Immediately after the shocking deaths of both Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell and Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington, many people, like Korn's Brian "Head" Welch lashed out, saying what was done should be considered selfish to the people left behind. But, anybody who has studied suicide prevention will tell you – the act is not selfish.
One person who has gone on the record discussing suicidal thoughts was Slipknot/Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor. He spoke to Loudwire recently, and gave his thoughts on people calling the two late musicians cowards:
“Calling them ‘cowards’ is a very immature way of looking at it. Obviously they’re hurt, which is why they’re lashing out and saying that. It’s the easy way to look at something like that because it makes you not have to face what a serious issue it is.
It’s easy for someone to label it like that so they can turn their back on it and pretend that it was something that didn’t happen to them, when inside they’re hurting. People who fight depression are almost in a constant state of hurting. it comes and goes, the tide rises, the tide ebbs. It’s hard to get past that break. I think people need to realize that not only is that immature, but it’s cop out. And it’s needlessly, needlessly simplifying a very real issue…”
Taylor discussed his own manic depression and how he's dealing with the loss of two friends:
“It is a goddamn tragedy. That does not make them cowards. I’ve even heard people recently say something to the fact of, ’It was bound to happen. This was always going to happen.’
And I’ve gotten so angry hearing that that I’ve gone on record saying, ‘You are absolutely wrong for saying that.’ No one… Suicide should not be a foregone conclusion. That means you’re not listening. You say you care about that person, that means you’re not listening.”
At the end of the interview, Corey encouraged people looking for help to check out YouCannotBeReplaced.com and YouRockFoundation.org
If you or someone you care about is thinking about suicide, please reach out to someone who can help. Here is an excellent write-up by my friend Stabitha explaining what you should do if you or a friend need help. In the United States, the national Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. International readers can find your country's number here.
