Im giving a speech on suicide

[Silver Blade 56]

Hello, I am Police K-9 officer Lewis with L.A.P.D., and I am a major brony. I have to talk to a class about suicide, and how bulling affects people. I thought of a great idea, to get fellow bronies to wright their opinion about suicide. Bronies are some of the kindest people ever (some can be the meanest though...)

 

Please wright things appropriate for teens (ages 13-15). If you have a really good statement, i will include all of it in my presentation (I have 1 and 1/2 hours) If you would like, i will also include Twitter, Youtube, ext. links.

 

 

Thank you for your time!

[Scootalove 10,689]

My opinion on suicide is, since it leads to a lot of people getting bullied that leads to it, it's a crazy world out there.

[Panne 1,342]

I could make really bad joke, but I won't...

 

Anyways I've never really known how to talk about suicide either... like I have many emotionally... let's go with the adjective disturbed... friends, but when ever things like that get brought up I just kind of shut down and stare straight ahead. I mean I try to cheer them up, but my level of cheerfullness is extremely shallow compared to their levels of depression.

[Silver Blade 56]

hmm, i see, do you think this is a similar reaction amongst teens?

I could make really bad joke, but I won't...

 

things like that get brought up I just kind of shut down and stare straight ahead. I mean I try to cheer them up, but my level of cheerfullness is extremely shallow compared to their levels of depression.

[Panne 1,342]

hmm, i see, do you think this is a similar reaction amongst teens?

My problem is I don't know how to deal with it, I mean we're always taught the signs of depression, but rarely are the cures/solutions every expanded upon. 

[CinnamonSwirl 90]

When I was in high school I remember certain music can trigger a mood or something. Like if I was depressed I listened to depressing music or listened to happy music when I was happy.

[Silver Blade 56]

yes, that is an issue i think i will address. thank you for your help!

My problem is I don't know how to deal with it, I mean we're always taught the signs of depression, but rarely are the cures/solutions every expanded upon.

 

music? thats something new to me....

[Theshadowmaster235 70]

Well when I was going to a public school I was bullied a lot thats why I'm currently in an online school but one thing that kept me from getting all depressed and having suicidal thoughts was that I knew that if I did let it effect me like that the bully would win and I would have died before my time( and I would have gone to hell ) instead of getting depressed I got angry not that anger solves most problems but it did solve that one but it came back to bite me in the ass later on because now I have to go to therapy. But anyways back on topic my thoughts on suicide are, there is always another way out and there are ways to overcome depressed thoughts before it becomes depression you can do the smart thing and try to find something that makes you happy or you can do the dumb thing like I did and concentrate on your anger and have to go to therapy.

[Panne 1,342]

Semi-funny story. I was bullied a lot until last year. Teachers always say violence isn't the answer, but the instant I broke a kids nose for harassing me the bullying stopped, my siblings actually began treating me with some respect, and the kid I punched got expelled for having marajuana on him that day... So yeah I don't exactly have the best advice to give...

[Silver Blade 56]

Well when I was going to a public school I was bullied a lot thats why I'm currently in an online school but one thing that kept me from getting all depressed and having suicidal thoughts was that I knew that if I did let it effect me like that the bully would win and I would have died before my time( and I would have gone to hell ) instead of getting depressed I got angry not that anger solves most problems but it did solve that one but it came back to bite me in the ass later on because now I have to go to therapy. But anyways back on topic my thoughts on suicide are, there is always another way out and there are ways to overcome depressed thoughts before it becomes depression you can do the smart thing and try to find something that makes you happy or you can do the dumb thing like I did and concentrate on your anger and have to go to therapy.

I belive i will use this if that is okay with you. I realy like the message you are getting across!

[Theshadowmaster235 70]

I belive i will use this if that is okay with you. I realy like the message you are getting across!

It's perfectly fine with me just glad I was able to help.

[Silver Blade 56]

Would you like me to cite you in any particular way? (youtube, twitter, other)

It's perfectly fine with me just glad I was able to help.

The information will be put on the board for the class to see

[Theshadowmaster235 70]

Would you like me to cite you in any particular way? (youtube, twitter, other) The information will be put on the board for the class to see

It doesn't really matter to me if you cite me or not besides I'm not really on YouTube anymore except to watch videos and I don't have twitter.

[SasQ 1,376]

First off, if this has anything to do with bullying, why to talk with kids (ages 13-15 !!!) about such horrid idea as suicide? To plant this idea into their heads or what? Why don't you rather teach them how should they deal with the bullies, with the help of the teachers, parents, and YOURS? Why don't you try to solve the root of the problem and kick out bullying from schools once and for all, instead of just fighting the possible (and worst) outcomes? "Protect and Serve", right?

