COLUMBUS, Neb., Dec. 2, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Every year, over 30,000 Americans commit suicide. According to the latest statistics gathered by Suicide Awareness Voices Education or SAVE, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about suicide prevention, one of the major causes of suicide is depression. Even more alarming is that of the many millions of Americans who suffer from depression each year, 80 percent can be treated, but only 30 percent seek help. In 1995, Barb Scholz lost her husband to suicide, and she openly shares the stories of how she and her children survived the pain, grief and anger in her new book "Our Forever Angel: Surviving the Loss of a Loved One to Suicide" (now available through 1stBooks Library).
By sharing her experiences, Scholz hopes this book will help survivors of suicide. Aside from personal experiences, she includes a wealth of information from a counseling perspective, ranging from clinical information to motivational and inspirational advice.
Dr. Ross Pilkington, a retired professor emeritus in the Counseling Department at the University of Nebraska-Omaha reviewed "Our Forever Angel" and explains that too often people do not recognize the cause or root of suicide. "Our society generally downplays depression as a causing factor in suicide. We say a person killed himself because he was 'despondent over a broken love affair,' because he 'got a low grade on a test' or because 'she didn't get into the college of her choice.' What these statements overlook is the fact that many people have similar disappointment without ending their own lives. The difference is depression. Depression saps people of the ability to recover from adverse experiences, " he says.
"Our Forever Angel" offers empathy and hope, and encourages survivors to rebuild their lives. Particularly, it offers enlightening discussions on why suicide happens and how to deal with it, allowing yourself to be happy again, helping kids get through the experience and how faith can help you become stronger.
Author Barb Scholz is a model optimist, an inspired storyteller and public speaker. She and her children underwent years of emotional turmoil but successfully overcame them through solid family relationships and faith.
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