I remember learning about the Great Depression in middle-school. I vividly recall a black and white photo of a man ready to jump off of a building because he “lost everything” in the stock market crash of 1929.
It blew my mind and broke my heart to think of the family he left behind. His wife became a widow and his children would grow up fatherless. Not only would they have to face the economic hardship we now call as the Great Depression, but they would have to do it while grieving their husband and father.
I couldn’t wrap my young mind around it.
That man, and the many others who did the same during the Great Depression, thought they had lost everything.
But they had just lost money.
And life is SO much more than money.
Life is worth living, even with debt!
It breaks my heart to know that overwhelming debt makes people contemplate suicide. Sadly, suicide rates are often tied to economic downturns.
There is so much more to life than money. All the best things in life, the things that really matter, cannot be bought with money and they won’t be lost without money.
Debt is not the end. It will get better! The best is yet to come.
Death is not the answer. There is help available, both for your finances and your mental health.
You CAN live with debt. And it’s SO worth it.
Your life matters!
Money is just money. With money you can buy stuff. Just stuff. Not love, not joy, not happiness, not relationships.
YOU are infinitely more valuable than money. You are a child of God who loves you beyond your comprehension. You matter to so many people.
There is still so much good that YOU can do in the world. There are people who you can bless with your unique gifts.
You have so many reasons to live. The people in your life love you with or without money, with or without debt.
You are not alone!
I know it may feel like you’re drowning right now. You may feel completely alone, like no one understands. Or worse, that no one cares.
I promise you that that is simply not true.
You are not alone. The people around you love you and want to help. Reach out to them. They care. I care, too!
Please get help!
Dear friend, if you are suffering with thoughts of suicide, please get help. Call the the National Suicide Prevention
You are worth it. Your life matters.
Maybe you are feeling overwhelmed by your financial situation right now. Maybe you are struggling to find a job. Maybe you’ve lost your house.
No matter what financial hardship you are going through, there is hope! There is help. Please get help!
Want to help those around you who might be suffering?
While there are common warning signs that you should know, it’s important to realize that anyone could be suffering behind a mask of coping.
Here are a few things you can do:
- Stop the stigma
Suicide, depression, and mental health seem to be taboo topics in our society. We are also embarrassed and silenced by debt, foreclosure, and financial problems. We need to break the silence and stop the stigma so our brothers and sisters aren’t afraid to talk about their feelings and problems and are willing to get help.
- Be open to talk
People who are suicidal often feel like they are completely alone, even when there appear to be people in their lives. Be the kind of friend that people can talk to. Don’t be afraid to bring up hard topics if something doesn’t seem right. Be non-judgmental, supportive, and loving. And don’t be afraid to get help for your friend.
- Be kind
You never know what others are going through or what trials they are facing. It’s so important to be kind to everyone. Always.
Life is beautiful. Life is worth living!
This blog post is part of the World Suicide Prevention D
I know this is an older post, but I wanted to thank you for posting this. I was in an extremely bad financial situation several years ago involving massive debt. My debt was brought on through a downward spiral of poor financial management, payday & title loans (products of the devil, I’m convinced), and was made worse by keeping it hidden from my spouse. At one point both of our vehicles were repoed and I had less than $7 to my name. I was considering suicide because I saw no way out. Long story short, but in the end I came clean, he stood by me and we worked it out, and now, several years later, we are far better off than we have ever been – financially, emotionally, and in our relationship. The day I came clean was hard – not going to lie – but it was both the worst and best day of my life. We are due to be completely debt free (including our home) in less than 5 years. There is a real stigma associated with debt, and unfortunately when you are the one in that situation, it can easily seem overwhelming. I find your blog encouraging, and I am glad you posted this. I hope others are able to work through their debt and find peace.
This is so true! Your life is so worth so much more than money could ever by, and I know many people who feel when they’ve lost all their money that they’ve lost it all.
Thank you for sharing!
Such a beautiful, true post. Thanks for sharing! No judgement no stigma! xo
Fantastic post. It really touches me personally. I just wanted to give a few more resources for people. Look up Kati Morton on you tube… She has some amazing videos. In addition to the national suicide hotline there is a crisis line you can text ( the number is 741741). From personal experience they are amazing. Reach out for help please. Project Semicolon is another great resource. The Semicolon is a symbol used where an author could have ended a sentence but chose to continue on. Your story is not over yet!
Most of all, therapy can be amazing. If it isn’t working for you, keep searching.
Thank you Stephanie for taking about such a serious stigmatized topic. I have a whole new respect for your blog now.
Love this! Life is more important than money and debt shouldn’t dictate whether we live or die. Thanks so much for participating in the tour!