I was saddened to see two deaths attributed to suicide in the police blotter section of the last issue of the Mirror.

Suicide is a devastating way to lose a loved one, it leaves so many questions unanswered. After losing my brother John to suicide on March 19, 15 years ago, I got involved with Auburn Survivors of Suicide, a local support group for those of us who have lost a loved one to suicide. No one should attempt to heal from a loss such as this alone.

In the U.S. in 2013, over 41,000 people died by suicide. Washington state is 24th on the list with over 1,000 suicide deaths. Data for 2014 is not yet available.

Mental illness is often at the root of suicide, mental illness that goes untreated and undiagnosed. Often, too, the person is simply seeking an end to their pain. If you know someone who is suicidal please talk to them, listen to them. If you have lost someone to suicide, you don’t have to be alone. We treat so many medical maladies — we need to also treat the mental and emotional pain that so many suffer from.

For more information about Auburn Survivors of Suicide, go to www.auburnsos.com.

If you are in crisis, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255), the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Catherine North, Federal Way