You do not get to choose the events that come your way nor the sorrows that interrupt your life. They will likely be a surprise to you, catching you off guard and unprepared. You may hold your head in your hands and lament your weak condition and wonder what you ought to do. To suffer, that is common to all. To suffer and still keep your composure, your faith, and your smile, that is remarkable. Pain will change you more profoundly than success or good fortune. Suffering shapes your perception of life, your values and priorities, and your goals and dreams. Your pain is changing you.”
By David Crosby
Suicide Prevention Toolkit
Suicide Prevention Toolkit
Nearly 45,000 Americans die by suicide each year. This toolkit offers resources, tips, and other helpful information to help prevent these tragic deaths.
Essential Suicide Prevention Resources:
● Suicide Prevention Resource Center
● National Institute of Mental Health: Suicide Prevention
● Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program
The Link Between Drug Addiction and Suicide
Drug addiction is one of the leading causes of suicide, second only to mental health disorders. To prevent suicide in our communities, it’s important to understand this dire connection.
● Understand what drivesaddiction.
● Understand what a dual diagnosis is.
● Get help with a substance abuse disorder.
● Fight addiction in your community.
5 Ways to Help a Loved One Through Suicidal Thoughts
If someone you love is struggling with addiction, depression, and/or suicidal thoughts, here are a few ways to help:
Encourage Self-care
One of the most challenging aspects of depression for many sufferers is the tendency to neglect self-care. Things like remembering medication, getting out of the house, avoiding addictive substances, and maintaining physical health become daily hardships. Help your loved one by encouraging them to prioritize personal care and recovery processes.
Lend an Ear
Listen, but don’t overreact. Having a nonreactive person to listen to one’s problems or struggles when needed can be a huge help in the recovery process.
Be Present
Depression causes feelings of worthlessness, leaving sufferers believing that others don’t want to spend time with them or that they’re bringing the people around them down. These thoughts can be the cause of social isolation, exacerbating symptoms of depression and increasing the risk of suicide. If a loved one seems down, invite them to a movie or offer to bring them dinner. Spending time with them can help prevent the negative effects of isolation.
Share Your Pets
Some quality time with a loving animal can greatly improve mood. Dogs, in particular, can provide a nurturing presence for people suffering from severe depression, as they can sense human emotion and will work to make the person feel better. Dogs also prompt people to get out of the house for walks and trips to the park. Keeping active is key, and dogs are willing to help.
Help with Daily Chores
When someone is suffering from depression, things that were once manageable can seem impossible. Keeping one’s house clean, for example, is something most people need to feel good. A cluttered home can cause stress or further symptoms of depression. Offer to go over to your loved one’s home to pick up and clean every once in awhile. It can greatly reduce their stress and prevent depression from overwhelming them. This might also be a good time to sweep the home for potential weapons. Ask if you can remove anything that could be used for self-harm.
Tips for Finding a Mental Health Professional
When someone is suffering from suicidal thoughts or a mental health disorder, speaking with a mental health professional can be a big help. Here are a few tips for finding the right therapist or counselor for you (or a loved one):
● Learn about the different types of therapy.
● Locate a the mental health professionals in your area.
● Know what to ask.
● If money is a concern, look for inexpensive options.
Suicide Prevention Toolkit
Nearly 45,000 Americans die by suicide each year. This toolkit offers resources, tips, and other helpful information to help prevent these tragic deaths.
Essential Suicide Prevention Resources:
● Suicide Prevention Lifeline
● Suicide Prevention Resource Center
● National Institute of Mental Health: Suicide Prevention
● Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program
The Link Between Drug Addiction and Suicide
Drug addiction is one of the leading causes of suicide, second only to mental health disorders. To prevent suicide in our communities, it’s important to understand this dire connection.
● Understand what drives addiction.
● Understand what a dual diagnosis is.
● Get help with a substance abuse disorder.
● Fight addiction in your community.
