Out of the Shadows 2020

Today, September 10th, is World Suicide Prevention Day, and the start of World Suicide Prevention Week.  I spend time in the dark places myself and know both how fast and easy the plummet to the bottom can be and how very hard it is to see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel much less climb out again. 

Most of you know I do voluntary work with Lifeline Australia, a telephone crisis line.  Almost everyone who rings those lines with thoughts of suicide has at least a degree of ambivalence.  I, and all the other volunteers, will work on that ambivalence to keep the caller safe for the moment/the day and to help them see and consider other options.   Lifeline believes that suicide is often preventable and that the start of the journey to safety can be only a phone call away.  It is often a long and painful journey but should never ever be one that people feel condemned to walk alone.

Here in Australia suicide is still the leading cause of death for people aged under 44.  More people die from suicide each year than are killed on the roads.  Sadly the numbers of people we lose to suicide are rising again.  Which, given that I suspect suicide is under reported, is scary.  Without question Covid 19 is going to increase those numbers, across all age groups and without regard to gender, or sexuality.  

I don't think that all suicide is wrong, particularly given our euthanasia laws.  However, it is such a final decision that I hope it is not the first option considered or tried.  And, as a solution to a temporary problem, I do think it is wrong.  Right or wrong it is always a tragedy.  A tragedy for the person who had, or believed they had, no other options and a tragedy for those they leave behind.  And the ripples from that tragedy encompass a lot of people.  Research shows that each time someone suicides, there are up to 135 people affected.  In addition there is strong evidence that if someone close to you dies by suicide your own chances of taking that path are dramatically increased.

In 2011 Lifeline began  national suicide prevention walks - 'Out of the Shadows and into the Light'. The walks begin before dawn and continue into the growing light.  It remembers those lost and those bereaved by suicide, with an additional focus on raising awareness.  The symbolism of starting the walk in the dark and progressing into the light of a new day means a lot to me.  Some centres start their walk later (ten or eleven) to attract more people and publicity.  I can see why, but am glad that our walks start in the dark.


 Restrictions caused by Covid 19 meant that the walk was in doubt this year.  Which worried me.  I have made a private commitment (after missing the first) that I would attend all the subsequent walks.  However, at almost the last moment, it was decided that the walk would go ahead in Canberra again this year.  Physically distanced, but emotionally joined.

Which saw me heading off again before dawn this morning.  The issue is much more important than I am.    So I walked.  Slowly just as I do every year.  Stopping to take photos.

There were brief speeches.  Some of the names and ages of those lost were read out - which I find moving.  No longer nameless, but identified and missed...  This morning the ages ranged from 16 to 72.  One person was identified only as forever young which made me think 'They will not grow old, as we that are left grow old'.  There was also an acknowledgement that there are names we do not know, which doesn't diminish their loss.

A musician played a song 'Treading Water' which had particular significance for him, and which made many eyes leak.  His friend had identified this song as his favourite on the album, and died by suicide in the studio in which it was recorded.


Come walk with me, through the cool dawn, into the hopeful light of a new day.

At home - just before I headed off. 
 

 

I liked the moon, shining through the clouds reminding us that there was still light - and that our glasses were half full rather than empty.

 

You will notice that masks were rarely worn.  Hand sanitiser was used, and contact details for everyone was recorded.  My city has had no cases of Covid 19 for close to two months and a level of complacency has crept in.
 

 It was, as it always is, an emotionally charged walk.  Tears were shed, but there was also laughter.
 

RU OK day (September 14) is also celebrated in World Suicide Prevention Week.  A  simple question we should be asking family, friends and colleagues every day.

Some services and links which may be useful for Australian readers include:

Lifeline 1311 14

Beyond Blue

Suicide Call Back Service

I am putting up this post later than I would have liked and apologise, but I went on to do a shift on the crisis line after the walk.

Stay well, stay safe. 

Sunday Selections #497

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.

Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.
  
The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle.
 
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen. 
 
I usually run with a theme. Last week I reveled in Winter.  This week it is Spring on display.  All of these shots are taken from our garden and there is more coming out each day.  The vandal birds are also at work, and my pump action water pistol lives loaded and ready beside the front door.

 Jazz comes outside with me for half an hour or so in the early morning.  I was not grateful when he belly-bombed this shot.  The next shot shows a ginger interloper who visits the garden quite regularly.  Jazz is unimpressed.

 The first of our tulips to flower.  Over the coming weeks I hope to see a lot more.

Yes I know I have inflicted rather a lot of photos on you.  Again.  I have discovered that if I wander the garden with a camera I see beauty - instead of the work which needs to be done.

And as an aside.  Australia's floral emblem is the Golden Wattle.  September 1st is Wattle Day.  We currently celebrate Australia Day on January 26th.  Our first people refer to that date as Invasion Day, and there is a growing push to change the date.  I would love to see Australia Day moved to Wattle Day, in the interests of unity and hope for the future.

I hope your week is blooming lovely.

Where are the Words For Wednesday?

 

Huge thanks to  Lissa who gave us the prompts last month.

 
This month River will be providing the prompts on her blog
October 2020:  Messymimi again.
November 2020:  Margaret Adamson and her friends will be providing the prompts, but they will appear here.
December 2020:  Me again.

This meme definitely falls into the 'more the merrier' category.  I hope that lots of you will visit River this month and play - or applaud.  She schedules her posts and the first prompts are already here.

Technical Difficulties

At the moment I am having to prove I am not a robot to comment anywhere and, if the comments are embedded (ie with the option to reply) I simply cannot comment.

I hope it can be sorted quickly, but may be unable to comment for a while

If anyone has any bright ideas I would love to hear them.

I use Firefox, and have diligently cleaned the cache.

Thank you for your suggestions.  Firefox Support have given me at least a temporary solution.  I still have to prove I am not a robot - but can comment again.

Sunday Selections #496

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.

Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.
  
The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle.
 
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen. 
 
I usually run with a theme. We have had a very mild winter, which has made me worry about the spring and summer to come. (Sadly the Bureau of Meteorology has indicated today that our spring will be warmer than usual.) However, in the last week or so winter showed us that she is not gone.

Last weekend was decidedly chilly for much of south-eastern Australia.  My city even had flurries of snow, though it didn't stick. 

It did stick on the nearby hills though.

There is only a very little bit of snow on that hill - but it was close to home.  A small bit of my garden and the neighbour's front yard are in the foreground of this photo.

 I loved the reflected sunrise on the snow.

The days after the snow fell were sunny and still.  They were chilly though.  And of course the mad woman and her camera froze bubbles again.

These bubbles and the ones in the next lot lasted over forty-five minutes.  The chicken wire you can see is our hopeful attempt at discouraging the sulphur crested vandals who are again beheading/shredding and digging up our spring bulbs.  I would find it a little easy to bear if they ate the plants they destroy.

 Can you see the holes in the bubble above?  Proof that it had indeed frozen.

The frost hit the anemones hard.

I thought they were spectacular - and they were completely undamaged by the frost.

I know that lots of people are not fans of winter.  I am, and am grateful for its beauty - which I hope you all find in your week to come.

PS:  I have noticed this morning that I am having a heap of trouble commenting on blogger owned blogs.  I have discovered that I need to say that I am not a robot for the comment to take.  I do hope this is a temporary glitch.