Claire Hall knew that the number of transgender people who contemplate suicide is as high as 90 percent. She thought she would be one of the ones in the 10%. And that was true for a good while. Then pressures from her job, tension caused by the pandemic, and personal troubles like a car that died suddenly all conspired to send her to the the ER, and then into counseling for depression that had paved the way for suicidal thoughts.
People assume that if one of their friends or family was feeling so bad that they were considering suicide that they would see it and be able to get their friend or family member help. But too often people who are contemplating taking their own life don’t give those around them any clues. Sophie Marie was there at one time. Ready to check out and end it all. Read today’s blog to learn how she came back from the edge.
Suicide is a problem among members of the transgender community. Transitions that are well planned often go smoothly but now and then someone’s life seems to be on a good path, living in their preferred gender and suddenly you learn that they took their own life. If things are not going well and they are losing family, friends and their job it’s understandable that the “black dog” of depression could take them over. The Artist D last had suicidal thoughts in their teen years. Today they write their thoughts on suicide, within and outside the trans community.
As someone who has fought the Darkness of suicidal thoughts Sophie Lynne is very qualified to write about the subject in the wake of the recent celebrity suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. Transgender people are very prone to the depression that can lead to taking one’s own life and Sophie has been at that place, in that moment, more than once. What pulled her back from the edge? What is needed to prevent suicides? She addresses that question and more in today’s blog.
Cate O’Malley was moved to write today’s post when she read about the suicide of a promising young trans woman who seemed to have everything going for her. She had the support of her family and friends, was taking hormones and had her surgery scheduled when out of nowhere she took her own life. Cate wonders why she would chose to go through that one way door into eternity, and she wonders how many other trans people faced with more negativity than this girl dealt with have also contemplated taking their own lives. It’s not a cheery upbeat post but it is something we need to be aware of and try to prevent.
Today our Page Pundit reviews a book that resonates with her personally. It ‘s The Suicidal Mind by Edwin S. Shneidman, a look into the psyche of people who seek relief from a life that they torments them. Sophie decided to review the book since the torment of too many people within the trans community turn to suicide when they can’t live as their true selves. The book, and the review, dip into what Sophie calls “the Darkness” and the author has named the “pyschache.” If you have wondered how it could be possible to take your own life you can gain some insight into that in both this review and the book itself.
What do you do when the path you have chosen, the path you must follow, takes you to territory that hurts? Takes you to a place where abuse and disrespect are common treatment and there is no, or very little relief. Our dear Sophie Lynne took the path she had to follow and it lead her to that place. A place where her family stepped away from her. A place where crying herself to sleep was the norm. She tried and tried but there was pain. So, she made a plan. A plan for a solemn morning in the peace of Valley Forge Park. But, when that morning came and she was there, alone with the pre-dawn wildlife and her thoughts — she let go of her plan.
The recent suicide of a young trans woman who was faced with total rejection of her gender from her parents has caused a stir across the world. No one should have to believe that only ending it all will give them peace. While many call for more education and more support for trans teens The Artist D says it’s not that simple and other things will be required to stop people from ending their lives.
An active member of the TG community in the Mid-Atlantic region, a person who seemed to be happy and adjusting well to her transition, committed suicide this month. Sophie Lynne, her friend, had attended Southern Comfort with Lisa Empanada at the beginning of the month and then had to face losing her on September 16th. Why did it happen? What could have been done to prevent her act? Sophie touches on all that but mainly she grieves for a departed sister.