 

There were several threads about bullying at these forums, so use your search box. There's also an interview with Tara Strong on YouTube. She is a voice actor lending her voice to Twilight Sparkle, and she's fighting with bullying in schools too, after the incident with Michael Morones' bullying-caused suicide.

 

But if it has nothing to do with bullying, just depression & stuff, then search through this forum for my answers in the threads with "suicide" or "depression" in their subjects, and you will find many ideas of how to help people get out of this state of mind.

 

But if you had any problems with finding ant of these content, then tell me, and I'll try to provide you with direct links.

Edited April 29, 2014 by SasQ

[The Dandy 73]

Well in relation to bullying causing suicide, although a big problem we find in this world, suicide it is ignored, rather than thought about. So only those cases where the person is attractive are really discussed, because everyone thinks it's more tragic when they are attractive (it's just a weird society thing). However, suicide as a whole needs to be talked about it, it is repressing something into the dark corners of the mind that makes it worse, not better. So, due to lack of discussion, those contemplating suicide feel worse about it, because no one talks about it, and everyone says how selfish suicide is. The goal of a society should be to help the unfortunate, not further send them into an abyss. For any other issue with a person which requires support and understanding, we accommodate for them. But, when it comes to suicide we cast them out and somehow believe that if we ignore an issue it goes away. I think it would far more beneficial for people to just talk about ways to do suicide. Immediately saying a person shouldn't do suicide before even thinking about or hearing their reasons for it, is ignorant and plain selfish. I think we all need to be willing to accept people's wish to kill themselves, it may not stop them from doing it, but they won't hate themselves for doing it. If someone is already in a situation where they think killing themselves is best, then making them feel worse is a horrible thing for us to do. But, that is why we make suicide taboo, because in order for us to discuss it, we have to look into ourselves and see the people we truly are, when we are faced with the possibility of loss, we truly see how generous we are.

 

P.s. I'm 15, so I think this has to do with 13-15 year olds

Edited April 29, 2014 by The Dandy

[Silver Blade 56]

First off, if this has anything to do with bullying, why to talk with kids (ages 13-15 !!!) about such horrid idea as suicide? To plant this idea into their heads or what? Why don't you rather teach them how should they deal with the bullies, with the help of the teachers, parents, and YOURS? Why don't you try to solve the root of the problem and kick out bullying from schools once and for all, instead of just fighting the possible (and worst) outcomes? "Protect and Serve", right?

 

There were several threads about bullying at these forums, so use your search box. There's also an interview with Tara Strong on YouTube. She is a voice actor lending her voice to Twilight Sparkle, and she's fighting with bullying in schools too, after the incident with Michael Morones' bullying-caused suicide.

 

But if it has nothing to do with bullying, just depression & stuff, then search through this forum for my answers in the threads with "suicide" or "depression" in their subjects, and you will find many ideas of how to help people get out of this state of mind.

 

But if you had any problems with finding ant of these content, then tell me, and I'll try to provide you with direct links.

Well, in LA, moast suicides are commited by 13-15yo because of bulling, also the hole point is to explain how to deal with bulling other than suicide. And remember, i dident come up with the idea to do this, the SCHOOL itself contacted L.A.P.D. im just doing my job...

I'm sorry if you don't like what I'm doing, but a am doing it to protect and serve. Also, thankyou for the advice on where to find info, i will use it, im shure.

[Discordian 6,015]

I don't really have much I can say but this is something I've told everyone who has ever mentioned suicide to me (intending to commit it or otherwise):

 

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. No matter how long the problem has been going on or might go on in the future it cannot last forever. Suicide will. It's a cease of all bodily and mental functions forever. Once you commit suicide, you don't have a choice. So long as you don't do it, you still have that choice.

Edited April 29, 2014 by Discordian

[Silver Blade 56]

BTW, i think i said something incorrect, most suicides do not come from that age rang, but sill a lot do.

[Bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb 167]

if someone says nobody will notice they are gone just remind them that everyone they were ever friends with (includes family) will be affected by it and maybe they were that one ray of hope that was keeping one of your friends from committing suicide themselves. 

[Troblems 5,617]

I was a pretty lucky kid, I was only really bullied one time.

 

When I was in 7th grade I was at a dance and I asked a boy I thought was cute to dance. I didn't know he had a girlfriend. She spent the entire night terrorizing me. I was scared out of my wits of her, and she said if I told anyone, she would get her high school friends to beat me up. I went home and cried my eyes out to my parents and Monday morning we went straight to the principals office to get it straightened out. She ended up getting suspended for three days, and nothing ever came of it afterwards.

 

About 10 years after that incident, I went to a friends going away party, and she was there. I had a chance to speak with her that night. She didn't remember me, but she wasn't surprised because she had gotten suspended a lot during middle school. She also apologized to me. By that time I was over it, but it still made me feel good. It also turned out that one of her high school friends was my neighbor that I had grown up with.

