Today’s entry is a tough one. I recently heard that an acquaintance committed suicide. I hadn’t seen this person in a while and we were not all that close. His death just got me thinking what I could have done. I realized I’m in a good place with my very close friends. I have no problem asking the important and difficult questions.

A Definite No-No!

“Sorry young fella – Suicide is a definite No –No!” - Flash (Jay Garrick)*

The year 1940 and college student, Jason (Jay) Peter Garrick, falls asleep while working on an experiment on “Hard Water” also called “Heavy Water”. The vapor from the experiment changed the student. Upon awakening Jay finds he can run at speeds near the speed of light. Creating a red and blue costume including a silver helmet resembling Mercury’s (the messenger of the Gods), Jay becomes the superhero the Flash – the first Flash. Jay Garrick’s one true love is Joan Garrick his college sweetheart. Jay is one of the “Golden Age” heroes and a founding member of the first superhero group, the Justice Society of America, precursor to the Justice League. He and Joan have sought to help all people and have often opened their home to young heroes. He has often taken a fatherly role with the new heroes training them to become better heroes.

We should watch out for the signs of depression that may lead to suicide. People try to commit suicide because they are depressed for whatever reason – bullying, loneliness, abrupt change or change in health …etc. What we should do is watch for the signs -- talking about wanting to die; looking for a way to kill oneself; preoccupation with weapons, talking about feeling hopeless or having little to live for; talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain; talking about being a burden to others; increasing the use of alcohol or drugs; acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly; sleeping too little or too much; withdrawn or feeling isolated; showing rage or talking about seeking revenge and/or displaying extreme mood swings (from SAVE – Suicide Awareness Voices of Education**). We have talked about connecting with people, helping people and making friends often. This is a reason why we do this. If we suspect a friend is depressed or suicidal we talk to them, we talk to other friends, we call therapists and we go online and search for places to help. WE SEEK HELP! *** Coffee with a friend on a regular basis helps prevent suicide.

Flash (Jay Garrick)
First Appearance: Flash Comics #1 (January 1940)

Creators: Gardner Fox (writer) Harry Lampert (art)

*“3 Earths 3 Deaths”, Crisis on Infinite Earths, #6 (1985) DC Comics

** http://www.save.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home

*** Places to seek help are:

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255, http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

SAVE – Suicide Awareness Voices of Education http://www.save.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home

The Trevor Project, http://www.thetrevorproject.org/

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, http://www.afsp.org/