Iyamah’s Self-Wellness Friday.

I'm going to dive right in. Suicide has been on the rise lately. I've read once that the rates of self-afflicted deaths are higher than the other months during the winter season. I don't know why that is; maybe it has to do with being closed in during those coldest times.

Holiday times are back to back, and it's in those times that are usually shared with loved ones or not. The coldest months of the year can be the harshest emotional time for some. Those months can also be the loneliness and hardest for those pretending to be happy.

I suppose people feel that they can handle whatever they may be going through on a day-to-day basis. Depression, anxiety, and any form of mental illness are real, and a strong support team is needed the most during crucial times. I guess people struggling to remain strong amid the darkness that may appear from time to time, may seem like their in an ongoing battle.

In this beautiful world, life can seem ugly for some. Smiles may cover the anguish and hurtful feelings within. Physical pain can be treacherous, but emotional pain is just as unbearing. I have had some people that were in my life commit suicide. This one girl was a gorgeous woman inside and out. I couldn't believe that she took her own life, but she was obviously hiding feelings of overall despair when she came around.

I wrestled with pondering her last thoughts or what she was going through, days, months, minutes, and even seconds before she faced her tragic demise. The toxicology report showed no signs of drugs, alcohol, medication, or poisons.

I have seen personally or I have seen people on television who appeared extremely happy right before taking their lives. I have witnessed incredibly, loving, and the most caring people who never seem to be happy. You just never know what a person is going through in their head.

This past week, actress Regina King's son took his own life. A beautiful young lady by the name of Cheslie Kryst, a correspondent on the popular show Extra, apparently took her own life as well.

We all go through some trying times, and we hope to conquer those difficult moments, and we wish the same for our loved ones. It is a fact that everyone does not make it to see the brighter days. There are people of all ages that feel as if they're dealing with too much to handle. If I am going through something hard to deal with alone, I wish to have someone in my corner that will help me pull through firmly. Ultimately, it is you, and only you can make that decision to keep going.

Thank God that I have an incredible support team that I can rely on for emotional balance. Thank God that I, too, have been an extreme comfort for some people who have needed me the most.

I wish I could help anyone who may need me when they feel worthless, down, or unmotivated. I believe many people do not want to kill themselves; they just wish for someone to trust and talk to through their ugliness. They just want someone to understand how they are thinking and why. Some people feel that they are an outcast to others, and they feel as if they're not strong enough to handle that.

I'm not saying that I got this thing figured out. Suicide is complicated. I'm only sharing my perspective on a complex and heart-wrenching situation.

I have not had an easy life; I have been emotionally traumatized since I was a kid. And as an adult, I have experienced a few paralysis stings that would have destroyed me if I had not been a resilient and robust spiritual force not to be reckoned with.

During those times, I stepped out of myself and asked the creator of all things to take over because I felt that I might need help with strengthening my body, mind, and soul.

God works miracles. I give all thanks to the almighty for constructing me concrete through my darkest and most uncertain moments. I send love to all those who may be going through some rough times in their life.

I pray that you all get past whatever may be unsettling in your spirit and soul. Remember to check in on your friends and family who live alone, or who have lost a loved one, and on your strong friends who seem to have it all together. Please seek help immediately if you feel suicidal—love, peace, and joy to everyone.