A couple of weeks ago, a young man in his thirties, jumped to his death from a 45-story Manhattan office building. He lost his job from Solomon Brothers and was out of work a whole year.

He had a day pass to a spa on the roof of the building that also houses other finance giants like Credit Suisse. Off he went, following the only solution he felt at the moment, would assuage his pain. How ironic that he chose a spa as life’s exit door.

How very sad this is to me as a job search assistant in a non profit employment and training agency. This gentleman could have had access to a number of support clubs for camaraderie, free debt counseling and consolidation and so much more, including a National Emergency Grant up to $12,500. for displaced financial workers, to upgrade and augment job skills for his field or acquire new ones for career change…

Perhaps the stress of prolonged joblessness led to his illusion of a profound loss of hope and purpose. Perhaps he was deeply entrenched in monetary debt and saw no other way out. Perhaps those who have lost jobs feel as disconnected and choked off from life, like the astronaut in the movie, who writhed in agony in his final moments in 2001: A Space Odyssey, when his oxygen line was cut off, tricked by deceit of an evil computer that took on human qualities. Or perhaps there were other issues that led him to ending his life and the job loss was just one of a number of mitigating factors.

One thing is for sure: I am sorry no one knew or could stop him because if someone could have, the young man’s perspective or attitude might have changed enough to have seen his life circumstances differently.

It is always my fear that people might cross my path severely depressed than they let on or I realize, but I recognize how easily this could happen. Although I am not trained in suicide prevention and would never purport to be, and I am not a licensed or professional mental health therapist or psychologist, in my capacity, I try to be a sentry and push even if I’m exhausted or distracted—and still conduct myself professionally. But when someone says, even casually, that they’re going to “end it all” if they don’t find work soon, I take it very seriously. I would hope that if confronted with a person in the suicidal throes of life, that I would be one of these who could rescue someone from the edge. So what I do is to call a hotline while the person is at my desk (I do the same for a victim of domestic violence) and put the phone to the person’s ear. Or if the person isn’t present, I summon a certified social worker’s intervention.

Frankly, I’m surprised I haven’t seen the topic of suicide addressed since the economic crisis came down on us with a resounding boom and left collateral damage of thousands of dislocated and displaced people in its wake. Perhaps we are afraid of “bringing up the topic,” much like the fear of sex education in school, because we wonder if the power of suggestion makes people want to…But address it, we must!

Life can be cruel, merciless and unforgiving sometimes. We may feel that we are wandering a desert or living our lives behind a glass wall with people in our lives walking right by us, unable to hear us. Throw in a job loss and mounting bills—well—it’s just another slap in the face. An insult to injury. The straw that breaks the camel’s back. A sword looming over us, seeming to somehow saying, “You’re not OK and you OWE this and that…” But the ego, twisted in profound pain, threatens annihilation. We can’t take anymore….

DON’T LISTEN TO IT!

 Depending on how we look at it, how do we change our point of view or perspective and matter of degree? Perhaps with a peace elixir that is beginning to gain popularity in our times: faith with prayer.

I make a public plea to anyone contemplating ending one’s life over a job loss: Don’t do it. It’s not worth it. Don’t let life’s detours kill you. You’re not singled out, punished, or as alone as you think. It’s not a crime to lose a job. You’re not a “bad” person because you have bills you can’t pay. I respect and acknowledge your feelings of utter desperation. I know that people tie in their self worth with what they do for a “living.” That’s why I’m in this field. I know all too well, the frustration of innumerable, unanswered Internet ad applications. I know about the rest of life’s pain, too.

Hold your hand out, come out of the darkness, follow the light to a meetup group and access services of a local career center. Call a trusted friend who never disappoints just to talk it out. Call a 24 hr. suicide hotline and be calmed and reassured. You’ll start to see things from a different perspective. The problems will be there but they will have no power over you, as they should not. If your current friends and blood/name relatives aren’t willing or able to uphold the positive in you, get out there and find new folks who may care more than you ever imagined. Out of a planet of five billion plus people, someone is bound to see the best in you.

And if you’re not contemplating such a grave act, I am happy and relived to hear that. You’ve recognized job loss and any other life frustration plaguing you for what it is and no more than that. Everything passes…time does heal.

Either way, YOU are more important and bigger than that!

For New York and national help in all states:

http://suicidehotlines.com/

1-800-784-2433

1-800-273-8255

For free career services, skills training, community referrals,find the One Stop Career Center nearest you: www.servicelocator.org and tap in your zip code.

-By The Job Enthusiast Who Won’t Rest Till Everyone Is Put To Work!

Read about more helpful resources from The Job Enthusiast here.