Editor’s note: This story talks about suicide and may be triggering for some viewers/readers.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The suicide rate in Kansas remains higher than the national average. One man shared his struggles with KSN to help others see that recovery is possible.
As a kid, David Larson says he felt some depression. He said it was more than a teenage angst.
“I was always an outsider, and being an outsider, you know, teased, bullied, all that other stuff,” said Larson.
Maintaining a positive attitude, Larson kept going.
He met his wife as an undergrad, and he expected to spend many decades with the love of his life, but the universe had other plans.
“In 2006, my wife passed away. That threw me into massive grief because I did feel like she was my soulmate,” said Larson.
After losing her to systemic lupus (a chronic autoimmune disease), he felt incomplete.
“Imagine that you had your right arm and left leg cut off, and people told you to act normal. It’s just not doable,” said Larson.