#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – Why Are #Teenagers So Sleep-Deprived?

A perfect storm of biology, technology, and homework

Writer: Juliann Garey

Clinical Experts: Allison Baker, MD , Max Van Gilder, MD

What You'll Learn

- How much sleep do #teens need to be healthy?

- What part does biology play in #teens’ #sleep?

- How does screen time affect #sleep?

- Quick Read

- Full Article

- What’s going on here?

- Biology

- Technology

- Homework

- Over-scheduling

- Earlier #school start times

Most #teens today are living with mild to severe #sleepdeprivation. #Teens actually need more #sleep than little #kids. Experts say #teens need over nine hours a night to be healthy. But over a third of #teens get only five to six hours a night. The major reasons for #sleepdeprivation in #teens are biology, screen time and unreasonable expectations.

Because of hormone changes, #teens are more awake at midnight and would wake at 10 or 11am if they didn’t have to get to #school. When #kids try to catch up on #sleep on the weekends, it messes with their #sleep even more.

Another reason for #sleepdeprivation in #teens is the time they spend on screens. The light coming from the screen keeps their brains from making melatonin, which is the #sleep hormone. Between doing homework on computers and socializing on phones, that means a lot of screen time. And then there’s the #anxiety of #kids who want to be perfect in #school. Staying up all night to study becomes competitive among some groups of high-achieving friends.

We also live in a culture that values activity over #sleep. #Teens often participate in more activities than they have time for. A lot of times that’s because they’re being told that colleges want them to be well-rounded. But the more they do, the less #sleep they get. This is made worse by the fact that some #highschools start as early as 7:20 in the morning. In reality, studies show that #teens don’t function well before 9am.

My 16-year-old daughter is finally entering the homestretch of sophomore year, and she has been chronically #sleep deprived since September. The reasons are multiple but when you add together 45 minutes of homework per class per night, plus a few extra-curricular activities, plus the downtime spent everyday watching a John Green video on #YouTube or chatting with friends, and a normal amount of procrastination, it adds up to between 5 and 7 hours of #sleep on an average #school night. Throw in a term paper or heavy exam week and the average can easily drop to 3 or 4.

My daughter is hardly atypical. In fact, multiple studies have shown that the vast majority of #teens today are living with borderline to severe #sleepdeprivation. According to #sleep expert Mary Carskadon, PhD, a professor of psychiatry at Brown University and director of chronobiology and #sleep research at Bradley Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, #teenagers actually need more #sleep than younger #kids, not less. Nine and a quarter hours of #sleep is what they need to be optimally alert. According to a 2010 large-scale study published in The Journal of #Adolescent Health, a scant 8% of US #highschoolstudents get the recommended amount of #sleep. Some 23% get six hours of #sleep on an average #school night and 10% get only 5 hours.

In studies conducted by Dr. Carskadon, half the #teens she evaluated were so tired in the morning that they showed the same symptoms as #patients with narcolepsy, a major #sleepdisorder in which the #patient nods off and falls directly into REM #sleep.

When you consider the fact that many of these #kids are getting behind the wheel in the early morning and driving themselves to #school, the issue of #sleep becomes literally a matter of life and death.

#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation website www.yourgiftoflife.org

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:
From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy



www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

What’s going on here?

So what exactly is keeping #teenagers up so late? Unfortunately biology, technology, and societal expectations together create a perfect storm for the chronic #sleep deprivation. The major contributors to #adolescent #sleep debt come down to these:

Biology

Along with the more obvious hormonal changes that transform your #child into a #teen, are shifts in the production of melatonin, the #sleep hormone. That is why your #teenager actually seems more awake at midnight than at dinner and left alone would probably #sleep until ten or eleven. It may drive you crazy but, says Dr. Max Van Gilder, a #pediatrician in Manhattan, “that is the normal circadian rhythm for 15- to 22-year-olds.” Effectively, they are in a different time zone than the rest of us.

“It’s a major contributing factor to #sleep deprivation which is unique to #adolescence, ” says Dr. Allison Baker, a #child and #adolescent #psychiatrist. “The typical #highschoolstudent’s natural time to fall asleep is 11pm or later. We really need to adjust the environment instead of asking #teenagers to adjust their physiology.”

The problem is compounded when many #adolescents, like my daughter, try to make up for lost sleep on the weekends, sometimes sleeping upwards of 12 hours on Friday and Saturday nights, which only further disrupts their sleep cycle. But who has the heart to wake them?

Technology

It’s not just that #Facebook, #Twitter, #Instagram, #Tumblr and #YouTube are distractions that keep #kids up later, it’s the actual light coming off all the electronic devices they’re exposed to, especially late at night. Electronics emit a glow called blue light that has a particular frequency. When it hits receptors in the eye, says Dr. Van Gilder, “those receptors send a signal to the brain which suppresses the production of melatonin and keeps #kids from feeling tired. And #adolescents are low on melatonin and start producing it later to begin with.” Dr. Van Gilder says he’s seen #adolescent bedtimes pushed back an hour to an hour and a half over the years since #teens started doing their homework on computers. On average, my #teenage #patients are going to bed at around 12:30 now.”

#Teens who are up late writing papers on computers or chatting with their friends are effectively creating an even more stimulating environment that will only keep them from being able to fall asleep when they want to.

Homework

Andrea Pincus and Andrew Multer consider it a good night when their 16 year-old son, Jake Multer, a sophomore at The Dalton #School in Manhattan, gets to bed by 12:30. And there’s lots of fighting that goes on around the issue of homework and bedtime. “He tells us we micromanage him,” Pincus says. “He tells us we’re helicopter #parents, but does he mention he stays up until 5 or 6am writing a paper?” Pincus and her husband are torn between making Jake go to bed and encouraging him to finish his work regardless of how long it takes. “There’s the #anxiety of a #kid like Jake who cares about the work. He works with a very nice group of #kids on certain assignments and it’s great that they have each other but they also on some level add to the #anxiety because you always have one #kid who’s staying up later or pulling an all-nighter, putting in more work on a paper or studying for a test and it creates this extra #anxiety and competition.”

