Rest In Peace Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain

Rest in Peace to Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain that took their lives. I’m exasperated over all of these FaceBook statuses. People pretending to care about others. Posting hotline phone numbers. Really phone numbers? How about post your own number? Or send someone a message that’s hurting to check on them. Okay? These suddenly caring people see a person in distress they are the first to not just kick a person when they are down but laugh, joke, isolate, stigmatize and demonize any person who doesn’t fit inside this perfect box.

People everyday suffer from depression. Not everyone is happy daily. Yes people are suicidal and take their own lives. Stop acting surprised when the person you bullied, harassed, turned your back on, kicked when they were down takes their life. That misperception that they haven’t sought help or haven’t received treatment is just that an assumption. They probably called you and you were too busy judging or talking about them on a Facebook status to pick up the phone or answer their inbox for help.

Many suffer in silence for years while you post statuses saying you’d never date or befriend a person that suffers from mental health conditions. While you call them crazy and other hurtful names. Remember you told them to get over it? It’s ironic most times the people that say these hurtful things also suffer from severe mental illness as well. Please stop with the fake caring. The world and so many people are messed up. You don’t really care at all. If you did instead of a FaceBook post you’d at least have the decency to call and check on a friend. You won’t though so stop being fake. Let’s be real and actually show compassion not just a FaceBook post. 💔💔💔

In Memory of Kate Spade: Suicide Has Many Faces

Kate Spade, an innovative designer that created a fashion empire that transcends generations, was found dead on Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in what police characterized as a suicide by hanging. This left many on Social Media to ponder: What does depression look like? What does that woman that has everything look like? What does a woman that suffers from deep sadness and loneliness look like? What does the face of someone who suffers silently with grief and loss look like? What does a person who has contemplated taking their own life look like? That face has many covers. Yesterday, that face was Kate Spade’s.  Oftentimes, you just don’t know the battles that people go through behind closed doors. Stop making assumptions and show compassion. It’s okay to call, text, or send a message to someone just to ask how they are doing. Simple empathy and love makes a difference. Rest in Peace Kate Spade.  May your legacy continue to carry on and may your death encourage others to seek help if needed. Suicide and depression has many faces. #RIP #KateSpade

If you or anyone you know is contemplating suicide please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and seek help. Your life matters. Call 1-800-273-8255 or visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.  The lifeline is available 24 hours everyday.

 

Love,
Simply Ebony

The Day I Decided to End My Life

I’ll never forget the day April 5, 2012 was the day I decided to end my life. I decided on this day to end my Air Force career. I was suffering from chronic health issues and was facing an uphill battle in the military with my First Sergeant. We were friends previously and she said to me: “I’ve never seen you this sick before.” At the time she was going out of her way to make my life miserable because she didn’t understand “why” I was constantly sick and in the hospital. I would ultimately undergo surgery for a Gall Bladder Removal, Appendix Removal, and an Uterine Myomectomy to remove Endometriosis and Fibroids. If you have experienced any of these at one time imagine suffering through it in the course of a year. I was tired and felt like my body was failing me. God had other plans for my life and sent the Chaplain to intervene when I wanted to give up on life. The Chaplain prayed over me and immediately I felt a sense of relief. Chaplain Burrell saved my life.

By July 2012 I opted to separate from the Air Force and start a new life. I had no idea what was in store. But God! I landed by first job post-Air Force after my first interview. The job doubled my Air Force salary. Since then I served as a political consultant on multiple campaigns, established a non-profit and for-profit business, and landed a highly coveted government position.

You can’t tell me GOD is not real HE intervened when I thought it would be best to end it all. I’m forever grateful to Chaplain Burrell for being called by God to pray over me. In that moment he transformed my spirit. I share this not to play victim or for sympathy but to give HOPE to others who may be in a dark place. Don’t give up. Keep pushing. God may close many doors in your life. It’s not the end it’s the beginning of a new journey. Move forward. Trust God.

~Love, Simply Ebony

Aaron Hernandez, Former New England Patriots Player, Commits Suicide in Prison

Breaking news: Aaron Hernandez, the former New England Patriots player, has committed suicide in prison Wednesday morning. Hernandez was discovered hanging in his cell at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Massachusetts. Hernandez was convicted of murder and serving life without parole for killing Odin L. Lloyd in North Attleborough in 2013. He was recently acquitted of murdering two men in Boston in 2012.

According to a statement from the department: “Mr. Hernandez was in a single cell in a general population unit. He hung himself utilizing a bedsheet that he attached to his cell window. Mr. Hernandez also attempted to block his door from the inside by jamming the door with various items.” Hernandez was transported to UMass Memorial in Leominster, where he was pronounced dead at 4:07 a.m. on Wednesday.

The State Police are still investigating, and his family has been notified.

#SayHerName Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam Found Dead in Hudson River

#SayHerName I’m sitting here reading the stories about the death of Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam, the first black woman to serve on New York State’s highest court. Judge Abdus-Salaam was found dead Wednesday in the Hudson River. The police alleged that she died of an apparent suicide. One thing that is alarming is that both her mother and brother committed suicide. Mental health issues are definitely an issue in our community. My CSI radar is going off rapidly though. It is very odd that this trailblazer judge, her mother and brother all died from suicide in a fairly short period? I think this case should be thoroughly investigated for foul play.

Here is an excerpt from The NY Times story: In the hours after her body was found, the police said they were treating her death as a suicide. The judge, 65, had recently told friends and a doctor that she was suffering from stress. And tragedy had followed her closely: On Easter in 2012, her mother committed suicide at age 92, according to two law enforcement officials. Two years later, around the same holiday, her brother shot himself to death, the officials said.” https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.nytimes.com/2017/04/13/nyregion/sheila-adbus-salaam-new-york-judge-hudson-river-committed-suicide.amp.html

I truly hope that the New York Police Department conducts a thorough investigation to determine if her death was a possible homicide. The entire situation is sad. May Judge Abdus-Salaam Rest In Peace.