide.

I don't think I'll ever forget the day I found out Tammy was dead and how she had died. I was in my room when my mother came in and said she had some very sad news about my friend Tammy. She proceeded to explain to me how she had gotten a phone call from a friend of mines mother, explaining how Tammy had placed a gun to her chest, pulled the trigger, clipped her heart, and bled to death on the floor in her room. I...