If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website. Resource information is provided for free as well as a chat message service. To speak directly to a professional, call 1-800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741. You are not alone and help is available..

On Monday of this week, I asked this question on my Facebook page.

James Rabe
James Rabe
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About 100 people responded on Facebook (see the actual post below). Others...many more others...answered in a private message or email. I didn't expect such a response (they're still coming in 4 days later), and I didn't  know what to do with  them.

Then I got a note about Haley Comfort Systems in Rochester, Minnesota working with The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) by participating in their Out of the Darkness Walk (at PrairieCare Medical Group in Rochester on October 2nd from 9am-12pm) and holding an Oktoberfest Party right after.

Suddenly, I knew  knew what I wanted to do with...at least with one note in particular. I checked with the person that sent it and she said go for it, "But no names."

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filipefrazao
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This woman's story is a great way to explain why its vital we do everything we can to help prevent suicide...and using it in this way honors her strength in reaching out to help people in crisis.

"James - Your question about my bully helped me make a decision today. I've kept a secret for a very long time from everyone but my therapists because I didn't want people to think I was crazy. Everyone in town knows my family, and I would never do anything to embarrass them. What I decided today was to tell someone my secret. And that's you.

A fall day in October 1996 I tried to kill myself. I tried to kill myself with sleeping pills. I'd had enough. It was my senior year at JM, and I was done with my bully. She'd see. I told myself killing myself would SHOW HER!

My mom and dad were out of town at a conference, and I laid down to sleep and thought I'd never wake up. I wasn't even scared I wasn't panicy. I was calm and ready to sleep forever.

The next afternoon I woke up angry I was awake and alive! Later that night, I was talking to my best friend and I started crying...I suddenly realized how happy I was to be alive.

James, please tell everyone how hard it is to be a kid. I believed I was better dead because of my bully. I was so tired of it all I tried to sleep forever. Please tell people how to get help, how to talk to a counselor. How to donate money to people that know hot to help people not try suicide."

It took great strength and kindness to share your story...thank you for the people you very liked helped today and thank you for trusting me.

If you'd like to help, Haley's made it easy and fun to do it at Haley's (the old Shopko North location) after the walk that day. If you can't go, please, use the buttons above to share the story so everyone knows about it.

Help Prevent Suicide

Out of the Darkness Walk

  • Saturday, October, 2, 2021, 9 am-12 noon, ,
  • PrairieCare Medical Group, 5255 Members Parkway NW, Rochester, MN 55901

Oktoberfest

  • Saturday, October 2, 2021, 1 pm-10 pm
  • Haley Comfort Systems/Purple Goat Kitchen & Bar, 3708 Broadway Ave. N., Rochester

The story in this article was heavily edited from the super long email I received. It is published in this form with the author's permission.

As always, if you have a comment, complaint, or concern about something I wrote here, please let me know: james.rabe@townsquaremedia.com

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website. Resource information is provided for free as well as a chat message service. To speak directly to a professional, call 1-800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741. You are not alone and help is available..

After all the seriousness, if you need to zone out a bit, I get it. Please feel free to scroll slowly as you enjoy,,,,

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