[TRANS] Kim Jaejoong "Suicide Prevention, there needs to be an atmosphere for sharing"
**I just translated JJ's Q&A and excluded the editor's note

-Have you thought about suicide?

▶I was distressed and sad about people who turned their backs on life in the most heartbreaking ways. I think suicide is something that hurts everyone and should never happen.

-You also have been through the hard times. When were those moments, and how did you get through them?

▶People all have their own loneliness and troubles they can't endure. As you live your life, you will carry a heavy burden of your own. I think that is a suffering that everyone has regardless of how good or bad your environment is. In that sense, I have had my own worries and sometimes I feel sad. My way of getting through that is loving the world that I live in, my work, and getting strength through thinking about my dear members and family. Of course, I do get strength from the fans. I try to be thankful for each and every day like that.

-How did you feel when you were exposed to news about celebrity's suicide?

▶Such news about dear colleagues and seniors was a shock and reality that I could not accept. I was upset.

-Do you know a celebrity suffering from depression?

▶well... I heard that depression is not really something that you show on the outside but is more like acting bright around people while feeling depressed when you are alone. I think we should take care of people who pretend to be bright rather than people who say "I am depressed." And I think I should take care of my members' mental welfare more so than other people.

-If you have an advice for a fan who's going through a hard time to the extend he/she is thinking about suicide?

▶I have faith that they won't think about suicide if they are a fan. I think happiness will grow and drive the depression away if they listen to our songs. "Boy's Letter" and "You're" from our latest album contains lyrics for the fans. I hope they find consolation when they listen to these songs when they are down and lonely. [because] They are together with us in our music. And I think the attachment to life would grow if they think about the people around them who they cherish and appreciate the smallest things. Beautiful sky that day, mother's delicious food, your pet's cute tricks (charms), everything is happiness.

-What efforts should we, including the celebrities, make as a community to prevent suicides?

▶I think we've all developed a strong tendency towards individualism. Modern people increasingly build a fence for themselves and fear other people stepping inside that fence. The world leads us to be more individualistic by creating competition, and praising those people for having succeeded in life only robs us of composure and worsens the depression.I hope there is an atmosphere formed for doing things together and sharing to stop us from becoming a society like that.

-Word of courage for the people who's having such a hard time to think of taking their lives?

▶Think of hope at the moment you think that your life at the present or in the future is hopeless. And develop a habit of feeling happy about the smallest things in your everyday life. In the future, the despair you are in right now will become a precious foundation that will make your life feel more precious and valuable than anyone else's. And reach out to hold the hand of the person next to you right now. Don't agonize and grow the sadness inside you by yourself and ask for help from the people around you.

http://m.hankyung.com/apps/news.view?aid=2011092363467

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