His brother Sam, 13 and an eighth grader at Hunter College #HighSchool in Manhattan, is more or less resigned to being #sleep deprived. He figures his current bedtime—anywhere between 11pm and 12:30am—which is so late “for the most part due to homework,” will only get later as he gets older. He says his #parents want him to go to bed earlier but “they recognize that if I did that I wouldn’t get my work done and it’s important to me and it’s important to them.” Sam however also admits to having a procrastination and time management problem, some of which he believes comes from being so tired in the afternoon.

Over-scheduling

We live in a culture that values activity over #sleep and there is no part of that culture that reinforces that idea more than the #college admissions process. #Teens are constantly being told that they have to be “well-rounded” which, in an age when #colleges are becoming ever more selective means that the more they do, the better their applications will look. And for some #kids, being involved in a lot of extracurricular activities may truly be a matter of pursuing a diversity of passions. Either way, the result is an ever-narrowing window for #sleep.

Katrina Karl, 16, is finishing up her junior year at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Connecticut. She takes 5 academic classes, participates in the three theatrical productions her school puts on every year and volunteers at the middle school in her town. On top of that she works 13 hours a week at a local grocery store to help pay for summer theater camp and to save money for college. This past year, she says, was brutal. “I was lucky if I got 4 to 5 hours of sleep a night,” she says. On the nights she worked, Karl wouldn’t get home until 9 or 10 o’clock. Then she would start doing several hours of homework. Katrina’s bus picks her up at 6:15am and the first period bell rings at 7:20am.

Karl says she’s been living this way since about halfway through freshman year. “Everyone at my #school is exhausted,” she says.

Earlier #school start times

Very early #highschool start times, like Karl’s, are not uncommon, despite the fact that they run completely counter to the biological needs of #adolescents. “Multiple studies have shown that #highschoolstudents aren’t functional before 9 am,” says Dr. Van Gilder.

Cathi Hanauer, an author and the editor of the anthology The Bitch In The House, has been at the center of a 7-year battle to change the 7:20 start time of her North Hampton, Massachusetts, #highschool. “It started before my daughter got to high school. She’s now one year out of college. My son is a sophomore. The resistance has been huge,” she says, “despite the fact that 60% of the #students are falling asleep in #school.”

According to Hanauer, it all comes down to bussing and #sports. The #school buses used for the #highschool are used for the middle and elementary #schools that have later start times. Pushing back the start time for the #highschool would mean either making the younger #kids get up earlier or adding more buses which is not in the #school budget. Then there are concerns that later start times will compromise the practices of #sports teams.

Hanauer and some of the other #parents got a consultant in who designed an affordable busing plan and in 2013 the #school board finally passed a resolution to move the #highschool’s start time to between 8:00 and 8:30. They have since overturned the decision. “I’m done,” Hanauer says. “It’s been the most frustrating thing I’ve ever been involved with.”

With more than half of #American #teenagers living with chronic #sleep deprivation, #parents and #teachers tend to overlook the profound effects it has on #kids’ physical, #mental and #behavioralhealth. The #sleep deficit is not in fact, a normal part of being a #teenager. It’s part of an invisible epidemic that we need to start addressing.

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/04/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-why-are-teenagers-so-sleep-deprived/

A perfect storm of biology, technology, and homework

Writer: Juliann Garey

Clinical Experts: Allison Baker, MD , Max Van Gilder, MD

What You'll Learn

- How much sleep do #teens need to be healthy?

- What part does biology play in #teens’ #sleep?

- How does screen time affect #sleep?

- Quick Read

- Full Article

- What’s going on here?

- Biology

- Technology

- Homework

- Over-scheduling

- Earlier #school start times

Most #teens today are living with mild to severe #sleepdeprivation. #Teens actually need more #sleep than little #kids. Experts say #teens need over nine hours a night to be healthy. But over a third of #teens get only five to six hours a night. The major reasons for #sleepdeprivation in #teens are biology, screen time and unreasonable expectations.

Because of hormone changes, #teens are more awake at midnight and would wake at 10 or 11am if they didn’t have to get to #school. When #kids try to catch up on #sleep on the weekends, it messes with their #sleep even more.

Another reason for #sleepdeprivation in #teens is the time they spend on screens. The light coming from the screen keeps their brains from making melatonin, which is the #sleep hormone. Between doing homework on computers and socializing on phones, that means a lot of screen time. And then there’s the #anxiety of #kids who want to be perfect in #school. Staying up all night to study becomes competitive among some groups of high-achieving friends.

We also live in a culture that values activity over #sleep. #Teens often participate in more activities than they have time for. A lot of times that’s because they’re being told that colleges want them to be well-rounded. But the more they do, the less #sleep they get. This is made worse by the fact that some #highschools start as early as 7:20 in the morning. In reality, studies show that #teens don’t function well before 9am.

My 16-year-old daughter is finally entering the homestretch of sophomore year, and she has been chronically #sleep deprived since September. The reasons are multiple but when you add together 45 minutes of homework per class per night, plus a few extra-curricular activities, plus the downtime spent everyday watching a John Green video on #YouTube or chatting with friends, and a normal amount of procrastination, it adds up to between 5 and 7 hours of #sleep on an average #school night. Throw in a term paper or heavy exam week and the average can easily drop to 3 or 4.

My daughter is hardly atypical. In fact, multiple studies have shown that the vast majority of #teens today are living with borderline to severe #sleepdeprivation. According to #sleep expert Mary Carskadon, PhD, a professor of psychiatry at Brown University and director of chronobiology and #sleep research at Bradley Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, #teenagers actually need more #sleep than younger #kids, not less. Nine and a quarter hours of #sleep is what they need to be optimally alert. According to a 2010 large-scale study published in The Journal of #Adolescent Health, a scant 8% of US #highschoolstudents get the recommended amount of #sleep. Some 23% get six hours of #sleep on an average #school night and 10% get only 5 hours.

In studies conducted by Dr. Carskadon, half the #teens she evaluated were so tired in the morning that they showed the same symptoms as #patients with narcolepsy, a major #sleepdisorder in which the #patient nods off and falls directly into REM #sleep.

When you consider the fact that many of these #kids are getting behind the wheel in the early morning and driving themselves to #school, the issue of #sleep becomes literally a matter of life and death.

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation website www.yourgiftoflife.org

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

What’s going on here?

