Kate Spade & The Impact of Suicide

When I heard the news about Kate Spade committing suicide, I was in total shock. I’ve been a huge fan of her’s for years. Then three days later, I turn on the morning news and Anthony Bourdain has gone the same way. I couldn’t sit silent anymore.

I remember the moment I purchased my first item from Kate Spade. It was a bright pink tea length dress with POCKETS and a big bow in front and it fit perfectly. That same day I was able to meet Tim Gunn from Project Runway because of my purchase. Needless to say that day had a big impact on me.

When I saw a record shaped purse in a Kate Spade shop one day, I saved to get it. I just knew I had to have it. And it was my go to concert purse until my iPhone got too large to fit in this past March. I hope that it is in a loving home now.

And when I was thinking of moving out to Denver, my bestie and I were shopping one day and saw gitter wallets in different colors and we each had to have one.

Kate Spade has been a fixture in my adult life and I wouldn't have it any other way. So to hear this news was devastating. Someone I’ve admired for so long, just gone. And it’s not the first time in my life that suicide has had a huge impact on my life.

Years ago on one of my days off, I sat on the couch about to watch Julie and Julia when when my phone rang, weird for the middle of my day off. A close relative had died. I was in utter shock, because this person wasn’t old enough to have died all of the sudden. The following day, I found out that they had committed suicide, which made the death that much more difficult to comprehend. Why hadn’t I noticed, was there anything I could have done differently? That shock put me in a mental state with many confusing feelings. Mostly devastation.

Because I cannot imagine taking my own life, suicide is such a shocking thing to hear about. I sit here at the park, breathing in the fresh air, the sun on my face, thinking of all the things I want to do and see in my life. I can’t imagine cutting it short.

BUT I’m not everyone. Everyone feels differently. Sometimes life gets tough and suicide can seem like a way to ease the pain. But we need you here. We are here to talk to you. If not us someone anonymous. Let the ones who will be devastated by losing you help you. It can be a scary, difficult and joyless time. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that is your happiness. We love you!

Call 1-800-273-8255 24 hours a day to speak to someone who can help.