When Darkness Can Lead to Suicide
(Thoughts from Oprah’s Interview with Megan Markle)
Watching Orpah Interview Meghan, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex, sharing her painful story of isolation, rejection, and lack of support from the Royal Institution because of her skin color was somewhat shocking to hear. Megan denied mental health treatment was harsh, and from her account, she attempted to honor the way the establishment operated by going to them. However, I did say it somewhat shocking because racism is real. Black people regularly experience being judged by the color of their skin. To hear Megan convey that the uncharted territory of being a Duchess and the mistreatment led her down a dark road of thoughts of suicide was jaw-dropping.
Megan further shared with Oprah; if she had not said something to Harry about her thoughts, she would have done it. She inferred that she would have carried out the act. Why would the Institution treat Megan with such disdain? They cared more about the impact it would have on their reputation instead of her pain.
Perhaps some wondered why Megan allowed herself to get to this point? Some may say I would have left. We all have opinions of what we would do, but we don’t know until we face a situation. Life has a way of introducing us to ourselves. What we think about ourselves doesn’t mean we will do what we think or say. Megan admitted it was unchartered territory. Also, let’s get real they were not fighting an individual. They were up against a well-oiled machine.
Many circumstances can cause a person to go down a dark road. When it is dark, you can’t see the forest for the trees. You feel hopeless, sad, and shattered. The thoughts are irrational, distorted, and unrelenting. When I was in my dark place healing from the sexual abuse I suffered at the hands of a next-door neighbor, I was hopeless, filled with despair, anxiety, and unbelief. Life was unbearable, and I had to fight for my mind like I was fighting for my last breath. The thoughts of suicide were real.
“The number of people dying by suicide in the United States has risen by about 30 percent in the past two decades. And while the majority of suicide-related deaths today are among boys and men, a study published by the National Center for Health Statistics finds that the number of girls and women taking their own lives is rising. The suicide rate among girls ages 10 to 14 has been increasing faster than it has for boys of the same age.”
Many are suffering even more since the pandemic. However, suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. There is life after dark. If you are contemplating suicide, please call the National Hotline number at 800–273–8255 or National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine Monday through Friday, 10 am–8 pm, ET, 1–800–950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org.