Ariana: Forever in My Heart and on My Mind

If you dont answer the phone, Im going to kill myself! These were the last words of my best

friend Ariana. Intelligent, loving, and amazing are just a few words that anyone who knew her

would use to describe her; not a murderer. As Earl Grollman once stated, For suicide is a

taboo subject that stigmatizes not only the victim but the survivors as well." The date October

20, 2015, will forever be embedded in my brain as the night that transformed me as a person.

Suicide is the SECOND leading cause of death for ages 10-24 and college-age youths. (2015

CDC WISQARS) This can be attributed to social media and/or peer pressure. Such is depicted

in the Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why. The series is about a girl Hannah Baker named 13

Reasons why she committed suicide on tape. As that is just a TV series it demonstrated real life

cause as Ariana have made letters to people she know why she had committed suicide.

HEALTH AND SAFETY IMPACT

Biopsychosocial, environmental, and sociocultural are also causes that can cause someone to

commit suicide. Mental disorders such a bipolar, schizophrenia, anxiety and personality

disorders can drive a person to take his/her own life. Substance abuse, childhood trauma or

abuse, family history of suicide, and or chronic disease also contribute to a persons state of

being. Environmental factors also can play a role in his/her decision to end his/her own life.

Such factors include social loss, such as the loss of a significant relationship, access to lethal

means, including firearms and drugs, being exposed to suicide, being a victim of harassment,

bullying, or physical abuse. The last cause is sociocultural, or the feeling of being isolated or of
not being accepted by others. Feelings of isolation can be caused by sexual orientation, religious

beliefs, and gender identity.

SOLUTION IMPACT

Suicide can be prevented, but not all the time. One can emotionally be there for the

person and ask him/her what's wrong; in obtaining information, the proper help can be put into

place. If I would've listened to Ariana and been there for her I maybe could've saved her life. I

could've got her proper help and, as a result, she could still be alive today. She wasn't

emotionally stable and if I would've listened and asked her what's wrong I could've got her help.

However, I do know that I alone could not have altered her ending; I by no means am a

professional or doctor.

Being that September is National Suicide Prevention Month and the anniversary of

Ariannas death is within a month away, this subject is one of great importance. Suicide has

many causes and can easily be escalated from peer pressure and social media, however, at the

same token it can be prevented. Ariana was going through a lot and at the time, I was blind and

didnt see what was right in front of me. In reference to the statement I quoted above by Earl

Grollman, I will forever be stigmatized by the death of Arianna. You dont want to feel like I do

so do what you can do to save a life today!