February 4, 2009

Just Another Statistic

Did you know that in 2001, 30622 people committed suicide in the United States?

And that suicide is the third leading cause of death for people aged 15-24?

And that the numbers are only rising?

Statistics are great. They get the point across. They're not hard to understand; they're clean-cut.

But who were these people? What made them tick?

I knew one of them. But it bothers me that I have no idea who the rest were. They have no identity aside from a number. And to most people out there, Eva is just like the others- just another statistic of teenage suicide.

People are not tidy numbers. They are messy.

Suicides aren't just suicides; at one point they were people.

3 comments:

  1. At least you remember Eva though, because she is remembered by you she will never just be a statistic.

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  2. Thats the problem with statistlics they are just cold hard numbers, no personal story attatcehed to them , nothing to make it real, to show the full effect of the final act. Hannah X

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  3. MY MOMMA COMMITED SUICITE OCT 3, 2006.SHE WAS 57 YEARS OLD. I TOO AM STILL ABSOLUTELY DEVISTATED....

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