“Don’t pray for an
easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.”
-
Bruce Lee
It is failure, loss, loneliness and grief
that we all have faced at some time or the other. At some point of our life, we
have wanted to end this life, however short the moment might be. Loss of a
loved one, loss of self-respect, failure in an examination, failure to provide
for family, failure to be someone respectable in society and so on. With so
many challenges and obstacles that life presents us, there are numerous man
made challenges like abuse, trafficking, murders and other criminal activities.
The trail doesn’t end here, there are incurable diseases like Cancer to natural
disasters; there are wars to droughts to hunger and poverty. Every day we wake
up to face a new challenge in order to survive another day. In a perfect world,
a father works hard to support his family, a mother works hard to feed her
family, a child works hard to assure the future of the family. The daily life
starts with posing outright obstacles and ends with a relief of living another
day.
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| Photography Credits: Google Search |
Suicide is said to be a cowardice act, a
crime in eyes of law, an evil deed in Lord’s eyes. We often hear it is easy to
end a life; it is difficult to live one. But how often have we taken the
initiative to learn the reasons where a victim is forced to take his/her life?
How often have we looked over our shoulder to provide support to the one who
has lost the battle? How often have we offered a hand of support without
expecting anything in return? We often say something like we are so busy in our
lives; we have so many problems to deal with; I have given a donation to a
charity; the company that I work for has charitable branch and I donate
monthly. But, have we ever given a thought to whose life are we making a
difference to in such a support? Have we ever wanted to listen to part of the
story of the victim?
Project Hope Island is a place of serenity created
by Arwen Mannonen for individuals who need help; people who are distressed and
want to commit suicide. It is a peer to peer support group, functioning to give
resources and encouragement for the one who have none. Resources like Help-line
numbers, Support groups, Domestic Violence resources and Books to prevent
suicide.
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| Photography Credits: Leela Qissinger |
Resources office: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Project%20Hope%20Island/136/122/82
A few of the resources are listed below.
Self-Injury Resources:
Books:
·
Cut by Patricia McCormick
·
Cutting: Understanding and
Overcoming Self-Mutilation by Steven Levenkron
·
A Bright Red Scream by
Marilee Strong
Groups for Help with Self Injury
·
Safe Haven: Online
http://gabrielle.self-injury.net/
·
Daily Strength: online
http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Self-Injury/support-group
·
S.A.F.E Alternatives: http://www.selfinjury.com/
Visiting the resource office would enable one
to open the doors to hot line numbers to national and domestic violence in
U.K., U.S.A. among others. The National Domestic Violence Hotline answers more
than 21,000 calls per month from victims, survivors, friends and family members,
law enforcement personnel, domestic violence advocates and the general public.
Hotline advocates provide support and assistance to anyone involved in a
domestic violence situation, including those in same-sex relationships, male
survivors, those with disabilities and immigrant victims of domestic violence.
All calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline are anonymous and
confidential.
How does the Hotline Services work? According
to the Project Hope Island Resources, these are the following pointers.
·
Crisis intervention, safety
planning, information about domestic violence and referrals to local service
providers
·
A direct connection to
domestic violence resources available in the caller’s area provided by a
Hotline advocate
·
Assistance in both English
and Spanish with Hotline advocates having access to more than 170 different
languages through interpreter services
·
Assistance through e-mail on
the contact page
·
Informational materials on
such topics as domestic violence, sexual assault, battering intervention and
prevention programs, working through the criminal justice system and related
issues
The list doesn’t exhaust here, Terminal
Illness Resources, Suicide prevention and survivor resources, Internet
Resources like http://www.save.org and other
books like “Step Back from the Exit: 45 Reasons to Say No to Suicide by
Jillayne Arena” among others are available. Books are peer support for
trans-person and their family are also available like the book written by R. Nick
Gorton, MD; Jamie Buth, MD & Dean Spade (2005) on "Medical Therapy and
Health Maintenance for Transgender Men: A Guide For Health Care
Providers", attempts to provide the knowledge necessary to care for
transmen before, during and after transition.
Domestic Violence is seen in almost any
households today. Stress, peer pressure, money and power, societal norms and
sometimes religions too among other stimuli pose a threat to an individual.
Irrespective of a developed or a developing country, domestic violence not only
includes abuse to women but also child abuse, child sexual abuse, elder abuse,
rape or sexual assault to both women and men among others. This leads us to the
bravest step of asking ourselves, “Am I being abused?” in the name of love and
care. If yes, please don’t hesitate to ask for help from a family member,
friend, relative you trust or call the help line number of your locality. There
are numerous organisations fighting to stop abuse. However, the first step and
the bravest one are in your hand. Project Hope Island is a community within a
virtual world to offer help and support.
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| Photography Credits: Leela Qissinger |
When you are writing your story about your
life, don’t let anyone else hold the pen for you. Take the first step to fight
back. Your step would end the tyranny and would help and others you love to
face a new day with a new hope.
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