In March of 2014, Ganel-Lyn Condie was shocked to learn that her sister, Meggan, had died by suicide. Since then, Ganel-Lyn--an author and speaker--has devoted much of her time and energy to suicide prevention. Last year, I sat down interviewed Ganel-Lyn and she shared some powerful insights about overcoming grief and preventing suicide. During the interview, she said: "When I have the opportunity to talk to anyone that's dealing with depression, or suicidal thoughts, I emphatically tell them that they are not a burden."
Ganel-Lyn went on to say that her sister's suicide had taught her many things. One of the most important things it taught her was that depression can darken our perspective and cause us to only see the bad things in our lives--and none of the good things. Please know that even though we may struggle with depression, or suicidal thoughts, we are filled with goodness--and we are loved. Of her sister, Ganel-Lyn said "I loved her...I would have kept her, forever and ever--just the way she was--with all of her flaws."
I was really touched by what Ganel-Lyn had said. As someone who regularly struggles with chronic bouts of depression, I am all too familiar with the overwhelming (distorted) feeling that my struggle may be a burden to those I love. If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or feelings of depression, I want you to know you are not a burden. It may be hard to see it, or believe it, but please know that you are loved by so many people.
Please take a few minutes and watch the video below to see a portion of my interview with Ganel-Lyn. Click here to watch the full interview.
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If you -- or someone you know -- need help, please call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If you are outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of international resources.