Jason Hairston Founder of Kuiu deceased

[ctwiggs1]

I lost my dad to suicide in December. Can't put into words how sorry I am for their loss.

Sorry for your loss LabChamp.  Can't imagine what you and your family have had to go through.

[LabChamp]

I lost my dad to suicide in December. Can't put into words how sorry I am for their loss.

Really, really sorry for your loss, man.

Thank you. Hes still with us every day in everything we do. Just different ways of communicating now

[LabChamp]

I lost my dad to suicide in December. Can't put into words how sorry I am for their loss.

Sorry for your loss LabChamp.  Can't imagine what you and your family have had to go through.

It has been the most difficult thing I have ever had to go through. Everyday is a new day making the best of it. I just wish I could reach out to jasons son and give him my support. I needed it and still do from my friends and family. The pain is terrifying, and deep. Helps having good friends and family around during the aftermath

[lamrith]

I don't think any of us who are living can fully understand how/why anyone would want to end their life. This is kind of hard to write about but one of my best friend's (was in my wedding) and a long time hunting partner took his own life. I had a good conversation with him only days earlier, we talked about our next hunt, about my business, about his business, and about his next business venture that he was thinking of pursuing. He was one of the most positive minded people I have ever known and an inspiration to me, he invented items, he wrote a golf handbook, he was a custom home builder, he could do anything, for that reason it's hard for me to believe he took his own life. I still think about him often and I still question if he actually took his own life or if there was fowl play and no evidence exists to prove it. But I know a few other people who have committed suicide that I would not have expected to do so. All I can say is that it's very sad for everyone involved and I can only hope that people contemplating such an action will seek help. Perhaps we as a society should be more proactive at helping/encouraging people who have these thoughts to seek professional help? Perhaps confidential professional help should be more available? Like I mentioned I had no idea one of my best friends whom I'd known for decades was even considering ending his life.

Rather than judge anyone with mental issues, I would rather show them compassion and encourage them to seek help. Please seek professional help, do it not only for yourself but for the people that really matter in your life! 

+∞
Thank you for that Bearpaw.  Is is refreshing to see someone stop and put heart and mind into sharing so others may learn and understand.   Mental health issues have ZERO to do with being selfish, weak, or anything a person can control.  Anyone that has not dealt with it 1st hand honestly has no foot to stand on calling someone with a true mental issue selfish or weak.  You are making assumptions that the person even is cognizant/conscious of what they are doing or that it is "wrong".  We are not talking about someone choosing a gender or throwing a committing suicide because their GF/BF left them.

Watching a highly intelligent, kind man vanish over the course of a few months to the point of becoming a toddler for me has been a real shock and heartbreaking.  He quite simply is gone, a complete stranger, but his body lives on.  Being near it will change your way of thinking about just how little we know about the human brain and how it works.

I was a defensive player, and as much as I dislike how much the game of FB has changed the last few years with all the new rules about hits (harder the better IMHO), I understand why they are making the changes based off of the science and tragic long term effects we are seeing in retired players.  This tragedy is a prime example of why.

[funkster]

That poor kid.

No kidding

Horrible last memory of his dad

That’s what I was thinking also. What an emotional roller coasters that poor kid must be on. They just got back from a hunt together. My heart goes out to the little guy.

[Bob33]

How very sad for everyone involved.

From Wikipedia:

Suicide is a major national public health issue in the United States. In 2016, there were 44,965 recorded suicides,[2] up from 42,773 in 2014, according to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).[3][4][5] On average, adjusted for age, the annual U.S. suicide rate increased 24% between 1999 and 2014, from 10.5 to 13.0 suicides per 100,000 people, the highest rate recorded in 28 years.[6][7] Due to the stigma surrounding suicide, it is suspected that it generally is underreported.[8]

In 2015, suicide was the seventh leading cause of death for males and the 14th leading cause of death for females.[9] Additionally, it was the second leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 24 and the third leading cause of death for those between the ages of 10 and 14.[10] From 1999 to 2010, the suicide rate among Americans aged 35 to 64 increased nearly 30 percent. The largest increases were among men in their fifties, with rates rising nearly 50 percent, and for women aged 60 to 64, with rates rising 60 percent.[7] In 2008, it was observed that U.S. suicide rates, particularly among middle-aged white women, had increased, although the causes were unclear.[11]

