Spencer Seupel's Obituary, Written by a Most Eloquent and Wise Mother - What the World Needs Now is .....

Only ten days after Spencer Seupel took his life through suicide, I happened to catch his mother on television, so eloquently speaking about how she wrote his obituary as a piece of 'education' for those who would read it.  I did the same with the portion of my father's funeral in 2010 where I had the opportunity to share my thoughts about the options people have today about medical interventions.  In his case, the options initially were related to conventional or complementary and alternative medicine, later on they were about getting hospice and palliative care experts on board the medical team.    

I highly recommend taking a moment to read this very well done piece if you have any interest about alcohol, young adults and really ALL who have pressures upon them, and most of all, suicide prevention.  She gives us the solutions -- it's so ridiculously simple and a 'universal truth' in my opinion.  For two years prior to starting the occupational therapy program at a major 'party school' in the US, Colorado State University, I am proud to say I was part of the Center for Drug and Alcohol Education's team, both as a certified peer health educator and drug and alcohol educator and as an employee. I knew I was learning a lot in those two years, but I only recently have come to fully appreciate how much.  

It was a time of big changes in the early 90s, compared to the late 1970s and early 80s, when I had gone to 'CSU' as a new high school graduate; too many students had died after fraternity parties, or gotten crushed in stampedes when we won big football games, and finally 'the system' started to make the changes. At the time, I only contribued my time and efforts to move the ball along, I wasn't calling any plays, so to speak, and CSU 'rebranded' to become Colorado State University in their efforts in changing the image of the big party school that also did some educational and research endeavors well.  They have been successful with that, in my opinion.  

Life comes down to what we each do as individuals, as we only can control what we do personally, really. We have our relationship with ourself as well as with those outside of us, which is a big step for many.  From there, it mostly has to do with this: To one another.  

A few years prior to my time in health education, which occurred when I was 32-34 years of age, I had missed the signs someone in my immediate family gave that I now realize were 'signs' of someone who has a plan to suicide.  Fortunately, someone who knew the situation dialed up the phone at a key moment and literally saved a life, a life which today is very much on coarse and robust in relationships and vocation.  

I hope young people today are made more aware of things they really NEED to know -- CPR, first aid, what to do if there's a community emergency, what signs to be aware of for someone who is under too much stress and what to do about it, whether it's a Spencer or a Dillon (suicide versus homocide, such as the notorious Columbine High School in Colorado in the late 1990s).  A simple concept conveyed by this eloquent mother, so beautifully communicated, so please read and decide what action YOU are going to take (or not).  The world you will change is yours! And mine!

"Live and Learn.  Learn and Live Better." 

   www.legacy.com/obituaries/poughkeepsiejournal/obituary.aspx [1]