So what exactly is keeping #teenagers up so late? Unfortunately biology, technology, and societal expectations together create a perfect storm for the chronic #sleep deprivation. The major contributors to #adolescent #sleep debt come down to these:

Biology

Along with the more obvious hormonal changes that transform your #child into a #teen, are shifts in the production of melatonin, the #sleep hormone. That is why your #teenager actually seems more awake at midnight than at dinner and left alone would probably #sleep until ten or eleven. It may drive you crazy but, says Dr. Max Van Gilder, a #pediatrician in Manhattan, “that is the normal circadian rhythm for 15- to 22-year-olds.” Effectively, they are in a different time zone than the rest of us.

“It’s a major contributing factor to #sleep deprivation which is unique to #adolescence, ” says Dr. Allison Baker, a #child and #adolescent #psychiatrist. “The typical #highschoolstudent’s natural time to fall asleep is 11pm or later. We really need to adjust the environment instead of asking #teenagers to adjust their physiology.”

The problem is compounded when many #adolescents, like my daughter, try to make up for lost sleep on the weekends, sometimes sleeping upwards of 12 hours on Friday and Saturday nights, which only further disrupts their sleep cycle. But who has the heart to wake them?

Technology

It’s not just that #Facebook, #Twitter, #Instagram, #Tumblr and #YouTube are distractions that keep #kids up later, it’s the actual light coming off all the electronic devices they’re exposed to, especially late at night. Electronics emit a glow called blue light that has a particular frequency. When it hits receptors in the eye, says Dr. Van Gilder, “those receptors send a signal to the brain which suppresses the production of melatonin and keeps #kids from feeling tired. And #adolescents are low on melatonin and start producing it later to begin with.” Dr. Van Gilder says he’s seen #adolescent bedtimes pushed back an hour to an hour and a half over the years since #teens started doing their homework on computers. On average, my #teenage #patients are going to bed at around 12:30 now.”

#Teens who are up late writing papers on computers or chatting with their friends are effectively creating an even more stimulating environment that will only keep them from being able to fall asleep when they want to.

Homework

Andrea Pincus and Andrew Multer consider it a good night when their 16 year-old son, Jake Multer, a sophomore at The Dalton #School in Manhattan, gets to bed by 12:30. And there’s lots of fighting that goes on around the issue of homework and bedtime. “He tells us we micromanage him,” Pincus says. “He tells us we’re helicopter #parents, but does he mention he stays up until 5 or 6am writing a paper?” Pincus and her husband are torn between making Jake go to bed and encouraging him to finish his work regardless of how long it takes. “There’s the #anxiety of a #kid like Jake who cares about the work. He works with a very nice group of #kids on certain assignments and it’s great that they have each other but they also on some level add to the #anxiety because you always have one #kid who’s staying up later or pulling an all-nighter, putting in more work on a paper or studying for a test and it creates this extra #anxiety and competition.”

His brother Sam, 13 and an eighth grader at Hunter College #HighSchool in Manhattan, is more or less resigned to being #sleep deprived. He figures his current bedtime—anywhere between 11pm and 12:30am—which is so late “for the most part due to homework,” will only get later as he gets older. He says his #parents want him to go to bed earlier but “they recognize that if I did that I wouldn’t get my work done and it’s important to me and it’s important to them.” Sam however also admits to having a procrastination and time management problem, some of which he believes comes from being so tired in the afternoon.

Over-scheduling

We live in a culture that values activity over #sleep and there is no part of that culture that reinforces that idea more than the #college admissions process. #Teens are constantly being told that they have to be “well-rounded” which, in an age when #colleges are becoming ever more selective means that the more they do, the better their applications will look. And for some #kids, being involved in a lot of extracurricular activities may truly be a matter of pursuing a diversity of passions. Either way, the result is an ever-narrowing window for #sleep.

Katrina Karl, 16, is finishing up her junior year at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Connecticut. She takes 5 academic classes, participates in the three theatrical productions her school puts on every year and volunteers at the middle school in her town. On top of that she works 13 hours a week at a local grocery store to help pay for summer theater camp and to save money for college. This past year, she says, was brutal. “I was lucky if I got 4 to 5 hours of sleep a night,” she says. On the nights she worked, Karl wouldn’t get home until 9 or 10 o’clock. Then she would start doing several hours of homework. Katrina’s bus picks her up at 6:15am and the first period bell rings at 7:20am.

Karl says she’s been living this way since about halfway through freshman year. “Everyone at my #school is exhausted,” she says.

Earlier #school start times

Very early #highschool start times, like Karl’s, are not uncommon, despite the fact that they run completely counter to the biological needs of #adolescents. “Multiple studies have shown that #highschoolstudents aren’t functional before 9 am,” says Dr. Van Gilder.

Cathi Hanauer, an author and the editor of the anthology The Bitch In The House, has been at the center of a 7-year battle to change the 7:20 start time of her North Hampton, Massachusetts, #highschool. “It started before my daughter got to high school. She’s now one year out of college. My son is a sophomore. The resistance has been huge,” she says, “despite the fact that 60% of the #students are falling asleep in #school.”

According to Hanauer, it all comes down to bussing and #sports. The #school buses used for the #highschool are used for the middle and elementary #schools that have later start times. Pushing back the start time for the #highschool would mean either making the younger #kids get up earlier or adding more buses which is not in the #school budget. Then there are concerns that later start times will compromise the practices of #sports teams.

Hanauer and some of the other #parents got a consultant in who designed an affordable busing plan and in 2013 the #school board finally passed a resolution to move the #highschool’s start time to between 8:00 and 8:30. They have since overturned the decision. “I’m done,” Hanauer says. “It’s been the most frustrating thing I’ve ever been involved with.”

With more than half of #American #teenagers living with chronic #sleep deprivation, #parents and #teachers tend to overlook the profound effects it has on #kids’ physical, #mental and #behavioralhealth. The #sleep deficit is not in fact, a normal part of being a #teenager. It’s part of an invisible epidemic that we need to start addressing.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=11393

#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – Young #Kids Are At Risk Of #SuicidalIdeation Too. Here's What #MentalHealthProfessionals Recommend #Parents Do If Their #Child Is Struggling.

