Despite M*A*S*H movie theme song lyrics, suicide's not painless

As we remember actress Sally Kellerman, the original "hot lips" Houlihan in the M*A*SH movie, who can recall the words to the original M*A*S*H theme song? TRIGGER WARNING.

It's called Suicide is Painless, and its tone and lyrics left the listener feeling an indifference toward the act but treating it almost like self-care. "Suicide is painless. It brings on many changes. And I can take or leave it if I please."

I remember seeing the deeper contextual meaning of the song, that suicide may be a desirable alternative to being forced by duty or circumstance to live out one's destined role in a war. And even though the series dropped the lyrics, I feel that in a way the melody was seared into our collective GenX minds, which were in adolescence at the time. The words for many of us became imprinted on the prime real estate of our GenX souls.

Suicide took a step brother from me as well as the brother of my best childhood friend. Not to mention, I survived my own brush with suicide during my hopeless closeted teenage years. GenX and subsequent generations have been hit hard by suicide. As it is, and as each of us has learned by experience, suicide is anything but painless for those left behind.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline (U.S.): 800-273-8255