Lost a friend

[Grant Lamontagne]

According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada there are over 4,000 suicides each year, and roughly 75% of them are men.  I imagine it is a similar stat all over the world. 

This week, one of them was one of my closest friends.

Frank was 51, engaged, had a thriving, successful business, two lovely daughters and two equally beautiful grandchildren- he was a success by every traditional measure.

Despite this, depression still caused him to take his own life.  Depression isn't a mood, it's an illness and, coupled with the pressure of "being a man" and the stigma of getting help, it is taking away men like Frank every day- men that are the very best of us.

It may be too late to help Frank, but let's use his example as a call to action- use this as a reason or excuse to check on your friends, drop your guard and tell them they are important.

Even the ones that are okay.

Especially the ones are okay.

And do it while you still can, and maybe you will be the reason you can tell them again tomorrow.

Def

[nakken]

Words cannot express how sorry I am for your loss, Grant. I am reading this with tears in my eyes, because we all know someone that has been a victim to this. It is beyond sad that it can go this far, and it is so immensely important that we talk about it.

Statistics over here are similar, most suicides are indeed committed by men. As mentioned, if you know someone or have dark thoughts yourself, please talk to someone. There is no shame in having feelings, and the bravest of us are the ones that dare to speak up.

Rest in peace, Frank.

[pfrsantos]

Sorry to hear about his.

Stay strong!

 :'( 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Thanks guys.  While never a member, Frank has been featured in this group for years, from kayaking and fishing photos to my recent interest in drones and 360 cameras.

Def

[Alan K.]

Sorry for your loss. Always a shock when somebody commits suicide, especially when you never knew they were at risk.

[aicolainen]

Sorry to read about the loss of your friend.
This is, like you point out, way more common than it ought to be.
The stats are disheartening and sadly I don’t think there is any real motivation to identify and correct the underlaying problems. It’s too intertwined with our modern lifestyle, and there is simply too much economic interest in keeping the status quo to expect things will improve on a large scale.
I’ve been fortunate enough to not loose anyone in my social network to mental health until very recently. Unfortunately it hit very close when the time came. It’s a bit easier now that a few weeks has passed, but still not a day goes by without me thinking of him and feeling the void left behind and getting to terms with the absurd fact that he’s no longer with us.
My condolences with your loss. Take care!

Mental health starts with the basic stuff; get outside, get a good dose of fresh air, natural light, move your body and eat food that is good for your body and brain.

[Sazabi]

I’m sorry for the loss of your friend, Grant.

[Adam5]

I am sorry for your loss, Grant. Two months ago, my best friend's sister, someone who was also a good friend of mine, took her life.  I had only seen her a couple of times in the past ten years, though I could have their family business much more often if I only made the effort. I really wish I had now.

[Fireman]

grandchildren- he was a success by every traditional measure.
It may be too late to help Frank, but let's use his example as a call to action- use this as a reason or excuse to check on your friends, drop your guard and tell them they are important.

Even the ones that are okay.

Especially the ones are okay.

And do it while you still can, and maybe you will be the reason you can tell them again tomorrow.

Def

I'm sorry you lost such a good friend.  Painful as it is, thanks for posting this warning.

[Craig]

Sorry for your loss. Thank you for your brave words.

[kottskrapa]

Sorry for your loss!

I have also lost a good friend this way and I totally agree about the importance to talk about feelings and life in other ways than "just suck it up" it doesn't always work that way

I'm lucky to have a few close friends that I have that relationship with but most folks don't

[Aloha]

   I am so sorry Boss.  RIP and healing to all those who loved him. 

[Sos24]

So sorry about the loss of your friend. 

To your point of the “stigma of getting help”, in the US suicides amongst veterans is a big problem.  For a few years the average between past and present military was around 22 per day which is unfathomable to me. 

So many people have mental struggles that they hide well.

[ToolJoe]

Very sorry for your loss.

[glenfiddich1983]

So sad 

[Syph007]

Thanks guys.  While never a member, Frank has been featured in this group for years, from kayaking and fishing photos to my recent interest in drones and 360 cameras.

Def

Wow that's rough.  Was this the fellow you were telling me did drone footage for oak island?

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yeah, that's the same guy.  Here's his IMDB page so you can see the other stuff he was involved in beyond Curse of Oak Island.

https://m.imdb.com/name/nm9991329/?ref_=nm_mv_close

Def