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April Showers Bring More Than May Flowers — Suicides Grow As Well
Spring is a time to come along side family and friends struggling with depression
There was a steady warm rain the other night. Any remnants of snow are gone. It is a lovely early spring here in southern Ontario.
I was out in the garden today, designing and digging the new flower bed for native Ontario species. Plants that are especially good for attracting butterflies and other pollinators. It’s rejuvenating; just thinking about growing a dining spot for butterflies brings a feeling of hope.
It was on a very similar early spring day that my son took his life 15 years ago. We were aware that he had had suicidal thoughts several years prior. Our angst had faded somewhat over time, with the normalizing of his lifestyle, as upsetting as it was.
Zac had recently turned 18 and hadn’t spent a lot of time at home over the winter. When he wasn’t happy with our house rules, he would couch surf or crash at a friend’s. He had come home, taking up residence on the living room couch, initially almost non-responsive in his depression.
Easter was coming soon. Spring was here! He could start rollerblading again. Zac got great pleasure in that. Rollerblading was the one thing at which he would…