#Mentalhealthexperts share the signs #parents should look for — and how to act

Korin Miller

How #parents can respond if their #child is experiencing #suicideideation

The #COVID-19 #pandemic turned a new focus on the #mentalhealth of #children, with several reports noting an increase in #suicidalthoughts in #kids. One study found that hospitalizations for #suicidalthoughts increased 57% at the start of the #pandemic, with #children as young as 5 visiting emergency rooms in response to #suicidalideation.

In 2020, the #CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention (#CDC) ranked #suicide as the second-leading cause of death in #children between the ages of 10 and 14. While #suiciderisk in #children is often discussed in the context of older #teenagers, experts say there is a very real risk in younger #children as well.

"#Suicide is rising among younger #children," Vanessa Laurent, a pediatric #psychologist at Connecticut Children’s, tells Yahoo Life. "It is never too early to start discussing #suicidalrisk and increasing the protective factors in children’s lives."

#Suicidalthoughts "can occur in early elementary #school-age #children and in some cases earlier," which is why it's important to take a #child seriously if they talk about ending their life, Yesenia A. Marroquin, clinical #psychologist in the Department of #Child and #Adolescent Psychiatry and #Behavioral Sciences at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, tells Yahoo Life. This isn't a conceptual thing — it actually happens, Stephanie Strumberger, a licensed clinical #counselor at Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital, tells Yahoo Life. "Even as a #therapist that has been working with #children since early 2000, I am amazed at the young age at which #children even know the word #suicide," she says. "I have heard #children as young as 4 mention it."

There are a lot of helpful resources for #suicideprevention in #children, but it largely focuses on #teens. That makes sense, given that #teens are much more likely to die by #suicide than younger #children. However, data show that hundreds of younger #children kill themselves in the U.S. each year. So, what should #parents do their your younger #child expresses #suicidalthoughts? Here's what #mentalhealthexperts recommend.

Why might young #children have #suicidalthoughts?

There are a lot of potential reasons young #children may consider #suicide. "#Bullying, #trauma and high conflict or neglect in the household are some causes," Hillary Ammon, a clinical #psychologist at the Center for #Anxiety & Women's Emotional Wellness, tells Yahoo Life. "I’ve also worked with a lot of #children in this age group who reported having #suicidalthoughts because they felt overwhelmed by their #mentalhealthsymptoms and believed they were alone in their experience." Many of these #children struggled with #anxiety and #depression, Ammon says.

Research into #suicidalrisk factors in young #children is "limited," but there are some suggestions that a #child may be at risk, Marroquin says. Those can include:

- going through multiple traumatic events

- family stressors, like #divorce and parental #substanceabuse

- #school challenges, including moving #schools and being suspended or expelled

- #mentalhealthdiagnoses like #depression and #ADHD

- family history of #suicidalbehavior

- #bullying

- housing instability

"Additionally, early exposure and overuse of #socialmedia may be linked to increased #suicidalideation, with factors such as post sensitivity — reaction to posts not being well-received — and cyberbullying being key contributors," Laurent says.

How can #parents figure out if it's serious or attention-seeking #behavior?

Some #parents may assume a child's comments about #suicide are attention-seeking #behavior, but experts say it's crucial to pay attention to these remarks. "Always take it seriously, as we must prevent the risk of #self-harm or #suicide," Dr. Subodh Jain, division chief of psychiatry at Corewell Health, tells Yahoo Life.

#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:
From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

What #parents should do if their #child expresses #suicidalthoughts

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Strumberger agrees. "When #children are seeking attention, there is always a reason," she says. "Something is going on. The best-case scenario is that they are trying to understand what it means and what would happen." Strumberger points out that a #child is "never 'too young'" to take their own life.

If #parents notice any concerning #behaviors, Ammon recommends that they ask the #child what they are thinking and feeling. If a #child makes suicidal comments, Laurent recommends pausing and taking a deep breath to lower the risk of overreacting. "#Kids are less likely to share their feelings and thoughts if they believe their #parents will be upset or reactive," she says. "Creating an open and validating environment is crucial to avoid dismissing or rejecting the #child experiencing #suicidalideation."

She suggests asking a #child direct questions about the nature of their #suicidalthoughts. Some examples:

- "What do you mean when you say you want to die?"

- "How long have you been thinking about killing yourself?"

- "Do you have a plan of how you would try to kill yourself?"

- "What do you think would make things better?"

- "What do you need from me?"

"#Parents should also increase parental oversight and supervision and express their love and support, as well as openly discuss their plan to connect the #kid with resources," Laurent says. "Additionally, it is highly recommended that #parents lock up any sharp, ingestible or dangerous items."

If a #child is experiencing #suicidalthoughts or #behaviors, Marroquin recommends that #parents reach out to their primary care provider to see if the #child may benefit from therapy. If families need immediate assistance, she recommends calling #988 (the #SuicideandCrisisLifeline) and seeking psychiatric emergency services through their county’s mobile crisis team, local crisis center or nearest #emergencyroom.

"Remember, you know your child best — their likes and dislikes, their typical rhythm and pattern, and when something seems 'off,'" Marroquin says. "Trust those instincts."

If you or someone you know is experiencing #suicidalthoughts, call #911 or the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at #988 or 1-800-273-8255, or text HOME to the #CrisisTextLine at 741741.

Photo by samer daboul on Pexels.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/04/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-young-kids-are-at-risk-of-suicidalideation-too-heres-what-mentalhealthprofessionals-recommend-parents-do-if-their-child-is-struggling/

#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – What To Know About Older #Adults And #SuicideRisk

#Americans aged 65+ are at much higher risk for completing #suicide than other demographics

Aging is a privilege that not everyone gets to experience — but it also comes with unique stressors that can put your physical and #mentalhealth at risk. As of fall 2022, #adults over age 65 accounted for almost 17% of all #suicides in the U.S., despite making up just 12% of the population.

Geriatric #psychiatrist John Sanitato, MD, explains the unique risk factors that put older #adults at risk for #suicide and #mentalhealthconcerns — plus, how you can best be there for the people you love as they age.

Risk factors for #suicide in older #Americans

#Adults age 65+ are at much higher risk for completing #suicide than #adolescents and #teens. One in 200 #youth who attempt #suicide complete it, compared to 1 in 4 older #adults.

“When you think about the older #adult population, the big concern is loss,” Dr. Sanitato says. “There can be a loss of function, cognition, peer group, #financial stability and general well-being.”

He delves deeper into these risk factors and how they impact older people in particular.