A study done by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in 2014 stated that suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., imposing a cost of $51 billion to the US annually.[8][9] Other additional facts showed by the study were:[8]
1.The annual age-adjusted suicide rate is 13.26 per 100,000 individuals.
2.Men die by suicide 3.5x more often than women.
3.Women attempt suicide 2x more often than men.
4.On average, there are 121 suicides per day.
5.White males accounted for 7 of 10 suicides in 2015.
6.A firearm is used in almost 50% of all suicides.
7.The rate of suicide is highest in middle age—white men in particular.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_the_United_States


Suicide rates by state (interesting to see how some of the best hunting states have the highest rates):

1. Montana — 26
2. Alaska — 25.4
3. Wyoming — 25.2
4. New Mexico — 22.5
5. Utah — 21.8
6. Nevada — 21.4
7. Idaho — 21.3
8. Oklahoma — 20.9
9. Colorado — 20.5
9. South Dakota — 20.5
11. West Virginia — 19.5
12. North Dakota — 19
13. Missouri — 18.3
14. Arkansas — 18.2
15. Kansas — 17.9
16. Oregon — 17.8
17. Arizona — 17.6
18. New Hampshire — 17.3
18. Vermont — 17.3
20. Kentucky — 16.8
21. Tennessee — 16.3
22. Maine — 15.7
22. South Carolina — 15.7
24. Alabama — 15.6
25. Indiana — 15.4
26. Washington — 14.8
27. Pennsylvania — 14.7
28. Wisconsin — 14.6
29. Iowa — 14.5
30. Louisiana — 14.1
30. Ohio — 14.1
32. Florida — 13.9
33. Georgia — 13.3
33. Michigan — 13.3
35. Minnesota — 13.2
35. Virginia — 13.2
37. Nebraska — 13
37. North Carolina — 13
39. Mississippi — 12.7
40. Texas — 12.6
41. Hawaii — 12
42. Delaware — 11.5
43. Rhode Island — 11.1
44. Illinois — 10.7
45. California — 10.5
46. Connecticut — 10
47. Maryland — 9.3
48. Massachusetts — 8.7
49. New York — 8.1
50. New Jersey — 7.2
51. District of Columbia — 5.1
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/population-health/us-states-ranked-by-suicide-rate.html

[Jpmiller]

If this guy was in such a state of mental instability being out hunting in the Backcountry seems like a terrible dangerous idea.

[Nwgunner]

Watched a documentary about Aaron Hernandez of the New England Patriots...  the guy that ended up in prison on two separate charges for murder and was convicted of one.  Professionals speculate that with all the new info on CTE that today he would have been cleared of both murders because he was criminally insane due to CTE. I guess that if it can clear you of a murder charge we can let suicide pass.

[bearpaw]

I lost my dad to suicide in December. Can't put into words how sorry I am for their loss.

Really, really sorry for your loss, man.

   I'm very sorry to hear of you and your family's loss. 

[farmin4u_98948]

How very sad for everyone involved.

From Wikipedia:

Suicide is a major national public health issue in the United States. In 2016, there were 44,965 recorded suicides,[2] up from 42,773 in 2014, according to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).[3][4][5] On average, adjusted for age, the annual U.S. suicide rate increased 24% between 1999 and 2014, from 10.5 to 13.0 suicides per 100,000 people, the highest rate recorded in 28 years.[6][7] Due to the stigma surrounding suicide, it is suspected that it generally is underreported.[8]

In 2015, suicide was the seventh leading cause of death for males and the 14th leading cause of death for females.[9] Additionally, it was the second leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 24 and the third leading cause of death for those between the ages of 10 and 14.[10] From 1999 to 2010, the suicide rate among Americans aged 35 to 64 increased nearly 30 percent. The largest increases were among men in their fifties, with rates rising nearly 50 percent, and for women aged 60 to 64, with rates rising 60 percent.[7] In 2008, it was observed that U.S. suicide rates, particularly among middle-aged white women, had increased, although the causes were unclear.[11]

