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In 1932 during the great depression my grandfather, the bank president, presumably despondent about business failure and foreclosing on his friends' farms, shot himself at his desk. His family, including my mother, were plunged into financial and social difficulties that still echo in the family two generations later.

I think about that these days. We are really at the beginning of the new economic pain; for most of us it is still something to read about in the newspaper. In the months ahead, as the impacts of financial depression get closer to our lives, people we know will struggle with hopelessness, shame and despondency.

A few years ago when I was a volunteer library board member, twice in a week I came across a previous patron's computer catalog search result on 'teen suicide.' Maybe it was just a homework assignment. When I tried to convince the library staff to find a way to include in any search on suicide contact infomation for the local hotline, and to include several books on our shelves as a means of prevention, they resisted. I can't imagine why.

All of us, and all organizations, including all our employers, are going to need increased awareness. But will it be resisted as not mission critical? I hope not - it might come to pass that it is critical to me or someone I love.

posted 3 years, 5 months ago
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