#Mentalillness

The U.S. #CentersforDiseaseControl (#CDC) estimates that 46% percent of people who die by #suicide have been diagnosed with a #mentalhealthcondition like #depression. But the real number is likely higher, as that estimate doesn’t account for people whose #mentalillness goes undiagnosed.

Medical concerns

With aging comes increased health issues, which can be a major contributor to depression and #suicidalideation. “A decline in physical health, whether it’s loss of organ function or increasing pain, is a risk factor,” Dr. Sanitato says.

And brain health is a major factor, too. “People with cognitive impairment and #dementia are at greater risk for both attempting and completing #suicide,” Dr. Sanitato adds. One study found that people under 65 who have been diagnosed with #dementia are nearly twice as likely to die by #suicide than people without a #dementia diagnosis.

#Grief and loss

The older you get, the more likely you are to experience multiple losses, including spouses, #parents, siblings and peers. The #grief of those losses can contribute to #depression, #loneliness and fear of aging.

Losing a spouse is a common stressor among older #adults. “Couples, especially those who have been together for many years, often operate as one,” Dr. Sanitato notes. “When one of them dies, it can be really, really difficult for the other one to figure out where to go from there.”

#Retirement

Leaving a job that once left someone feeling fulfilled and productive can be a major #mental and emotional stressor.

One Canadian study found that the first month after retirement is a critical time for teaching people how to adapt to their new lifestyle. Similarly, an Australian study reported that services designed to help new retirees transition out of employment could help lessen the risk of suicidality.

#Financial difficulties

Money troubles and food instability can both contribute to #depression, #anxiety and thoughts of #suicide.

A 2022 study of #adults 50+ in five low- and middle-income countries found that older #adults experiencing moderate food insecurity were 2.59 times more likely to attempt #suicide than their food-secure peers. Older #adults experiencing severe food insecurity were 5.15 times more likely.

#Loneliness

All of the above factors can play a role in increased feelings of #loneliness and #isolation in older #adults.

“#Loneliness has become a buzzword,” Dr. Sanitato says, “and study after study now shows how important it is for older #adults to stay connected.”

#Loneliness has been shown to increase people’s risk for #self-harming #behaviors and #suicide — and for men who live alone, the risk is highest.

Older #whitemen are especially high-risk

In general, #whitemen are at the highest risk for #suicide, accounting for nearly 70% of all suicides in 2020. And #whitemen over age 65 are at the greatest risk.

“They’re the demographic that is most likely to complete #suicide,” Dr. Sanitato states. “Let’s say someone has been married for 40 years, and his wife primarily managed their household. Now that she’s died, he’s left to his own devices, and he’s lost without her.

“I know that sounds like a stereotype — but it’s borne out by the statistics.”

And there’s an added complication. Because people in this demographic are so likely to complete #suicide, there’s not always an opportunity to intervene. “We’re not as likely to see them in the #emergencyroom or in the hospital for help,” Dr. Sanitato adds.

#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:
From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy



www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

#Suicide warning signs in older #adults

In many cases, Dr. Sanitato points out that #suicide is preventable — and we all have a role to play in understanding and noticing the warning signs. So, what can you do to keep an eye on your loved ones as they age?

Ask them directly

There used to be a widely held belief that asking someone if they were thinking about #suicide could drive them to attempt #suicide. But that has been debunked time and time again.

Dr. Sanitato says the best approach is to ask your loved one directly.

“If you have any concern, you should always ask, ‘Are you thinking about #suicide? Have you had thoughts about #suicide?’” he advises. “It’s also a way to make sure that they know that you’re there for them and that you care.”

And it’s OK to keep asking.

“Even if you asked once, follow up on it and ask again,” Dr. Sanitato urges. “They will continue to know that somebody is interested and that somebody cares about them — and sometimes, that can be enough.”

What to look for

Though #suicide can impact people of any #race, sex, #gender, #ethnicity and age, warning signs don’t always look the same.

“Depression in older #adults doesn’t always look like it does in younger people,” he says. “You might think of #depression as obvious sadness, always seeming downcast and teary — but in older #adults, it more often looks like withdrawing or being dismissive, sort of a ‘What’s the use?’ attitude.”

Look for:

- Social withdrawal: Pay attention when someone starts to lack interest in things and people they love, like withdrawing from friendships, classes, activities, etc. “They may say, ‘I just don’t want to be seen,’ or, ‘I don’t want to have to go through the pleasantries of talking to other people,’” Dr. Sanitato says.

- Medical noncompliance: This can include not taking their medications, skipping doctor’s appointments or not adhering to a prescribed treatment regimen.

- Giving away their belongings: “I’ve seen people give away their wardrobe, their furniture and tens of thousands of dollars,” Dr. Sanitato warns.

- Changes in appearance: Of course, some changes in appearance are normal with aging and in general. But if your loved one seems to have stopped caring about the way they look — not getting their hair done anymore, wearing the same clothes over and over — that could be a sign that they’re struggling.

Many of these things aren’t problematic on their own, Dr. Sanitato says. For example, older #adults often update their will, set up a healthcare power of attorney and make plans for what will happen to their money or their belongings after they’ve died — and doing so isn’t inherently a sign of #suiciderisk.

But when these warning signs come in combination, they may signify trouble.

“We often see these things happening concurrently,” Dr. Sanitato states. “Someone starts avoiding friends, blowing off appointments, neglecting to wash their hair — when it all comes in tandem, that’s a concern.”

What to listen for

“Take seriously any sudden preoccupation with mortality and the end of life,” Dr. Sanitato stresses. Pay attention when someone says they:

- Want to die or wish they were dead.

- Are in unbearable physical or emotional pain.

- Feel like a burden to loved ones.

- Feel empty or hopeless.

- Are overwhelmed by guilt or shame.

- Feel trapped, with no way out.

What to do if you think a loved one is suicidal

If someone you care about tells you they’re considering #suicide, or if you notice these warning signs and are concerned, don’t wait.

Contact the #988Suicide&CrisisLifeline through chat, text or a phone call without delay. This national network offers free and confidential help to people who are contemplating #suicide, as well as to their loved ones.

And don’t hesitate to take your loved one to the emergency department if you have immediate concerns for their safety. “Try to be with the person, if you can, and call the authorities if you need to,” Dr. Sanitato advises. “You always want to err on the side of caution.”

