Our sages say that if you save a person’s life, it is as though you have saved the world. Maybe I can have some kind of effect.
Over one million people commit suicide every year around the world; about 34,000 in the U.S. There are twice as many suicides in the U.S. as homicides. It is a leading cause of death among teenagers and adults under 35. There are an estimated 10 to 20 million non-fatal attempted suicides every year worldwide, about 750,000 in the U.S.
One of the main causes of suicide is depression. Bullying is thought to be one of the main causes of depression in teenagers and young adults and is therefore thought to be one of the top causes of suicide in young people. That could be why some societies consider bullying to be a form of attempted murder. If you are a parent, you should be paying attention.
A friend of mine, Zev Ballen, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and writer living in Israel. An article he wrote on bullying was published on the internet. By a strange coincidence (or common example of “Jewish geography”), I’ve met and have spoken with the wife of the subject of this article. I consider it an important read, not just for Jews, but for anyone who is interested in what’s happening around them. Take a few minutes to read this.
By the way, Zev uses the word Totti. That is a Yiddish word meaning, “my Father.”
Here is the link: http://www.breslev.co.il/articles/family/health_and_fitness/the_emotional_terrorist.aspx?id=18022&language=english
Mel
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