My sister Kerri keeps a police scanner on in her kitchen. Last night I received this email from her: 

I don't always "hear" things on the scanner in the background but for whatever reason picked up on this right away jotting notes from the initial call about 10:15 p.m. by a 15-year-old saying his father had shot himself. He and his 11 year old brother and 13 year old cousin were in a back bedroom waiting for the police and ambulance to arrive. The mother was out of town. I jotted down the address and then Googled it. Came up as a listing of a gorgeous log house on the market for $800,000+. It was weird to be looking at pictures of this beautiful home overlooking the lake and picturing those frightened boys in the house. The dispatcher said the boys' grandpa was on his way from the "Coeur d'Alene area." Then the dispatcher said neighbors were on the scene and were with the boys in their car in the driveway. The neighbor had gone into the house and "saw blood and the gun but didn't touch the body."
 
Just a very sad real life drama. Those boys' lives will forever be marked by what life was like before their dad and uncle killed himself and after. So say a little prayer for the boys, they've been through more trauma in the last 90 minutes than anyone should ever see.

When I read the email, my first thought was that this was possibly another distressed homeowner who had come to the end of his rope.  I looked up the home and saw that it was built at the height of the upswing in prices, and it's current assessed value was half of what it cost new.  That's a tough spot to be in. 

A wise man once told me to treat everyone I come in contact with as if they are distressed, and more than 50% of the time I will be correct.  That was 5 years ago, I bet today I'd be right a much higher percentage of the time. The holiday season is especially hard for those struggling and feeling beaten down by life.  Let's all be sensitive to those around us.

I recently had a client of mine tell me that she thought everyone would be better off if she were dead.  That she just couldn't take the financial pressure anymore.  Please learn to recognize the warning signs and how to help.

A good resource for help is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.   

Are you in crisis? Please call 1-800-273-TALK

Are you feeling desperate, alone or hopeless? Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call will be routed to the nearest crisis center to you.

• Call for yourself or someone you care about
• Free and confidential
• A network of more than 140 crisis centers nationwide
• Available 24/7