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/04/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-what-to-know-about-older-adults-and-suiciderisk/

#Mentalhealthexperts share the signs #parents should look for — and how to act

Korin Miller

How #parents can respond if their #child is experiencing #suicideideation

The #COVID-19 #pandemic turned a new focus on the #mentalhealth of #children, with several reports noting an increase in #suicidalthoughts in #kids. One study found that hospitalizations for #suicidalthoughts increased 57% at the start of the #pandemic, with #children as young as 5 visiting emergency rooms in response to #suicidalideation.

In 2020, the #CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention (#CDC) ranked #suicide as the second-leading cause of death in #children between the ages of 10 and 14. While #suiciderisk in #children is often discussed in the context of older #teenagers, experts say there is a very real risk in younger #children as well.

"#Suicide is rising among younger #children," Vanessa Laurent, a pediatric #psychologist at Connecticut Children’s, tells Yahoo Life. "It is never too early to start discussing #suicidalrisk and increasing the protective factors in children’s lives."

#Suicidalthoughts "can occur in early elementary #school-age #children and in some cases earlier," which is why it's important to take a #child seriously if they talk about ending their life, Yesenia A. Marroquin, clinical #psychologist in the Department of #Child and #Adolescent Psychiatry and #Behavioral Sciences at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, tells Yahoo Life. This isn't a conceptual thing — it actually happens, Stephanie Strumberger, a licensed clinical #counselor at Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital, tells Yahoo Life. "Even as a #therapist that has been working with #children since early 2000, I am amazed at the young age at which #children even know the word #suicide," she says. "I have heard #children as young as 4 mention it."

There are a lot of helpful resources for #suicideprevention in #children, but it largely focuses on #teens. That makes sense, given that #teens are much more likely to die by #suicide than younger #children. However, data show that hundreds of younger #children kill themselves in the U.S. each year. So, what should #parents do their your younger #child expresses #suicidalthoughts? Here's what #mentalhealthexperts recommend.

Why might young #children have #suicidalthoughts?

There are a lot of potential reasons young #children may consider #suicide. "#Bullying, #trauma and high conflict or neglect in the household are some causes," Hillary Ammon, a clinical #psychologist at the Center for #Anxiety & Women's Emotional Wellness, tells Yahoo Life. "I’ve also worked with a lot of #children in this age group who reported having #suicidalthoughts because they felt overwhelmed by their #mentalhealthsymptoms and believed they were alone in their experience." Many of these #children struggled with #anxiety and #depression, Ammon says.

Research into #suicidalrisk factors in young #children is "limited," but there are some suggestions that a #child may be at risk, Marroquin says. Those can include:

- going through multiple traumatic events

- family stressors, like #divorce and parental #substanceabuse

- #school challenges, including moving #schools and being suspended or expelled

- #mentalhealthdiagnoses like #depression and #ADHD

- family history of #suicidalbehavior

- #bullying

- housing instability

"Additionally, early exposure and overuse of #socialmedia may be linked to increased #suicidalideation, with factors such as post sensitivity — reaction to posts not being well-received — and cyberbullying being key contributors," Laurent says.

How can #parents figure out if it's serious or attention-seeking #behavior?

Some #parents may assume a child's comments about #suicide are attention-seeking #behavior, but experts say it's crucial to pay attention to these remarks. "Always take it seriously, as we must prevent the risk of #self-harm or #suicide," Dr. Subodh Jain, division chief of psychiatry at Corewell Health, tells Yahoo Life.

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleOrder your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

What #parents should do if their #child expresses #suicidalthoughts
www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Strumberger agrees. "When #children are seeking attention, there is always a reason," she says. "Something is going on. The best-case scenario is that they are trying to understand what it means and what would happen." Strumberger points out that a #child is "never 'too young'" to take their own life.

If #parents notice any concerning #behaviors, Ammon recommends that they ask the #child what they are thinking and feeling. If a #child makes suicidal comments, Laurent recommends pausing and taking a deep breath to lower the risk of overreacting. "#Kids are less likely to share their feelings and thoughts if they believe their #parents will be upset or reactive," she says. "Creating an open and validating environment is crucial to avoid dismissing or rejecting the #child experiencing #suicidalideation."

She suggests asking a #child direct questions about the nature of their #suicidalthoughts. Some examples:

- "What do you mean when you say you want to die?"

- "How long have you been thinking about killing yourself?"

- "Do you have a plan of how you would try to kill yourself?"

- "What do you think would make things better?"

- "What do you need from me?"

"#Parents should also increase parental oversight and supervision and express their love and support, as well as openly discuss their plan to connect the #kid with resources," Laurent says. "Additionally, it is highly recommended that #parents lock up any sharp, ingestible or dangerous items."

If a #child is experiencing #suicidalthoughts or #behaviors, Marroquin recommends that #parents reach out to their primary care provider to see if the #child may benefit from therapy. If families need immediate assistance, she recommends calling #988 (the #SuicideandCrisisLifeline) and seeking psychiatric emergency services through their county’s mobile crisis team, local crisis center or nearest #emergencyroom.

"Remember, you know your child best — their likes and dislikes, their typical rhythm and pattern, and when something seems 'off,'" Marroquin says. "Trust those instincts."

If you or someone you know is experiencing #suicidalthoughts, call #911 or the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at #988 or 1-800-273-8255, or text HOME to the #CrisisTextLine at 741741.

Photo by samer daboul on Pexels.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/04/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-young-kids-are-at-risk-of-suicidalideation-too-heres-what-mentalhealthprofessionals-recommend-parents-do-if-their-child-is-struggling/

#Mentalhealthexperts share the signs #parents should look for — and how to act

Korin Miller

How #parents can respond if their #child is experiencing #suicideideation

The #COVID-19 #pandemic turned a new focus on the #mentalhealth of #children, with several reports noting an increase in #suicidalthoughts in #kids. One study found that hospitalizations for #suicidalthoughts increased 57% at the start of the #pandemic, with #children as young as 5 visiting emergency rooms in response to #suicidalideation.

In 2020, the #CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention (#CDC) ranked #suicide as the second-leading cause of death in #children between the ages of 10 and 14. While #suiciderisk in #children is often discussed in the context of older #teenagers, experts say there is a very real risk in younger #children as well.

