Vice President of Suicide.org Betsy Goodale (21) took her own life

[StarrySky87]

Betsy and Roxann Goodale were sisters who both died from suicide. I don't know, but somehow their stories touched me. I don't know much about Roxann except the fact that she took her own life, but Betsy seemed to be extremely desparate about the loss of her sister and I read some of her posts on Facebook and MySpace.

Betsy: http://mydeathspace.com/article/2012...k_her_own_life
Roxann: http://mydeathspace.com/article/2007...ith_depression

There's a text on Betsys Facebook page she wrote just a couple of months before her death. She put a picture of her dead sister lying in her casket under it, but I won't post it here. You'll see it when you click this link.

I?m so fucking tired of ignorant people. EVERYDAY I have to deal with this shit. Everytime I go to my german history class suicide always seems to come up, and it?s all just a big joke to them! A JOKE! Today the prof put a written piece that some guy did about the coffee house, the whole thing was suppose to be about how everyone can go to the coffee house, or whatever. One of the lines were ?If you feel like committing suicide ? Coffeehouse!? I almost cried. Everyone else laughed. It?s fucking hilarious, isn?t it? Yes, laugh at my dead sister, laugh at Kim?s dead brother, laugh at all of the victims that the illness killed! And yes, it is an illness, IT IS NOT A CHOICE TO DIE BY SUICIDE. And it is definitely not a JOKE! If that had said ?If you have cancer ? Coffeehouse!? there wouldn?t have been a reaction. Why is that any different? Let?s all laugh at all of the people who have cancer! It?s hilarious, isn?t it? No, it?s not. Suicide is exactly like having cancer. It is an ILLNESS. Victims don?t ASK FOR IT. And it is UNCONTROLLABLE! It is not a CRIME. Update your vocabulary. You ?commit? homicide, you ?commit? genocide, you ?commit? an act of violence, you do NOT ?commit? suicide. You die from suicide. Do you ?commit? cancer? No, you die from it. Get out of the stone age people. You are only PROMOTING the negative stigma and because of that people with this illness are dying. They refuse to seek help because people will think they are crazy, or a criminal. My sister was certainly NOT A CRIMINAL! Kim?s brother was NOT A CRIMINAL! Ginny?s son was NOT A CRIMINAL! Open your eyes and just stop using that out of date phrase so carelessly. Everytime I hear it I literally want to jump off a building, it?s the most offensive thing you can say to me. I?ve been through enough in my life. I lost my family, I lost my friends, I lost myself, I lost my home. I?ve been through hell, yet I get up in the morning thinking that maybe people have changed, maybe they aren?t asses anymore. I work on suicide support and prevention constantly, I help people in crisis, I?ve talked TONS of people out of suicide. Suicide prevention has become my life, if you?re laughing at the concept of suicide then you?re laughing at me. If you think it?s funny then I cant respect you, or stay your friend. I?m so tired of ignorant people.

I?m going to have to quit school or something, because I certainly cant handle this ignorance anymore.

What is wrong with you people?

Another one, five days before the other one:

I had been venting my frustrations with Kevin about the stigma associated with suicide for a while now and had another encounter with it the other night. I wish everyone would get their heads out of their asses and learn that mental illness is not to be ashamed of and that suicide is not a choice, it's a fucking illness. I'm so tired of this shit.

Stigma and Suicide
by Kevin Caruso

If you had a broken leg, you would go to a hospital immediately. There would be no hesitation, and no consideration about what others would "think." And after you left the hospital, you would not hide out in your house because you would be afraid of being discriminated against because of your "condition." You would just go on with your life.

No big deal. A broken leg. A cast. And in a few months, a healed bone.

But what if a stigma was attached to having a broken leg? Then what? What if you could lose your job because of it? What if people would treat you differently because of it? What if people said that you were weak because of it? Weak? Yes. Only weak people get broken legs. So, you are weak! And what if people told you that your broken leg was all in you mind? That you just needed to be "strong"? That you were choosing to have a broken leg? And what if you lost friends because of your broken leg? Remember--you are a weak person for having a broken leg, and don't you ever forget it. And what if people whispered behind your back about you because of your broken leg? After all, only crazy people have broken legs. You didn't know that? Well now you do. You are crazy! That's right, crazy!

So you are ridiculed incessantly, become a pariah, lose your job, lose friends, and now you start believing that you actually are weak and crazy. And the pain of the broken leg is unbearable because you never sought treatment. How could you? The "broken-leg stigma" prevented you from getting help.

So you begin having suicidal thoughts. You want to end it all. You cannot go on.

Sound far fetched? Unfortunately this scenario unfolds every day. And it certainly could happen to you, except not with a broken leg, but with a mental illness.

Because of the stigma (the ignorant stigma, mind you) that still exists concerning mental illness, many people who need help do not seek it. Even though there is clear scientific data that indicates irrefutably that a physical connection exists with most mental disorders, many people still stigmatize others because they stupidly hold on to the misguided beliefs of yesteryear that people with mental disorders are weak or just lack will power.

So, again, many people who need help do not get it because of this ridicuous stigma. So they try to live their lives with untreated mental disorders, like depression.

Unfortunately, untreated mental disorders can lead to suicide.

So, what needs to be done? First, if you need treatment, get it now. It does not matter what stupid and ignorant people think, what matters is that you get help for yourself. Period. Do not allow ignorant people to cause you any more pain than you are now feeling. And remember, their ignorance and stupidity is their problem, not yours.