A study done by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in 2014 stated that suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., imposing a cost of $51 billion to the US annually.[8][9] Other additional facts showed by the study were:[8]
1.The annual age-adjusted suicide rate is 13.26 per 100,000 individuals.
2.Men die by suicide 3.5x more often than women.
3.Women attempt suicide 2x more often than men.
4.On average, there are 121 suicides per day.
5.White males accounted for 7 of 10 suicides in 2015.
6.A firearm is used in almost 50% of all suicides.
7.The rate of suicide is highest in middle age—white men in particular.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_the_United_States


Suicide rates by state (interesting to see how some of the best hunting states have the highest rates):

1. Montana — 26
2. Alaska — 25.4
3. Wyoming — 25.2
4. New Mexico — 22.5
5. Utah — 21.8
6. Nevada — 21.4
7. Idaho — 21.3
8. Oklahoma — 20.9
9. Colorado — 20.5
9. South Dakota — 20.5
11. West Virginia — 19.5
12. North Dakota — 19
13. Missouri — 18.3
14. Arkansas — 18.2
15. Kansas — 17.9
16. Oregon — 17.8
17. Arizona — 17.6
18. New Hampshire — 17.3
18. Vermont — 17.3
20. Kentucky — 16.8
21. Tennessee — 16.3
22. Maine — 15.7
22. South Carolina — 15.7
24. Alabama — 15.6
25. Indiana — 15.4
26. Washington — 14.8
27. Pennsylvania — 14.7
28. Wisconsin — 14.6
29. Iowa — 14.5
30. Louisiana — 14.1
30. Ohio — 14.1
32. Florida — 13.9
33. Georgia — 13.3
33. Michigan — 13.3
35. Minnesota — 13.2
35. Virginia — 13.2
37. Nebraska — 13
37. North Carolina — 13
39. Mississippi — 12.7
40. Texas — 12.6
41. Hawaii — 12
42. Delaware — 11.5
43. Rhode Island — 11.1
44. Illinois — 10.7
45. California — 10.5
46. Connecticut — 10
47. Maryland — 9.3
48. Massachusetts — 8.7
49. New York — 8.1
50. New Jersey — 7.2
51. District of Columbia — 5.1
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/population-health/us-states-ranked-by-suicide-rate.html

Statistics can be misleading.  This post is proof.  States with lower population will score higher.   That being said.   Also being touched by this   It will never make sense.  But when you are in a hopeless situation, it’s all you see.  You cannot see help all around you

[bradslam]

How very sad for everyone involved.

From Wikipedia:

Suicide is a major national public health issue in the United States. In 2016, there were 44,965 recorded suicides,[2] up from 42,773 in 2014, according to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).[3][4][5] On average, adjusted for age, the annual U.S. suicide rate increased 24% between 1999 and 2014, from 10.5 to 13.0 suicides per 100,000 people, the highest rate recorded in 28 years.[6][7] Due to the stigma surrounding suicide, it is suspected that it generally is underreported.[8]

In 2015, suicide was the seventh leading cause of death for males and the 14th leading cause of death for females.[9] Additionally, it was the second leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 24 and the third leading cause of death for those between the ages of 10 and 14.[10] From 1999 to 2010, the suicide rate among Americans aged 35 to 64 increased nearly 30 percent. The largest increases were among men in their fifties, with rates rising nearly 50 percent, and for women aged 60 to 64, with rates rising 60 percent.[7] In 2008, it was observed that U.S. suicide rates, particularly among middle-aged white women, had increased, although the causes were unclear.[11]

A study done by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in 2014 stated that suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., imposing a cost of $51 billion to the US annually.[8][9] Other additional facts showed by the study were:[8]
1.The annual age-adjusted suicide rate is 13.26 per 100,000 individuals.
2.Men die by suicide 3.5x more often than women.
3.Women attempt suicide 2x more often than men.
4.On average, there are 121 suicides per day.
5.White males accounted for 7 of 10 suicides in 2015.
6.A firearm is used in almost 50% of all suicides.
7.The rate of suicide is highest in middle age—white men in particular.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_the_United_States


