It's always poignant to see faces to go with the statistics. But yeah, it makes you think whether they were long- term suicidal or, whether it was something that got to them quickly.
If I'm honest, what struck me most was how so many seemed to be around young children. So, I wonder if they were the parents, how long ago the footage was taken. Truthfully- how their children are now going to cope. I lost my Mum to natural causes when I was 3 so- my feelings tend to have a bias towards the child left behind. As insensitive as that may sound.
It doesn't surprise me at all that this world would use their images as 'poster children' though. Presumably, their loved ones consented. Probably with the hopes the campaign would prevent further suicides.
I suppose my honest feelings are- I hope no one does try to poke about in my life to see how I really am. I really wouldn't appreciate an intervention of any sort. If I wanted help, I'd ask for it! The irony being, I'm not sure there's any documented evidence of me looking that cheerful! It ought to be more obvious in my case.
It does definitely make you think though. Were they struggling at that point? Were they masking then?
I'm not actually against some suicide prevention, in terms of awareness and the offer of support. Definitely, we should be more concerned about one another. So, to that end, I don't hate the advert.
The title of the organisation seems wildly optimistic to me though: CALM: Campaign Against Living Miserably. How on earth do they aim to achieve that? Even a lot of non suicidal people I know are miserable! The weirdest thing is- suicide is probably seen as the ultimate solution to living miserably by a great many of us!