By Mica Soffer, Publisher and Editor of COLlive.com
Although we write and post stories that thousands of people read every day, the op-ed you are now reading is a first for me. Because I am speaking to you now in my own voice, stating my own opinion about something that is troubling me.
The issue I want to address is suicide. It’s painful even to write that word. But it has become equally painful not to write it. We can no longer afford silence.
I realize that a lot of people wonder if suicide is really such an issue in the community, and to tell you the truth, I envy those people. I’m fairly certain that if I didn’t have the job that I have I would also wonder. So let me tell you a little bit from my unique perspective.
The emails and calls come in all too frequently. Another young person is gone–not from a sickness or an accident, but by their own hand (may Hashem have mercy.) I hear things that I wish I didn’t hear and I know things I wish I could get out of mind. The public has the “luxury” of reading carefully crafted obituaries on COLlive.com. They have the luxury of not believing that which is too horrible to believe. But as the person who hears the news before most of you, please believe me that the problem is bigger than you probably think.
Statistics aren’t really collected in our community. But we know that suicide is now the second leading cause of death among young people in the country, surpassed only by accidents.
Rabbonim, educators and health experts in our community are all saying that we are facing a literal mageifa.
How many more precious young lives need to be lost before we collectively as a community cry out that enough is enough and at least try to do something?
Solving this crisis will not be simple. Suicide is the symptom of a larger issue. However, in my humble opinion, we as a community must show that we are taking this issue seriously. We must do something. And this is why I am writing this op-ed now although the issue has been weighing on me heavily for years. Finally, there is an opportunity for us to do something.
This coming Sunday, February 23, Dr. Eli Rosen‘s Neshamos organization is hosting a suicide prevention training course at the Razag Hall taught by Rabbi Yarden Blumstein, a Shliach in Michigan and certified “LivingWorks” trainer who has trained nearly 2,000 people in suicide prevention.
The first three sessions take place 8:30 AM–11:30 AM, 12:30 PM–3:30 PM, and 4:30 PM–7:30 PM. Men and women will be seated separately with a mechitzah.
These sessions will have more in-depth training and require a reservation. Reservations can be made by emailing [email protected]
At 8:30 PM that evening the entire community is invited to join a final training session.
We cannot solve this problem in a day. But we can show that we take it seriously enough to show up and learn skills that may save a life.
I am hoping that the entire community, especially our leadership, will attend and send a message that we are ready to do what it takes to start addressing this issue.
And smile at people on the street, try to be friendly and kind, a small connection can make a big difference. Not only for teens and young people who need help, one never knows how much someone can use a little bit of connection and caring.
I’ve been that person who really needs it.
Greet everyone with a 😃 people need the human connection even though everyone look a perfect on whatsapp-they need it to be real
we just have to realize how much hashem loves us and the everything will be ok. thats spiritual!
how many times have we heard that chabad that its chachmah bina daas: love, peace and understanding.
Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge
I see the horrible bullying going on, on whatsapp groups and social media – be careful how you speak to others – you have no idea what else people are battling – this may be the last straw!
So we only start getting concerned when people are dying? Otherwise it’s okay to trample on others?
I’m being facetious, you’re obviously not suggesting it’s fine. My point is that all this talk about suicide awareness is really just the tip of the iceberg about how much room for improvement there is with our interpersonal skills. We need to focus on appreciation others’ and their lives, not just preventing them from dying.
How much more impactful if this can be aired globally thank you for your incredible dedication to our community
A parent
So much needed on this topic all.over . Please post video about this after the event
Thank you for shedding light on this crucial issue!
thank you for caring. may many others follow.
Thank you for having the courage to talk about an issue that so many don’t want to talk or read about.
There is another issue which doesn’t get the attention it deserves that is linked with suicide, and that is child abuse.
And many times the two issues are linked together. V’da”L.
Most definitely a must article to speak about , especially before it get’s to late chas v’sholom!
