TW (suicide/OD) - how many people do you know who have died?

[Whichwhatnow]

Didn't really know where to put this. I'm just wondering if I and my social group are anomalies in the amount of peers who have either killed themselves, OD'd or died of addiction issues? I've averaged at least two a year since I was 16 (now 38) and have had two suicides of good friends in just the last week. In one case the partner of the guy who died by suicide lost her partner in exactly the same way two years ago, leaving her with two toddlers in her early twenties. This is fucked up isn't it? The other suicide was my sister's ex, and she already lost her fiance to addiction issues a few years ago when pregnant. I feel like I have more dead friends than alive. Is anyone's else's social circle like this or is mine particularly toxic??

One people? One person. Typo because I said two originally, but the other was euthanasia so a bit different (old, terminally ill, near the end)

Ah, I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank you for the work you do in criminal defence, it’s a hard profession but so important.

Oh - I know of quite a number of attempts though. Under exam pressure at university probably six or seven friends and acquaintances made attempts on their own lives, although who knows which of those were a cry for help and which really wanted to go through with it

I knew two people personally who died by suicide, one when he was 19, the other when he was late 20s. I don't know anyone who has died from addiction.

None in my family or among my friends or work colleagues. I am in my 60's

I'm from a traveller background (new age, not Irish or Romany). So yes lots of drugs, addiction issues, mental health issues. I think once you have had a few friends die through suicide or OD it kind of makes it easier to see that as an option. I know I have. So sorry to hear of others' losses.

I've had one good friend die of cancer, in her late 30s. Tbh it was more of a shock than anything that she died of natural causes.

I don't know anybody personally who has died by suicide. I've lost 2 friends (accident/illness) and some older family members (cancer/old age/heart attack) but that's it.

I also don't know very many people who have had addiction problems.

Sorry for being maudlin guys! Probably should just step away for now. Thanks everyone and massive sympathy to everyone who has suffered losses

It’s good that you’ve been able to get it off your chest OP. I hope it’s helped 💐

I would say that's very unusual and I'm sorry you've had to go through this. I'm 33 and don't know anyone (personally) who's died from suicide/addiction/overdose

I know 2 directly, in that one was family and one a close friend of my partners. I know of (I think) 6 who I 'know' to the extent that I'd have said hi in the street.

No, that’s entirely untrue. It is however a leading cause of death in people (esp men) under 25 - mainly because they’re too young to die of the other things that kill people early, like heart disease and cancers.

I'm really shocked and saddened to read how many people some of you know who've died this way. I had one friend who died by suicide and don't know anyone who's died from OD or addiction. And I know a huge number of people.

I'm so sorry OP. That's a lot of sadness to go through.

I'm in my mid 50s and I've known of a few suicides in my lifetime until now but they weren't people I actually knew and had never met them: partners of friends of friends and all happened a long time ago. A friend of DD's took his life in the last week. He was only 20. My DD is so distraught about it and I can only imagine what this poor lad's family are going through. I met him a number times over the last 7/8 years and he was a really lovely person. I'm feeling so sad about it 😞

O, none at all

I am in my 40s and have only known 1 indirectly (friend of a friend), nobody close to me has.

Again so sorry for other people who have gone through this. I really think once a couple of your peer group have died like this it just becomes normal? I've been sectioned twice for trying to commit suicide (probably tmi there), but there are so many people I know who have tried it just feels like a perfectly valid option.

I should probably get some therapy.

Many of the people I associated with during my teenage years are dead or in prison. I had a crap childhood and was homeless for a while. Similar for the friend group at the time. We were all messed up and used drugs along with an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.

Absolutely the same here. Including my parents' generation. I don't think I really know of anyone sober and 'normal'

Yes I agree exploring therapy would be a good idea, if you feel it might help you. You've been through a huge volume of traumatic events losing so many people.

Baffled me as well.

It's a straight forward description of their deaths. If it unsettles you, ask yourself why.

Very sad reading here.
I've only known 1 person to die by suicide, a colleague back in the 90s.

I’m in my 50s and know quite a few -perhaps ten. None by drugs or addiction or OD, though. All were men.

A few. Since we're on the subject, I have a couple of opinions I wouldn't usually share (however this thread is about suicide): it's contagious. And talking about it to the extent we're all encouraged to do on social media/in campaigns probably does more harm than good. And if not, it doesn't help in any case. The narrative is 'just reach out, just tell someone'. Once it gets to that point that's just not going to work. People kill themselves either because they've made a choice based on being disillusioned with life or literally can't afford to continue in it, or because of mental illness. It's not a case of just talking it over with someone and then that person is going to magically give you solutions or fix your brain.
Sorry for your losses, OP. And sorry you're having a shitty day