Trigger Warning: Please be aware that if you find a topic triggering, you will most likely find it in this book. Topics include alcoholism, drug addiction, self-harm, all kinds of abuse, domestic violence, bullying, eating disorders, and of course, suicide attempts and suicidal ideation.

I applaud the intention of Choosing to Live: stories of those who stepped away from suicide. This book is aimed at reducing the stigma associated with talking about suicide and is marketed toward anyone who has ever had or now has suicidal feelings, families and friends of those people, therapists and psychology students and professors.

I would like to give acknowledgement to the courage of the individuals who told their stories for this book, and compassion to the families and friends of Hannah and Alistair who are grieving their loss.

The stories in this book are from people ranging from 18 to 61, with various precipitating factors that led to their suicide attempt/s. The following questions were asked to each participant:
* What led up to your suicide attempt?
* What keeps you alive now?

Told in sections, the individual stories are grouped by themes of rejection, overwhelming stress, bullying, not feeling good enough, painful memories, teenage stresses, ups and downs, a strange impulse, parental abuse, depression and anxiety, break up of a significant relationship, ambivalence, lack of support, shame and addiction, dysfunctional relationships, suicide of a parent, medical conditions, and being in hospice care. Of course, there are overlaps with some stories fitting just as well in multiple categories.

The From Despair to Hope chapter towards the end of the book has answers from survivors to the following questions:
* What did you feel like when you were struggling with despair and hopelessness?
* What did you feel when you realised you were still alive?
* What do you like most about living now?

There is also a chapter that asks survivors what they would have wanted someone to do or say to them when they were suicidal. Finally, there is a chapter giving tips on how to deal with someone who is suicidal and American phone and internet resources.

Overall the stories, while painful and heartbreaking, are definitely useful teaching tools for anyone who wants to understand what would cause someone to make an attempt on their life, what may prevent it from happening, and what may help after an attempt has been made.

However, there were a few pretty big concerns I had about this book.

1. Specific mention is made in the introduction that none of the participants were interviewed while they were suicidal and they were reflecting on previous experiences. I was surprised when I read later in the book that some participants had only attempted suicide a matter of weeks prior to being interviewed and questioned the judgement used in choosing participants this soon after such an experience.

2. I personally feel it is reckless to recommend a book to people who have been suicidal or currently are that contains so much detail about how the individual attempts were made. I understand that part of each person's story includes the method they used but there are ways to do this without it reading like a 'How To' manual. Surely it would have been more prudent to say someone attempted suicide by overdosing rather than specifying how many tablets they took and which class of medication it was. Of course if someone is determined to die they will find a way to do it but in a book that is hoping to prevent deaths it just doesn't seem wise to include such detail.

This last point is more a small marketing concern. If I saw this book surrounded by others on the subject I doubt I would pick it up. This sounds really petty but I really do judge books by their cover and the cover design of this book is clichéd and doesn't scream, "Hey, you! Pick me! Pick me!" A more professional looking cover would help draw people to it.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley (thank you very much to NetGalley and Smith Publicity for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.

Suicide is a complicated subject and the reasons are never clear for any occurrrence. But this book offers a window into the trauma and despair that can lead to someone considering suicide and taking action to kill themselves.

This book is a collection of first-person accounts from individuals who have survived suicide attempts. The accounts are categorized according to what is identified to be the primary contributor or cause. Each account is preceded by a brief introductory biographical note by Cliff Williams, and also followed by another brief note about the individual and any unique characteristics as the person's story relates to suicide, why this individual survived, and how they may have found resources and strength to choose to live. (In reading the notes, at least one of the individuals included has died by suicide by a subsequent attempt.)

This book is by no means an easy read. The first-person accounts do not often mince details. There may be some criticism that the detailed methods were not edited out, but I do believe that they do offer a relevant and necessary part of the story. They show the individual's thought processes, sometimes the ambivalence of wanting to live vs. wanting to die, sometimes the impulsiveness of the action.

I'm trained in several suicide intervention, prevention, and postvention programs and strategies, and in my opinion the book validates what is taught in these courses. In my mind, these stories validate principles that when working with a suicidal person: it is vital to try to find that one thing that keeps them alive for another day; to find that something that can move them from wanting to die to wanting to live; to find something in them that can be shown to them that they have value.

The final chapters contain responses from a dozen individuals to a series of questions posed by Cliff Williams. I think they are quite informative because they offer a rare window into the thoughts and thought-processes of a suicidal person and suicide attempt survivors.

The very end of the book includes resources where suicidal persons can help, where those wanting to help can learn more, and where help can be offered.

It may be upsetting to read, but I do think it is a hopeful book, overall. It shows that suicidal ideation and attempts can be overcome. It shows that meaning and purpose to continue living can be found, even through the darkest valleys and even in the face of death itself. Suicidal individuals, suicide attempt survivors, suicide survivors (those left after a suicide), caregivers, and many others should find the insights into the many, many reasons and circumstances that lead a person to try to use suicide as the way out of their pain and suffering, to be informative and helpful.

(This review based on ARC supplied by the publisher through NetGalley.)

I have known a few people who have committed suicide and I found myself asking Why? What would make them take that route? This book gave me insight as to why. The why of course were for the people who were featured in the book, but it was very eye-opening. This is a hard subject to talk about, but one that we should talk about. What I took away from this book is to not be judgemental if you are dealing with someone who may be suicidal but to be compassionate. We need to remember, we all will not deal with things the same way and what may push someone to think there is no hope,. may not do the same for someone else. Blessings to the survivors for sharing your story with us. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC copy of this strong book.