Wow – beautiful to see our community opening up to such topics.
Thankyou for writing with a name as it add legitimacy
Thank you for posting with a name.
The huge elephant in the room is addiction. Yes addiction. You heard me right. Suicide is but a symptom as the author put so well. Some people are powerless and need to numb their pain with destructive substances or behaviors so they don’t feel their feelings or they seek a spiritual connection or a high so they use their drug of choice which takes them to an alternative reality because their real reality is just too painful to deal with or face up to. The problem is that addiction doesn’t have a cure but people can recover if they really… Read more »
That people turn to as an escape when they can’t cope. So in a sense it’s also symptom of other causes that need to be addressed. Abuse, neglect, bullying, tragedies, traumas, mental-health and other disabilities all foster addictive tendencies.
Yes a lot of times it was either abuse or trauma or other mental health issues underlying the addiction but sometimes there’s no rhyme or reason a person is just an addict because they were created that way
another culprit is eating disorders..which i feel like is spoken about way less than addiction, theres such a bigger community and support network for addiction which is a huge blessing
I think people may find it endearing or cool to be crude and sarcastic, but I will say that there
Can you give the rest of us insight to what are the most common specific things that you know that pushed people to do it (particularly in our community, not necessarily nation-wide)?
Schools should creatively fill the time so teachers can attend. Either dismisss early, have an assembly, joint fun activity, etc. ALTERNATIVELY, bochurim or HS girls can take over a class for 3 hours. Show the teachers and students that this is an important topic. Teachers can make or break a child’s life – in the name of molding them into a chossid. This should be mandatory for educators.
While it’s great that a workshop is happening, how about solving the issue from the root of it? I can say from experience, most high schools and yeshivas don’t approach the topic of suicide because it’s such a “touchy” subject. I personally had friends that contemplated suicide a lot, and I can’t help but wonder how the situation would look like if yeshivas and schools employed social workers. While it’s true that social media can be a side factor, I say from experience that it’s growing up as a free thinker amongst a strictly chabad or frum in general environment.… Read more »
We should be talking to and having workshops in high schools and providing a safe environment for them to talk about suicidal thoughts such as a hot line they could call anonymously.
And the root may be, in part at least and for chabad, from a confusing environment – what exactly is lubavitch today? What answers to “meaning”? What exactly does or “should” a person belong? What answers to the desire to belong? What exactly is the community to which one can belong? What answers that desire for belonging? Lubavitch used to be Rebbe, now it’s a work in progress and while in progress can be VERY destabilizing. Schools, homes, governance, rules, truths… they’re all in flux.
It is sad to see how desperate people are and feel that their life has no meaning and this is the only way out. We can all do something about it. Kiruv and Ahavas Yisroel start at home. Reach out to your neighbors, friends and relatives. A smile or a genuine good word make a difference. Make sure your children are nice to everyone, especially those that look like they need a boost. It doesn’t take much to create a culture of care and concern. A smile and a good word go a long way. The life you save, may… Read more »
As long as one accepts that another person’s self worth doesn’t have to match what you consider worthy, including anything of religious belief. If you make room for another’s truth and value As They Are, they’d feel respected and that they matter.
I have seen this when I was growing up and now I am seeing this as a parent where the principal’s and teacher’s are passive aggressive bullies and have no accountability.
They can scream at a kid, put him down verbally or give him the “disdainful eye glance” etc
A TEACHER CAN HELP BUILD THE CHILD’S FERLINGS OF SELF WORTH!!! AT LEAST DON’T DESTROY IT!!!!!!!!!
They may have the child’s destruction chas vesholom..on their hands…. and will have to give an accounting.
Operation Survival has all the info you need! They have served our community for many years bring much needed services and awareness!
They can help concerned parents, teachers and friends!!!
Located right in Crown heights! 718 735 0200- do it before it’s too late!
