Lots of people called my friend a bad person for committing suicide. They say that she is selfish, a coward, and all sorts of other horrible things. Before you call names, stop and think, so you don't become one of those heartless assholes.


I stumbled upon a blog by an amazing woman by the name of Livelin Melvik, (Click her name to go to her page) and she put suicidal thoughts into a perspective, that would make anyone have second thoughts at calling someone who commits or attempts suicide selfish or a coward. Here is what she said:

"Pulling up trees"

"I have an opinion. Maybe lot's of people agree with me, but i know for certain that some don't, so here goes;

Here in Norway, we have everything we need, it is so utterly good here, and people are so honest and trustworthy (maybe to to point of naive other people might say) that it would make your woolen socks melt off your feet and cry tears of colours in knitting patterns. That's how good it is. So of course there is a downside by living here (otherwise i suspect the universe would collapse) It is very cold and very dark at times, and it affects us in different ways. It's easy to get depressed and feel down and things feel hopeless in the dark. So unfortunately it is so that too many chose to take their own life.

By listening to others i know a very common opinion is to think of those who chose to take their own life as cowards - as taking the easy way out, giving up and also expressing quite a lot of anger at them for leaving their families and friends behind to grieve for them.

Killing yourself is in a way giving up, and we've been told frequently not to give up when it gets hard, but to keep on going and to fight through it, and in that lies true accomplishment and victory over yourself.

But let's say i tell you to pull up a tree with its roots with your bare hands, you alone, no help, a big tree.,enormous, with deep roots. You walk up to it and try to pull it up. I tell you that people have pulled up trees before you - but you look over at those trees, and you only see small trees, nothing compared to yours. But still you try. And you try. Family and friends around you have pulled up their trees, and can't see you're still struggling with yours - and you don't tell them either, maybe you think it's a little embarrassing, or maybe you tell yourself that this is your own problem, and you alone have to get through it. But then at some point, you think "why am i doing this?" You cannot pull up a big tree with it's roots! it is impossible, and there's no reason for it either, why the fuck would i want to pull up a tree?! It makes no difference whether it's there or not, there's no point. And you're right, there is no point in pulling up a tree. So you give up. Not because you're not a fighter, but to you it impossible, so it is hopeless.

I think this is how depressed you get before you make the decision to take your own life - the darkness that surround you is so thick, it is as impossible to get out of it as it is to swallow the moon - it just can't be done, and at some point you don't see any reason to try anymore.

They're not cowards, they have thoughts you don't understand, because luckily you've never had them - so please remind those around you how big a tree you'd pull up for them."

You have my absolute and undying gratitude and respect Livelin, and I couldn't have said it better myself. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart. <3