Suicide rates by state (interesting to see how some of the best hunting states have the highest rates):

1. Montana — 26
2. Alaska — 25.4
3. Wyoming — 25.2
4. New Mexico — 22.5
5. Utah — 21.8
6. Nevada — 21.4
7. Idaho — 21.3
8. Oklahoma — 20.9
9. Colorado — 20.5
9. South Dakota — 20.5
11. West Virginia — 19.5
12. North Dakota — 19
13. Missouri — 18.3
14. Arkansas — 18.2
15. Kansas — 17.9
16. Oregon — 17.8
17. Arizona — 17.6
18. New Hampshire — 17.3
18. Vermont — 17.3
20. Kentucky — 16.8
21. Tennessee — 16.3
22. Maine — 15.7
22. South Carolina — 15.7
24. Alabama — 15.6
25. Indiana — 15.4
26. Washington — 14.8
27. Pennsylvania — 14.7
28. Wisconsin — 14.6
29. Iowa — 14.5
30. Louisiana — 14.1
30. Ohio — 14.1
32. Florida — 13.9
33. Georgia — 13.3
33. Michigan — 13.3
35. Minnesota — 13.2
35. Virginia — 13.2
37. Nebraska — 13
37. North Carolina — 13
39. Mississippi — 12.7
40. Texas — 12.6
41. Hawaii — 12
42. Delaware — 11.5
43. Rhode Island — 11.1
44. Illinois — 10.7
45. California — 10.5
46. Connecticut — 10
47. Maryland — 9.3
48. Massachusetts — 8.7
49. New York — 8.1
50. New Jersey — 7.2
51. District of Columbia — 5.1
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/population-health/us-states-ranked-by-suicide-rate.html

Statistics can be misleading.  This post is proof.  States with lower population will score higher.   That being said.   Also being touched by this   It will never make sense.  But when you are in a hopeless situation, it’s all you see.  You cannot see help all around you

Not sure what you mean.  The rates listed are per 100,000 people.  Total population of the state doesn't affect the rate.

[cavemann]

I've internally debated whether to comment and decided I would..  For those who have lost loved ones to suicide I can relate and have experienced the same.  It is an empty feeling, frustrating and even angering.  In no way am I dismissing those feelings or telling you what opinion to have..  Those affected are left with unanswered questions...

For those also directly impacted by mental illness, I can tell you from personal experience unless you have it you can't relate.  Cancer appears as a tumor and you can see the pain/suffering as the body deteriorates.  Broken bones need cast and you can see the damage and relate to the pain.  Mental illness is invisible and I've explained at times as I try to understand my own as trying to understand how electron/protons crash around and make computers work...  It's overwhelming, invisible and sometimes impossible to comprehend.  Even with the smartest physicist explaining it, most of us can't comprehend it...  As is the case with mental illness..  Even with a doctor explaining it, it's still not tangible and nearly impossible to comprehend what it does to you.

Most have experienced being intoxicated and most all accept peoples actions intoxicated are not what they'd be if they weren't.  We've all done stupid things in those moments and often times it is greeted with a laugh and someones else story similar..  Well, mental illness works in a similar way but you don't get to pick when it happens or how severe the impact is that day.

EPSN is getting ready to release SEAU 30/30 and I'm looking forward to it..  It's kind of what prompted me to post. 

Just sharing my own experience and opinion.  Sorry for those of you who have been through this with family/friend and I feel terrible for Jason's family.

[bradslam]

Thanks for posting cavemann.  As someone who sees this on a continual basis at work, the lack of understanding about mental illness/depression gets really old.  People can't just "toughen up" and deal with it, and applying character traits like selfishness to someone whose brain is acting in a non-rational way is ridiculous.

[2MANY]

Nice post Cavemann.

That helps myself understand.

[Hoythunter]

Nice post Cavemann.

That helps myself understand.

X2