Graphics and Posters featured are from Suicide Prevention Nebraska and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
By Brian Hale
It is with absolute great sadness that we share this story. Our first thoughts and prayers are with Nick’s family and friends and anyone else personally affected by this tragic ending.
This is a story that we saw a couple of days ago from the Nebraska State Patrol. We hesitated to share it since it was out of our immediate area. But the more we thought about it, the more we wanted to post it.
Suicide is real and we know that the issue is not going to get better if we ignore it.
We’ve always been big on mental health awareness. So this morning we were going to share it. Then, we saw the update on this post. 😞
UPDATE
The following updated details from the NSP were shared by Platte Valley Media for the purpose of bringing more awareness in an attempt to create solutions to this growing problem.
***GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING***
The point of this news post is to raise awareness about suicide and to check up on others.
Nick Whitaker took to social media to post his thoughts shortly before he took his own life. His post can be found below ⬇️
“This is just a general announcement so no one has to find out way late, right after I post this I’ll be popping myself in the head with my pistol. I’m 100% sober writing this but will be getting shitty drunk so I don’t hesitate when I decide its time. More than likely around 4ish. 1 don’t wanna say just the last 3-4 months have caused this by themselves but those 3-4 months for sure influenced my decision today. To sum everything up and give a level headed answer as to why; I don’t got anymore fight left in me.
Genuinely, I’m beat to shit mentally and I’m not pulling through with this one. I’m not strong enough to keep up like this and I’m to messed up in the head to fix anything about it(trust me, I’ve been trying since I’ve been on my own). Until next time homies, hope yall do well in life and find the happiness you deserve. I’ll be rooting for yall wherever the afterlife takes me.
P.S. one last pic for everyone to remember me by, I wanted to enjoy my last few minutes and a beer and smoke suited my needs perfectly.”
End of post.
ORIGINAL POST shared to us from the Nebraska State Patrol ⬇️
NSP Investigating Death in David City
JANUARY 24, 2024 (LINCOLN, NEB.) — The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating an incident during which a subject died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while talking with law enforcement officers in David City.
The incident occurred Tuesday at approximately 5:10 p.m., when David City officers and Butler County deputies were called to a report of a suicidal party at a residence in the 200 block of N. 4th Street in David City. The subject was located on a back porch of the residence and was observed with a handgun. A trooper also arrived on scene to assist.
After lengthy attempts to convince the subject not to harm himself, the subject fired one shot at himself. Officers immediately provided aid. The subject was transported to Butler County Health Care Center where he was pronounced deceased.
No law enforcement officers were injured in this incident. No officers fired a weapon during the incident. Because the death occurred during an interaction with law enforcement, the Butler County Attorney’s Office has requested the Nebraska State Patrol conduct an in-custody death investigation.
— End of NSP post
Shocking, But There Is Hope
It’s shocking, but as we take in what we just read, we cannot remain in shock. We must do something!
Talk to your friends. See how they’re doing.
Uplift others. You never know when you could have saved a life and not even know it.
Stop complaining about everything you read or hear.
Look for the positive in people, and tell them about it genuinely.
Just be there for a friend and do nothing more than listen.
Stop stigmatizing mental health and drug addiction.
Be an encourager.
Practice random acts of kindness.
Take action today. There are so many things that we can do to make a difference in another person’s life.
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