So it’s September – and for the Grieve To list – that means our thoughts turn to suicide.
Yep – if you didn’t know – September is Suicide Awareness Month – it’s also National Suicide Prevention Month and in fact right now – between the 8th and the 14th – it’s actually National Suicide Prevention Week. If you are in any doubt as to the impact suicide has on society – spend a minute here: Suicide Statistics – the rate inches up every year – and as a middle aged white male – well – I’m slap bang in the highest risk group.
We’ve written about suicide a fair bit on the playlist – sharing tracks from Avicii and Scott Hutchison’s Frightened Rabbit as they took their own lives – even commenting on the passing of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain through the lens of Chloé Charody’s beautiful Variations on an Epitaph – and of course – we’ll always come back to Robb Murphy’s insightful Sleep Tonight and the work he did with the Belfast Samaritans.
I guess the point I’m making here is – Suicide is shit – it’s shit all round and yet – there is something we can do – and that’s talk about it – don’t hide it – don’t stigmatize it and treat it as something shameful. While there are thousands of online resources for people thinking of suicide – it’s often the case that they don’t go looking for them. There are similar resources for those who love someone they think might be considering suicide – just go google: “what should I do if I think my friend is thinking of suicide?”
Which brings us to this week’s track.
As with last week we’re making a break from the traditional maudlin song and moving to a far more accessible – (at least for people under 30) – acoustic hip hop sound. Part of a broader story told throughout the album, Open Letter is indeed directed to God & anybody who has walked this path will recognize the sentiment and the anguish.
I’ve been sitting on this track for a while, knowing that I might bring it out during September. What resonated with me was this:
“My whole album tells one big story front to back, and this song is actually the lead character talking to God, but it is truly my internal battles and me crying out to God. I was even asked to perform this song at suicide prevention meeting; I had the chance to connect, cry, and hug many parents that lost their children to suicide.”
And that’s why this track is on the list – it’s the hook – its the hook that’s going to stay with you:
“I promise it’ll be OK – don’t be afraid.
I promise I’ll make a way and you’ll see brighter days…”
Because it doesn’t matter what you believe – whether you worship a cross, a star, a crescent or a standing stone in a field – sometimes all you need to hear is that it is going to be OK. And again – it doesn’t matter whether you necessarily believe that at the time – the fact that someone’s there – talking with you, telling you what perhaps – they believe – then maybe – just maybe that’s enough to get you through.
Here’s the number and link to The Samaritans UK
From any phone just dial – 116 123
https://www.samaritans.org/
Here’s the link to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
1-800 273 8255
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