 

Honestly, the best thing that I would say is that it gets better. High school is a pretty lousy time for most people, but while it may seem like it's carrying on forever, it's over pretty quick. 

Edited April 29, 2014 by Troblems

[An Old Head 4,816]

@@Silver Blade,

 

Hi there - just a heads-up that your topic has been moved to General Discussion. Even if it concerns Bronies, this is still a site-wide question, so it's better off here. Thanks for understanding ^^ 

[~Rule 63~ Lyeco 527]

No.1 Source of bullying which makes people suicide

[Diva Pony 345]

Hello Officer.  I am an old lady, not a kid and I've only been on this forum for a couple of months. 

 

I would be very curious if the class you are talking to is a class of students or police officers- you didn't exactly say.

 

Unfortunately many of the young people that I have spoken to or read posts about on this forum are afraid to be who they are and like what they do (such as MLP).  Some have the issues at school, some at home and some both places.  Some of them get bullied at home by siblings.  Sometimes the parent is so freaked out their son likes what they consider a girlie show that it causes them all sorts of grief.  So when you don't have anywhere to go to be safe except for a forum a feeling of helplessness ensues.

 

Again, I'm not sure who you are talking to but the people who need to be reached are the parents and the teachers.  Bullying cannot be allowed in schools under any circumstances.  The way to teach kids not to hate is to teach them how to love.  The parents would probably be harder to reach but at least if school can be safe and fun for all you might find there are fewer suicides and fewer kids going berserk and killing other kids. 

 

It's just my two cents but if you felt you had no one to turn to and no place to go........it's almost like a prison that you can't break out of, isn't it?   Except there is one way out and unfortunately too many choose it because they can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.  They don't believe things will get better.  You and I know things will get better but tell that to a teenager who is afraid to walk down the hall at school and gets no reassurance or comfort at home. 

 

Please don't get me wrong- I think it's great that you are doing this no matter who it is that you are addressing.  I just hope that you can get to the ones that need to listen.

Edited April 29, 2014 by Diva Pony

[Night Shine 767]

I think the biggest thing to help with suicide is to give any depressed person hope. Depression often fades after teenage years, and it is highly unlikely that it will continue. Still, to a kid or a teenager that may as well just be a useless statistic...if they need immediate hope, their is a radical but effective solution.

 

An interesting fact that I learned while turning to an extremist brony-centric mentality in order to cope with depression was that sleep deprivation is highly effective in temporarily alleviating depressive symptoms. In fact, clinical studies have shown that it has a 60% success rate in alleviating depressive symptoms when patients were kept awake for a full night.¹ I had unintentionally used this method to get a temporary 'high' every night, and by combining it with brony-based optimistic idealism, I managed to fight my depression. However, this had pretty bad long-term consequences, and ended up worsening my mood during the entirety of the day. My point regarding that unusual method of fighting depression is that, if someone is seriously pondering suicide because they can't feel positive emotion, it's better to miss one night of sleep than the rest of your life.

 

With that aside, I will now attempt to offer some much less radical advice...x3

 

First of all, be warned that for every time you utter the word "bully," teenagers and especially pre-teens will take you progressively less seriously. This may not be universally true, but it seems to be highly accurate from my own personal experiences. If you do have to use the word "bully," put it on the same level as a word that is actually respected, a crime or other misdemeanor that kids understand as a serious issue.

 

Second, make sure to never say that anyone can just "snap out of" depression by sheer force of will. If you do, you audience may implicitly hear that they could have fixed their problem all along and didn't, making them feel guilty. Again, my only source is personal experience, as this is a source of insecurity regarding my depression.

 

While this third point may only work on an interpersonal level, encouraging people to feel important and like they have worth is a big deal. Depression tends to generate feelings of worthlessness, which are difficult to defeat. Be careful, though, not to try and guilt-trip people out of suicide by saying "it's selfish" or "why would you do that?" or "it would hurt everyone you love." Depression sees the world as divided into two camps: Pain, and Not Pain. Guilt is just another form of Pain to a seriously depressed person.

 

Lastly (although this ties into the last one), emphasize how much others are willing to help. "I would be willing to bet that everyone in this room is happy you're alive" may be a good line, although it treads a little too close to the whole "guilting" line of thought, if taken too far...sorry, I'm off on a tangent. That was my last point anyway.

 

 

Someone please correct me as soon and as clearly as possible if any of my advice is counterproductive or has unfortunate implications that I did not realize while typing this post.

 

That said, good luck on your speech, Silver Blade! I hope it goes well.

Edited April 29, 2014 by The Late Night Shine

[KRAKELINGCATcarnage 57]

I dont know how to survive like this. i have been trough many things and i now know why im so depressed. people shouldnt make the same mistake i did in my life. Goodluck on your speech bro