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| Cheslie Kryst with my friend, Tyyawdi Hands #SuicidePrevention |
I lived and practiced law in Charlotte, NC for a number of years and still have many friends in the city. Those friends tend to be involved socially and professionally and many are lawyers. So, it shouldn't have come as any huge surprise to me that many of them knew or were acquainted with Cheslie Kryst but it did. When they started posting photos of her on Instagram and Facebook after her passing, it made me do a little digging.
Never Forget, You Are Loved
You see, I have been out of the loop on many things since I had kids and Ms. Kryst was one of those. I had no idea that an African-American attorney who had practiced in Charlotte, NC just like me had left the practice to pursue a career in pageants and had switched careers to becoming a television correspondent. Had I known about her and her career path, I would have celebrated her because in many ways she did things that I had only dreamed about.
Once I learned more about her from my research and heard friends gushing about her humility and grace, her suicide became even more confounding. But then, I remembered feeling that way before and recalled a piece I wrote after Kate Spade left this earth too soon. (To read that piece, click here.) As I re-read that piece, I realized that suicide confounds us because suicide becomes a solution for those who are consumed by darkness and despair. And unless you have been there, you just can't get it.
That said, I think it's important for all of us to heighten our sensitivity and our awareness about symptoms of suicidality so that we can recognize when we might need help and when those we love might need help.
For those feeling desperate and isolated, understand this. Even if your friend/sister/mother is busy when you call or the call goes straight to voice mail, YOU ARE LOVED! Nobody wants you to commit suicide. Your exit leaves an un-fillable void. And, despite what you may think, you are irreplaceable and we value you.
We are all in this together.
For tips for identifying the warning signs of suicide and tools for prevention, click here.
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