5 Ways to Help a Loved One Through Suicidal Thoughts
If someone you love is struggling with addiction, depression, and/or suicidal thoughts, here are a few ways to help:
Encourage Self-care
One of the most challenging aspects of depression for many sufferers is the tendency to neglect self-care. Things like remembering medication, getting out of the house, avoiding addictive substances, and maintaining physical health become daily hardships. Help your loved one by encouraging them to prioritize personal care and recovery processes.
Lend an Ear
Listen, but don’t overreact. Having a nonreactive person to listen to one’s problems or struggles when needed can be a huge help in the recovery process.
Be Present
Depression causes feelings of worthlessness, leaving sufferers believing that others don’t want to spend time with them or that they’re bringing the people around them down. These thoughts can be the cause of social isolation, exacerbating symptoms of depression and increasing the risk of suicide. If a loved one seems down, invite them to a movie or offer to bring them dinner. Spending time with them can help prevent the negative effects of isolation.
Share Your Pets
Some quality time with a loving animal can greatly improve mood. Dogs, in particular, can provide a nurturing presence for people suffering from severe depression, as they can sense human emotion and will work to make the person feel better. Dogs also prompt people to get out of the house for walks and trips to the park. Keeping active is key, and dogs are willing to help.
Help with Daily Chores
When someone is suffering from depression, things that were once manageable can seem impossible. Keeping one’s house clean, for example, is something most people need to feel good. A cluttered home can cause stress or further symptoms of depression. Offer to go over to your loved one’s home to pick up and clean every once in awhile. It can greatly reduce their stress and prevent depression from overwhelming them. This might also be a good time to sweep the home for potential weapons. Ask if you can remove anything that could be used for self-harm.
Tips for Finding a Mental Health Professional
When someone is suffering from suicidal thoughts or a mental health disorder, speaking with a mental health professional can be a big help. Here are a few tips for finding the right therapist or counselor for you (or a loved one):
● Learn about the different types of therapy.
● Locate a the mental health professionals in your area.
● Know what to ask.
● If money is a concern, look for inexpensive options
Happy birthday Aris B!
Happy birthday Aris! 🎁🎉💞
Aris Beezy! My beautiful, sweet, Angel! I LOVE you and miss you more each day! If you weren’t in heaven, you would be 23 years old in this world today. What a special day! When you were here, I always tried my best to show you just what a blessing you were to me. In my 40 years on this planet, I have encountered many people, tons of ladies, and what I can truly say is most are not half the woman you were!!!! REAL talk! Kait verified this when she told me that to this day, she has never met ANYONE on your level!!!!! You were simply amazing! I honor you and your spirit everyday. I am humbled to be able to call you my daughter. You were always kind, loving, patient, perceptive, wise, generous, authentic, knowing, comfy being quiet, sweet, easy to talk to, non-judgemental, open, aware, ride or die, fun, funny, great sense of humor, compassionate, empathetic, and God fearing. You always made me want to do better and be better. Even in your death you helped me. I was in such pain from losing you, that I finally surrendered to God and he saved me!!! Now, I’ve been given salvation and will see you at the pearly gates when it is time for me to join you and MaMa! I was blind, but now I see! Thank you for loving me and accepting me for who I am/was. As my dude the late, great Tupac Shakur would say, “How long will ya mourn me?” Aris, EVERY Motherf*ckin day, homie! Enjoy your birthday baby girl! Big day today!
Love you,
Mom
We Get To Give!
We get to give! I am blessed to honor Aris’ spirit and give awareness, education, and support to the Mental Health Community! She gave me a new journey and I get to give it my best shot!
What are you going to do?
Better Days
So glad better days are here! I spent so much time in darkness, that this light is so bright! When you lose you, don’t recognize who you are, then get the chance to be yourself again, it’s like every experience is just that much more better! It’s like getting to experience things all over again, but it feels like the first time! When I look back, all I can be is thankful that I am no longer in that dark place.Took a long time to get here and aint no way I’m going back!
