Dear Annie: What do I say to people who say my son took the easy way out

Dear Annie: My son committed suicide by hanging himself three months ago; he was suffering from depression and on and off drugs. He got worse with the depression after his girlfriend of more than 11 years broke up with him.

My problem is that when I tell friends what happened, some of them say that “he took the easy way out.” I really don’t know what to say to these people. Any thoughts on how to answer them will be appreciated. I really miss him a lot. — Sad Mom

Dear Mom: I am so sorry for your loss. Your son felt that his pain was unbearable. Anyone who says he took the easy way out is being incredibly insensitive and not worth answering. I pray that you have grief groups and counselors to help you during this extremely difficult time.

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“How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit Creators Publishing for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to [email protected].