"#Suicide is rising among younger #children," Vanessa Laurent, a pediatric #psychologist at Connecticut Children’s, tells Yahoo Life. "It is never too early to start discussing #suicidalrisk and increasing the protective factors in children’s lives."

#Suicidalthoughts "can occur in early elementary #school-age #children and in some cases earlier," which is why it's important to take a #child seriously if they talk about ending their life, Yesenia A. Marroquin, clinical #psychologist in the Department of #Child and #Adolescent Psychiatry and #Behavioral Sciences at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, tells Yahoo Life. This isn't a conceptual thing — it actually happens, Stephanie Strumberger, a licensed clinical #counselor at Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital, tells Yahoo Life. "Even as a #therapist that has been working with #children since early 2000, I am amazed at the young age at which #children even know the word #suicide," she says. "I have heard #children as young as 4 mention it."

There are a lot of helpful resources for #suicideprevention in #children, but it largely focuses on #teens. That makes sense, given that #teens are much more likely to die by #suicide than younger #children. However, data show that hundreds of younger #children kill themselves in the U.S. each year. So, what should #parents do their your younger #child expresses #suicidalthoughts? Here's what #mentalhealthexperts recommend.

Why might young #children have #suicidalthoughts?

There are a lot of potential reasons young #children may consider #suicide. "#Bullying, #trauma and high conflict or neglect in the household are some causes," Hillary Ammon, a clinical #psychologist at the Center for #Anxiety & Women's Emotional Wellness, tells Yahoo Life. "I’ve also worked with a lot of #children in this age group who reported having #suicidalthoughts because they felt overwhelmed by their #mentalhealthsymptoms and believed they were alone in their experience." Many of these #children struggled with #anxiety and #depression, Ammon says.

Research into #suicidalrisk factors in young #children is "limited," but there are some suggestions that a #child may be at risk, Marroquin says. Those can include:

- going through multiple traumatic events

- family stressors, like #divorce and parental #substanceabuse

- #school challenges, including moving #schools and being suspended or expelled

- #mentalhealthdiagnoses like #depression and #ADHD

- family history of #suicidalbehavior

- #bullying

- housing instability

"Additionally, early exposure and overuse of #socialmedia may be linked to increased #suicidalideation, with factors such as post sensitivity — reaction to posts not being well-received — and cyberbullying being key contributors," Laurent says.

How can #parents figure out if it's serious or attention-seeking #behavior?

Some #parents may assume a child's comments about #suicide are attention-seeking #behavior, but experts say it's crucial to pay attention to these remarks. "Always take it seriously, as we must prevent the risk of #self-harm or #suicide," Dr. Subodh Jain, division chief of psychiatry at Corewell Health, tells Yahoo Life.

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleOrder your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

What #parents should do if their #child expresses #suicidalthoughts
www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Strumberger agrees. "When #children are seeking attention, there is always a reason," she says. "Something is going on. The best-case scenario is that they are trying to understand what it means and what would happen." Strumberger points out that a #child is "never 'too young'" to take their own life.

If #parents notice any concerning #behaviors, Ammon recommends that they ask the #child what they are thinking and feeling. If a #child makes suicidal comments, Laurent recommends pausing and taking a deep breath to lower the risk of overreacting. "#Kids are less likely to share their feelings and thoughts if they believe their #parents will be upset or reactive," she says. "Creating an open and validating environment is crucial to avoid dismissing or rejecting the #child experiencing #suicidalideation."

She suggests asking a #child direct questions about the nature of their #suicidalthoughts. Some examples:

- "What do you mean when you say you want to die?"

- "How long have you been thinking about killing yourself?"

- "Do you have a plan of how you would try to kill yourself?"

- "What do you think would make things better?"

- "What do you need from me?"

"#Parents should also increase parental oversight and supervision and express their love and support, as well as openly discuss their plan to connect the #kid with resources," Laurent says. "Additionally, it is highly recommended that #parents lock up any sharp, ingestible or dangerous items."

If a #child is experiencing #suicidalthoughts or #behaviors, Marroquin recommends that #parents reach out to their primary care provider to see if the #child may benefit from therapy. If families need immediate assistance, she recommends calling #988 (the #SuicideandCrisisLifeline) and seeking psychiatric emergency services through their county’s mobile crisis team, local crisis center or nearest #emergencyroom.

"Remember, you know your child best — their likes and dislikes, their typical rhythm and pattern, and when something seems 'off,'" Marroquin says. "Trust those instincts."

If you or someone you know is experiencing #suicidalthoughts, call #911 or the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at #988 or 1-800-273-8255, or text HOME to the #CrisisTextLine at 741741.

Photo by samer daboul on Pexels.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=11383

By Ginny McCabe, contributing writer

#Mentalhealthprofessionals and faith leaders that serve #blackcommunities are partnering to raise awareness about #mentalhealth and #suicideprevention with a training and educational event in April.

“There will be a great deal of activity, learning and support that’s going to be provided,” said Dr. Quinton Moss, MD, #psychiatrist and CEO at Modern Psychiatry and Wellness, LLC.

The Taskforce to Improve #MentalHealth in the #AfricanAmerican Community has created a new, one-day program that will raise awareness about #mentalhealth and #suicideprevention.

“We were able to partner with Miami Regionals, Interact for Health, Modern Psychiatry and Wellness, Kettering Ministry Care Line, Saving Grace Community #Church, and the Butler County #SuicidePrevention Coalition as well as the #AmericanPsychiatricAssociation Foundation,” Moss said. “They all had a part in pulling this all together, to be able to have the training and resources for this great event.”

Restoring Connections: Greater Cincinnati Faith and #MentalHealth Collaborative will be April 21 at Miami University Voice of America Learning Center. The program is offered at no cost to participants and includes breakfast and lunch. Guests can register to attend at https://envisionpartnerships.org/what-we-do/prevention-coalitions/bcspc.

“The #AfricanAmerican community has had significant challenges in regard to engaging in #mentalhealthcare. Also, we’ve had increased prevalence of certain conditions and incidents, most notably, we’ve had a dramatic increase in the number of people who have attempted and completed #suicides over the past five years,” Moss said. “So, there’s a need in this community to provide greater support, access, education, and reducing #stigma.”

