This month is especially tough at some parts with it being a reminder of two deaths by suicide for two Jeffs in my past. Both didn't know each other, and died a year apart from each other in the month of June. This month is also Men's Mental Health Month, which makes sense for me, making it a difficult month for men at some parts of their lives.
I just hope that both Jeffs families are taking care of themselves. Having someone taken away from self harm is the worst feeling because it was a hopeless fight that was lost and nothing could be done about it now. The hardest thing was society's feelings and misconception with suicide, because it is not acceptable, and understandably so. It is the worst crime against oneself, because self harm is harming our own lives for a temporary answer. Our society also immediately believe that those we lost to suicide went in hell and not accepted to heaven. This makes me sad. I somehow still believe that not all suicides end in hell, because the fight is (as I myself struggled with it), excruciatingly rough.
Both Jeffs that I knew were both Christians and they had a rough time with the religion because they were both alcoholics, and were condemned. There were struggles beyond my own understanding that they faced alone and they didn't want anyone to know. From what they told me was they were kicked out of several groups of Christian believers because they relapsed and didn't seek help or the help they sought didn't work out. It was partly the fault of both Jeffs, but I also didn't know the full spectrum of their situations. They hid their fights, and tried their best to seem strong and to keep going, but eventually they lost the fight.
I just hope this month brings men (and also women) to seek mental health more seriously, no matter what state of mind one is in. Especially for men this month, but I won't forget the women as well. It is imperative to know one's mental health even as your self esteem tells you that you can handle things alone. Sometimes our own ego lies and we are behooved to seek help because we cannot handle things alone in the long run.
I hope this month of June brings people together in the talk about mental health amongst men, especially those facing other ailments and conditions or addictions. I hope healing for us all, and I pray for hope for us all as well.
#JustWrite