So, if you or anyone that you know needs help, get help now.

And remember that there are a lot of great people who are caring and compassionate (and definitely not ignorant!) that want to help you, if you just give them a chance. So, reach out for help. Use the information on the suicide.org website as a guide. Get help now if you need it. Do not hesitate.

And if you do not have a mental disorder and are reading this out of curiosity, then I would ask you to examine your beliefs. Where do you stand? Are you helping perpetuate this stigma of mental illness, or are you helping to eliminate it. If you need to adjust your mindset because you may still be clinging onto ignorant belifs about mental illness, then you should do so. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

We all need to examine our beliefs, and try to purge any ignorance or insensitivities that we may have with regards to mental illness, because a mental illness is just like any other illness. It can be diagnosed and treated. And the person can get better.

If you are a compassionate, loving person who has eliminated any stigmas of mental illness from your thinking, then you should let your voice be heard and help reduce the level of ignorance about mental illness in our society.

The most important thing that we can all do for people who are mentally ill is to get them help as quickly as possible, while we show them as much love and concern as possible.

Immediate treatment, without stigma, should be our ultimate objective. Because when more people receive treatment for mental illness, there will be fewer suicides.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/betsy...de/26502649291

This makes me really sad. Rest in peace, Betsy and Roxann.

[animosity]

she sure did love her sum animals. RIP sisters.

[g r ee n ey e s]

I wonder if she took pills too?

[Olivia]

I wonder if she took pills too?

I think she did. I was reading her Myspace when I was adding her article and someone on there posted after she died asking why drugs were so easy to get to use for suicide. I'm on my phone so will screenshot it later.

[beli]

I feel bad for thinking if she was vice president of suicide.org, this should not be a surprise? ugh.

I wish the world isn't the way it is, Betsy. RIP and I hope you finally found peace.

[g r ee n ey e s]

I feel bad for thinking if she was vice president of suicide.org, this should not be a surprise? ugh.

I wish the world isn't the way it is, Betsy. RIP and I hope you finally found peace.

The way I read it, they posthumously made her Vice President.

[mydeathspace]

I feel bad for thinking if she was vice president of suicide.org, this should not be a surprise? ugh.

This is the type of shit I would expect from you if/when I am mauled by a rabid bear some day.

[beli]

actually, no. i think because you made this website, you will surpass all of us assholes in death. like live until 109 or some shit lol.

[Olivia]

Her myspace - http://www.myspace.com/larawr

[songbirdsong]

It is not a CRIME. Update your vocabulary. You "commit" homicide, you "commit" genocide, you "commit" an act of violence, you do NOT "commit" suicide. You die from suicide.

I never really thought about that before. Interesting. I hope they found peace.

[bowieluva]

I never really thought about that before. Interesting. I hope they found peace.

She's incorrect, though.

You do commit suicide. It's not some accident. It's not untreatable cancer.

[PunkerDuckie]

You take enough of most over the counter drugs they'll kill you too. it doesn't have to be a prescription. the last fatal od I went on was a Costco sized bottle of Tylenol pm. People will find a way if they want to. it's sad.

[emmieslost]

Yes, you commit suicide. And I'm sorry but some of us have to laugh and make jokes to cope and heal. No its not funny except when it is funny.

[g r ee n ey e s]

Yes, you commit suicide. And I'm sorry but some of us have to laugh and make jokes to cope and heal. No its not funny except when it is funny.

[Deviant Toaster]

It's very sad that she was so distraught over her sisters death that in trying to help others, she lost her life. I mean she was on that site helping other survivors and eventually gave up the good fight herself as a survivor. It does not surprise me that she worked for such an organization. I am sure at one point it helped her deal with her own feelings. I get why she went on about suicide not being a crime and that you do not commit it. I think in her way of thinking she was trying to dismantle the stigma of mental health and suicide, but when it comes down to it you both commit and die from suicide. I am with Bowie on this one. I feel for these girls' family.

RIP Besty & Roxann

[bowieluva]

I'm sorry, but those are people who are trying to absolve themselves of the responsibility of getting help and working through something. Specifically, the anger over wording that implies personal responsibility for actions.

[animosity]

got cancer? coffehouse!
rampant acne? coffeehouse!
elephantiasis? coffeehouse!

what's not funny about that? if you ask me, perhaps folks with a sense of humor don't commit suicide.

[Deviant Toaster]

I'm sorry, but those are people who are trying to absolve themselves of the responsibility of getting help and working through something. Specifically, the anger over wording that implies personal responsibility for actions.

I might not have worded it right, but I am in agreement with you on it.

[animosity]

[bowieluva]

Wrong thread?

[animosity]

Wrong thread?

er, um... i thought the thread needed a little levity? kinda a downer right?

[g r ee n ey e s]

All of that was amazing.

[duckers]

Yes, you commit suicide. And I'm sorry but some of us have to laugh and make jokes to cope and heal. No its not funny except when it is funny.

Situational humor; my fav

[UncomfortablyNumb]

got cancer? coffehouse!
rampant acne? coffeehouse!
elephantiasis? coffeehouse!

what's not funny about that? if you ask me, perhaps folks with a sense of humor don't commit suicide.

Disagree. I happen to enjoy funny shit and I laugh constantly. Deep down it's another story and I have to fight it daily. People who want to off themselves can laugh too.

[animosity]

i was joking...