As a pastor I have been called to homes immediately following death by suicide. What I witness is a loss felt deeper than any other loss can be felt. It is a loss than sends shock waves through the air of the surrounding community. A death by suicide does not only impact the person that has died it impacts everybody around them too. It changes so many lives forever.

The most common question I am asked by the families and friends who have experienced the loss followed by death by suicide is WHY? Followed closely by the guilt vortex of, “If only I had…”

Death by suicide is an action borne out of desperation, great pain and mental illness. It is not a selfish act. Do not blame yourself if someone close to you commits suicide. It is not your fault.

Where suicide was once packed away in the shadows of society, we are evolving to openly discussing the existence of suicide; Its unrelenting pain and depression that leads up to the final act and the mental illness that accompanies the process.

If you are concerned or have questions, don’t hesitate to contact the National Suicide Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Ms. Chon Pugh is pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and a private counselor specializing in individual and family issues. She can be reached at PasterChon@blcmesa.org or via the church office. Visit the website.

We can all agree that suicide is at an all-time high with our youth.  Why is it happening and how do we as adults help?

When you talk to individuals who have considered/attempted to commit suicide, all the reasons are different.  But the common thread is the OVERWHELMING feeling of DESPAIR (doom, downfall, discouragement, ruin, anguish, unhappiness).

Our youth today are spending more time on electronic devices and not enough time interacting with “real people.”  This may cause a feeling of being all alone in the world. They are subjected to more negative comments, personal attacks and undesirable images than ever before.

Possible solutions?  Limiting time on gaming and Smartphones.  Participating in a confidence building activity (dance, sports, drama, art, music, well, you get the idea).

I leave you with this suggestion… I have gotten the most insight into my daughter’s life and now my grandkids’ lives when we are in the car driving and at the dinner table. We are all so busy making our lives that we forget to “LIVE our LIVES” not just exist. “RELAX! TAKE A BREATH! LISTEN! AND YOU WILL SEE!”

Sandra Aguilera is Founder of STAR Concepts. The firm teaches self-defense to children, teens, young adults, adults relating to bullying, predators, Internet security, inappropriate behavior. STAR-Concepts.org

Camping is a favorite option for Arizonans since we have several beautiful national and state parks nearby. It’s a great family activity. Camping also gives you the rare opportunity to “disconnect” from our technology world. There are some safety precautions to be aware of while you’re camping. Read more here.

It’s VACATION TIME! We hope you are going someplace fun and exciting. We’re all pretty jazzed at InsuranceExperts.team about our trips! While you’re traveling, be safe! Here are some good safety tips from SaveWise.