My uncle shot himself and what was extra sad was that he lay there two weeks before anybody missed him. He was a bachelor, retired Army and retired from another job. He was a diabetic and he was found with his bible open and a beer can nearby. He wasn't a drinker. He had been alone ever since he came out of the Army and with the diabetes it is thought that he was severely depressed. He lived in another state so we didn't see him all that much. He was a kind, lovely actual gentle man.

My youngest daughter, who was in the pageantry part of the high school band, experienced two of her friends from the band commit suicide a couple of weeks apart. She was so devastated and was trying to comfort everyone that she started having a breakdown. I got her to see a lay person who specialized in offering a listening ear. She was from a local church and she was a godsend helping my daughter to release her feelings.

I know the person who commits suicide is troubled but they don't see beforehand how it affects everyone they leave behind.