It’s no secret that my favourite band since I was fifteen and through my teens, twenties and now thirties has been Linkin Park. Their lyrics resinated with me as a teen and fuelled many of my stories and writing as an adult. Seeing them live in 2007 was a dream come true. The past few months I’ve been listening to their latest album, One More Light, almost non-stop and am loving their new sound and how their music has evolved and grown with me over the years. Now with the passing of the amazingly talented Chester Bennington, I’m sad to know that after seventeen years of listening to his voice I won’t hear it in a new song again. And although Chester’s passing has once again shone a light on suicide, it’s important to know it’s not just the rich and famous who are taking their own lives.

The statistics in Australia alone are shocking. Suicide, *is the leading cause of death for males and females aged between 15 and 44. In a typical year, about 3,000 people in Australia die by suicide. That’s an average of 8 people every day. I personally believe our culture has a lot to answer for when it comes to the pressures people are put under and put themselves under on a daily basis. We are told we need to have this and achieve that, but no one is teaching us how to cope with the stresses and pressures we are dealing with. I’m not saying I have all of the answers, but I do believe simply being aware of the facts, and creating awareness is at least a small step in the right direction.

It’s our responsibly as humans to look out for each other, to remind ourselves what’s important, and make sure we ask the question, ‘are you okay?’ It’s also important to notice changes in peoples demeanour and personalities, and check in on them if you think somethings not quite right.

In October this year, myself and three other amazing ladies, are hosting a Ladies Night to raise funds for charity Beyond Blue. As someone who has dealt with depression on and off since I was a young teenager, I understand the importance of having someone to talk to and turn to when you are in a bad place. I also understand how hard it is to seek help when you don’t feel like there are any answers. If you have a dollar to spare, please help our event by donating to this amazing cause HERE.

RIP Chester Bennington.

If you or someone you know needs help please contact one of the services below:

Lifeline – 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
beyondblue Support Service – 1300 22 4636
Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800

*Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2008). Causes of Death, Australia 2015, preliminary data., Cat. no. (3303.0). Canberra: ABS.