Two long-term critical countermeasures (which go hand-in-hand): 1. Tell your kids, “I love you!” Let them hear it from you all the time. I know it sounds obvious, but a lot of young people grow up truly not feeling that anyone really loves them and that they have no true friends in the world who will be there for them–even to just LISTEN 2. Young people need to know that no matter what they ever do, say or think, there will always be at least one person they can ALWAYS talk to and say ANYTHING, and WITHOUT being judged. At… Read more »
Avi Fishoff and Twisted Parenting.
We often mumble the words of chassidus but if we really internalized them the treatment towards others would change and the suicide rate would drop.
the sad fact is that most of the suicides in the frum community, happened AFTER rehab, therapy, relatives offering to help… unfortunatly the frum suicides fall in to 2 catagories . post drugs…addictions which by the time you are really ready to listen your brains are fried ” hatzad hashove shebohen shedarkan lehazik ushemirasan olechoh. the 2nd catagory are neshamos w serious mental health issues trapped in a human body in a world that doesnt work for them also post therapy meds….the only answer is TANYA
How can Tanya help me? I’m stuck between not being able and not willing to apply Tanya methodologies. Tanya’s approach requires devotion and resources, in simply not up for it.
But only if used as the Alter Rebbe prescribes. In the Hakdomo it says you need the attention of a capable chossid, e.g. therapist/mashpia. Don’t give up on yourself, don’t try to go it alone. Reach out for help to another, qualified, person. You will be surprised how much progress you can make in a relatively short amount of time.
Sorry but really foolish and naive to say the only answer is Tanya. Trust me, I teach Tanya every single day and know the beauty of Tanya. Yet it’s not a self-help book, but a guide to serving Hashem properly, and how to deal with struggles that come up. It is NOT meant to solve people with mental-health issues, whom their Nefesh Habehamis is severely unhealthy. What I would tell you, is that a solution does exist in Tanya and it needs to be practiced by me and you (not by the victim). And that is, what it says in… Read more »
We are taught that every Neshama is a unique diamond, a gift from Hashem. A diamond requires special care to keep shining bright and alive.
I struggle with suicidal thoughts yet feel the inner shame and conflict of playing G-D.
One can look picture perfect- a mask behind the pain.
Reach out to someone without judgment. It can be your own family member, friend, student.
“A Smile a Day can keep Suicide at Bay”.
Can one smile really make all the difference?
A smile or reaching out can only have a positive effect.
There’s no cure to suicide..
We have to work on awareness, prevention and proper treatment.
One domino. Thats all it takes to make the world of a difference.
Yes a smile makes a difference.
I used to have one of my guests with was a bit off. A few years later I saw him crossing as I waited for the light to change driving my car. We made eye contact and gave him a friendly smile. I met again when this fellow and he told me he was contemplating suicide but that smile I gave him changed his mind. I was blown away how powerful a smile can be.
Yes, a smile can make a difference.
I contemplated suicide yet didn’t follow through after engaging in a pleasant conversation with the uber driver, a complete stranger!
Also when one gets busy helping others it helps them, just as the Rebbe said. They don’t focus on themselves as much, this has helped me many times, extreme cases may need medication and everyone who needs should get therapy obviously, but if people focused on helping others help others that would be a great way to help them cope. Kind of like teaching someone how to fish instead of giving them a handout. Also Miriam Adahan’s books are great.
I am by nature a fairly positive person b”H. As a young Aguna I spent hours & hours seeking help only to find so, so many rabbanim who either didn’t know how to help or were really cold and couldn’t be bothered. The pain & loneliness was so unbearable that I often had suicidal thoughts…..the only thought that really stopped me was when I imagined how if I would follow through with it Chas vShalom , then the ‘rabbanim’would snidely think ‘see she was rly just crazy …who knows if she was even telling the truth at all”. Yes the… Read more »
When speaking with our ‘disconnected’ teenager, tell them you love them and are here for them; also smile and touch them. It could be a stroke on a cheek, arm or hug frequently. Be yourself, listen, validate. Have family time without cellphone.