Suicide Prevention: My Personal Handbook

Every September I get frustrated by the grand, albeit well-intentioned gestures of folks doing their best to put a dent in suicide awareness and prevention. So much of it feels commercial. Mental health merch that floods my social feeds: the #youarenotalone hoodies, the smiley face purses that ‘combat stigma’, the bracelets with dainty semicolon clasps, the waterproof stickers that reminding me “it’s okay not to be okay.” The sentiment I appreciate, but the consumerism bugs me.