FINDING THE SONG: LIVING AFTER ATTEMPTING SUICIDE
Amy R. Saltz
Independently Published (2020)
ISBN 9781698963969
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (07/2020)
“Finding the Song: Living After Attempting Suicide,” tells author Amy Saltz’s journey of having to overcome the tragic pain she suffered after she attempted suicide as a teen. Not only was she let down by a flawed mental health care system, she also had to deal with the social stigma associated with being placed in a mental institution. This caused her to further isolate herself from society. She also experienced severe physical health issues due to the manner in which she attempted to end her life. These issues caused her to suffer a great deal of physical pain and because some of the injuries were obvious, they also impacted how she interacted with others.
As an adult, Ms. Saltz had several people come into her life with whom she had soul connections. This includes her first husband Leon. What a precious soul he was, and he was struggling with his own demons. Their special love for each other resonates through these pages. As Ms. Saltz moves forward with her life, she has a couple more special love relationships and she finally begins to encounter people who will truly help her with her healing. She also gains insight into her relationship with Leon and why it didn’t last in the manner in which it had begun. As she finds her song, and “learns how to sing it,” she is able to move forward into healthier relationships and also make a difference in other lives by using her talents.
“Finding the Song: Living After Attempting Suicide,” should be read by every single individual who works in some kind of counseling capacity, whether they be a volunteer, therapist, counselor or even a psychiatrist. This is a must-read for these people, so that no one will ever have to go through what Ms. Saltz did. This non-fictional account could truly be a wake-up call for a professional who is not doing what they are supposed be doing.
As I read about Ms. Saltz’s harrowing experiences, both before and after her suicide attempt, my heart felt saddened that our system let her down. She was crying out for help, and instead of a compassionate hand reaching out to her, she was ostracized and treated without any compassion from the people who were supposed to be trained the most. As a college counselor, this especially hit home for me, because I frequently see students that are reaching out for help and suffering because no one is listening to them. The looks on their faces, when they finally realize they found someone that will listen, is heart wrenching, and will stay with me forever.
“Finding the Song,” further strengthened my commitment to never let a student down who needs help. I believe that other readers will also be inspired to either stay on track or get back on track with helping others.
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