Hey, lovely people. We hope you're well. This post is going to differ slightly, from the posts you're used to seeing on our blog. But, we think it's important to put it out there and we really hope you take something positive from it.
As you are presumably aware, Caroline Flack very sadly took her own life during the middle of last month. This hit home for a lot of people. She is certainly one of many, who have committed suicide this year already and for the team at Lemonade Box (and Pyjama Drama Box), this really hit home. Suicide is an extremely profound subject and we believe that within society, the impact our actions have on the people around us, deserve to be recognised much more than they often are.
In 2018, there were 6,507 suicides registered in the UK. The latest rate is significantly higher than that of 2017 and represents the first increase since 2013. It's a widely known fact that suicide is very frequently, not preceded by any warnings. According to Dr. Michael Miller, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, “many people who commit suicide, do so without letting on they are thinking about it, or planning it”.
Obviously, people take their own lives for countless, multifarious reasons. Everyone has a different path and we aren't to know every single thing that goes on in a life, separate to our own. Based on the statistics above, it is reasonable to infer that those with suicidal thoughts, have not shared their internal battles with anyone - even before they became too much to handle.
These are the points we are trying to make. We have absolutely no idea what anybody else is going through. Sure - we can assume. Everyone can make assumptions. That girl from work is constantly posting pictures of herself and her partner, so she must be happy. That boy who went to our school is always talking about the places he's travelled to - he's so lucky.
It's important to realise that this is not always the case. Assumptions are not facts. Someone can look as though they're absolutely fine. Whether that's in person, on social media, or any other medium. But, the truth is, we'll never know for sure. Even if we ask. Who's to say they're telling the truth, when they say they've never been happier? How are we expected to know they're crying themselves to sleep every night and slapping on a smile for the rest of the world?
We aren't. But, what we should be expected to do, is be kind. For these reasons, especially. It costs absolutely nothing to be kind. We all know what it's like to go through something and not want to talk about it. So, think about how many people in the world, right now, are going through something and are reluctant to talk about it. More than we can probably count. Now, think about how much nicer their day might be, if we were a little more patient with them, or if we even gave them something as little as a smile and told them they look nice today.
We are very strong believers in the saying, "treat people how you would like to be treated". We are all human. We all have feelings and emotions and we all struggle from time to time. The world would be a much better place if we acknowledged this and made a conscious effort to be better people. Starting, of course, with how we treat those around us.
There is another very popular saying, that goes: "live every day as though it is your last". It's a cool saying. We like it a lot. But, what if we flipped it a little bit? What if we lived every day as though it was everybody else's last? We'd probably be a lot more loving, a lot more forgiving, a lot more understanding and a lot kinder. So, why don't we give that a go?
Never underestimate the power of kindness. It won't save the world, but often, it can go a long way. We will always count on that "often".
Thank you so much for reading this post. If you're not feeling yourself and you need someone to talk to, please do reach out to any of the following helplines:
Samaritans - 116 123
Childline - 0800 11 11
LGBTQ+ INTERCOM TRUST - 0800 612 3010
NATIONAL DOMESTIC ABUSE - 0808 200 0247
There is also a petition entitled, Caroline's Law - to consider a law that would make it a criminal offence, not dissimilar to Corporate Manslaughter, for the British Media to knowingly and relentlessly bully a person, whether they be in the public eye or not, up to the point that they take their own life.
If you would like to sign it, please do so at the link: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/flacks-law
Thanks again for reading. We will see you very soon, lovelies.
All our love,
The team @ Lemonade Box