As a therapist who has lost a patient to suicide, and who treats many people who I often fear will choose to die, and as a human being who has seen the aftermath of the suicide of an extended family member, I wrote Choosing to Live with my colleague Tom Ellis in the hope that we could reach out and help people to save their own lives. We do not take this subject lightly, and we do not treat it casually. It's a very frightening topic. But we want to acknowledge that many people at times feel suicidal, and it doesn't mean they're crazy or hopeless -- just human and hurting. But death is not the answer. We can only hope to solve our problems, and to gain some measure of joy, fulfillment, and meaning, if we LIVE. When we are at our worst points in our lives, death can seem like an attractive option. But most people who feel this way are really ambivalent. They do want to live, but only if they can find some hope, and some relief from their pain. But how? Choosing To Live is our attempt to show people "how." We offer many techniques, some philosophical views, and an entire approach to dealing with depression that is based in the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy, one of the most well-researched and effective non-drug therapies that exists. You can use this book if you feel deeply depressed, or if you know someone who you are worried about (because there is an important section at the end that tells you "what to do" and "what not to do" if your loved one is threatening suicide). If you do counseling, you can make use of the principles in Choosing to Live to have a better handle on life and death situations with your clients. Tom Ellis and I have put our best thoughts, our most cherished personal beliefs, our heart and soul, and some of the best treatment principles that exist today in Choosing to Live. We hope it will be a catalyst in helping people not only to live, but to thrive.
Co-Author, Cory F. Newman