Sem;colon

Marisela Rodriguez
Nov 2 · 3 min read

You’re probably wondering why I chose my title to be “Sem;colon” and asking yourself if the semicolon in the middle of my title was a mistake. I am here to tell you that it was not.

Now that I have your attention, I would like to discuss a topic that is plaguing thousands of American families every day, but before I continue, allow me to give you a brief history lesson on what a semicolon is and its purpose. In literature, a semicolon is used when an author could have ended a sentence but chooses not to…

Source: The Toronto Star

For Amy Bleuel, a semicolon holds significant importance in her movement, “Project Semicolon.” Bleuel founded the project in 2013 to honor her late father, who committed suicide when she was only 18. During an interview with The Mighty, Bleuel explains her reason for choosing a semicolon. Beautifully articulated, Bleuel states “The semicolon was chosen because in literature a semicolon is used when an author chooses to not end a sentence. You are the author and the sentence is your life. You are choosing to continue.” I am not sure if Bleuel knew this when she was interviewing, but her words resonate! Those thirty-five words are a symbolic form of poetry and it gives thousands of people what they need during a dark time: HOPE.

Unfortunately, on March 23, 2017, the Project Semicolon founder cut her life short. Her death was ruled a suicide and just like her late predecessor, she fell victim to the very cause she was set out to fight.

What we know
What is suicide? Suicide is a self-inflicted form of execution and a leading cause of death in the United States. According to Save.org, suicide claims the lives of approximately 44,895 Americans per year. That’s an alarming 123 people per day, one death every twelve minutes. The most common forms of suicide are firearms, suffocation, and poisoning. As you will notice in the table below, the victims are getting younger and the suicide rates are gradually rising.

(Source: WISQARS Leading Causes Of Death Reports)

Is there a cure?
As of right now, there is no cure for individuals experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts. Antidepressants have shown to maintain depression or suicidal thoughts but warning labels on the prescription bottles make them a controversial topic. For some, the use of antidepressants seem to work, but for the rest of the world, antidepressants don’t do enough, and could potentially make suicidal thoughts even worse. A tad bit of an oxymoron if you ask me. After years of studies, you would think scientists are nearing a breakthrough in finding a more mental-health friendly solution. In an article with The Harvard Gazette, professor David Nock speaks on his approach with tackling the mystery of the disorder by combining multiple factors instead of dissecting each factor specifically. He goes on to describe an algorithm set in place that reviews medical records, and from this data collected, they can predict suicidal behavior by approximately 40%.

Raise awareness
With this mental epidemic rising year after year, we have no choice but to speak on the issue. I’m sure I speak for many when I say I come from a household where mental illness was never a topic of conversation. We need to break the cycle and approach this issue head on. So I leave you with a challenge: Don’t just expect your friends or relatives to come to you if they are having suicidal thoughts. Instead, bring the conversation to them… Make it a point to ask them, “Are you okay?”

Source: Annual Semicolon Tattoo Event Facebook Page

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, I urge you to contact a professional with the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1–800–273–8255

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