For generations, the #black #church, or churches in general, have been an informal way that people have received #mentalhealthcare, he said.

Additionally, #pastors and #church leaders often have their own #mentalhealth needs, Moss said.

This is the first event offered by the Greater Cincinnati Faith and #MentalHealth Collaborative. In an on-going effort, the collaborative was formed to raise awareness about #mentalhealth, reduce #suicide, increase access to #mentalhealthservices, and to provide education and on-going support for leaders in the #black faith-based community.

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleOrder your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

“We’re hoping that people who serve #AfricanAmericans in their communities and their #churches all would participate,” Moss said.

Topics covered throughout the day will include #mentalhealth in #blackcommunities, #depression, #suicide, and how to refer community members for treatment.

“This meeting is focusing more on #depression and #suicide, and we think in subsequent meetings, because we hope to have this at least a couple of times a year, we’ll talk about things like #trauma, #anxiety, and #substanceabusedisorders,” Moss said. “We hope this will be an on-going supportive and learning opportunity for #pastors and #church leaders.”

He said there is a schedule of events planned, beginning with registration and breakfast. There will also be #QuestionPersuadeRefer/#QPR Training offered in small groups. #QPR is a #suicideprevention training for participants to be able to recognize the warning signs of #suicide and question, persuade, and refer people at risk for #suicide for help. The day will conclude with lunch.

“#Pastors and #church leaders can leave there with some tools to be able to help and start to support the folks in their #churches who do come to crisis and how to get them to care,” Moss said.

Other highlights will include talks from Dr. Daniella Johnson, #psychiatrist and chief medical officer at the Lindner Center for HOPE, who will speak to the status of #mentalhealth in the #AfricanAmerican community, Dr. Moss will address #depression and #suicideprevention, and Senior #Pastor Eric Hollie of New Jerusalem Apostolic Temple will help lead a discussion about pastoral #self-care.

“Another important component of this is looking at pastoral #self-care. One out of ten #pastors contemplate #suicide. So, our goal is to provide #pastors with some support. That’s where Kettering has been very helpful in providing access to their Kettering Ministry Care Line, which is a support specifically for #pastors and their families when they are in the midst of crisis,” Moss said.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/04/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-black-pastors-church-leaders-invited-to-mentalhealth-and-suicideprevention-training/

https://youtu.be/PtuJmH99enA

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleOrder your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/04/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-new-suicideprevention-initiative-with-athletes-helps-break-the-stigma-surrounding-mentalhealth/

By Ginny McCabe, contributing writer

#Mentalhealthprofessionals and faith leaders that serve #blackcommunities are partnering to raise awareness about #mentalhealth and #suicideprevention with a training and educational event in April.

“There will be a great deal of activity, learning and support that’s going to be provided,” said Dr. Quinton Moss, MD, #psychiatrist and CEO at Modern Psychiatry and Wellness, LLC.

The Taskforce to Improve #MentalHealth in the #AfricanAmerican Community has created a new, one-day program that will raise awareness about #mentalhealth and #suicideprevention.

“We were able to partner with Miami Regionals, Interact for Health, Modern Psychiatry and Wellness, Kettering Ministry Care Line, Saving Grace Community #Church, and the Butler County #SuicidePrevention Coalition as well as the #AmericanPsychiatricAssociation Foundation,” Moss said. “They all had a part in pulling this all together, to be able to have the training and resources for this great event.”

Restoring Connections: Greater Cincinnati Faith and #MentalHealth Collaborative will be April 21 at Miami University Voice of America Learning Center. The program is offered at no cost to participants and includes breakfast and lunch. Guests can register to attend at https://envisionpartnerships.org/what-we-do/prevention-coalitions/bcspc.

“The #AfricanAmerican community has had significant challenges in regard to engaging in #mentalhealthcare. Also, we’ve had increased prevalence of certain conditions and incidents, most notably, we’ve had a dramatic increase in the number of people who have attempted and completed #suicides over the past five years,” Moss said. “So, there’s a need in this community to provide greater support, access, education, and reducing #stigma.”

For generations, the #black #church, or churches in general, have been an informal way that people have received #mentalhealthcare, he said.

Additionally, #pastors and #church leaders often have their own #mentalhealth needs, Moss said.

This is the first event offered by the Greater Cincinnati Faith and #MentalHealth Collaborative. In an on-going effort, the collaborative was formed to raise awareness about #mentalhealth, reduce #suicide, increase access to #mentalhealthservices, and to provide education and on-going support for leaders in the #black faith-based community.

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleOrder your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

“We’re hoping that people who serve #AfricanAmericans in their communities and their #churches all would participate,” Moss said.

Topics covered throughout the day will include #mentalhealth in #blackcommunities, #depression, #suicide, and how to refer community members for treatment.

“This meeting is focusing more on #depression and #suicide, and we think in subsequent meetings, because we hope to have this at least a couple of times a year, we’ll talk about things like #trauma, #anxiety, and #substanceabusedisorders,” Moss said. “We hope this will be an on-going supportive and learning opportunity for #pastors and #church leaders.”

He said there is a schedule of events planned, beginning with registration and breakfast. There will also be #QuestionPersuadeRefer/#QPR Training offered in small groups. #QPR is a #suicideprevention training for participants to be able to recognize the warning signs of #suicide and question, persuade, and refer people at risk for #suicide for help. The day will conclude with lunch.

“#Pastors and #church leaders can leave there with some tools to be able to help and start to support the folks in their #churches who do come to crisis and how to get them to care,” Moss said.

Other highlights will include talks from Dr. Daniella Johnson, #psychiatrist and chief medical officer at the Lindner Center for HOPE, who will speak to the status of #mentalhealth in the #AfricanAmerican community, Dr. Moss will address #depression and #suicideprevention, and Senior #Pastor Eric Hollie of New Jerusalem Apostolic Temple will help lead a discussion about pastoral #self-care.

“Another important component of this is looking at pastoral #self-care. One out of ten #pastors contemplate #suicide. So, our goal is to provide #pastors with some support. That’s where Kettering has been very helpful in providing access to their Kettering Ministry Care Line, which is a support specifically for #pastors and their families when they are in the midst of crisis,” Moss said.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=11370

https://youtu.be/PtuJmH99enA

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleOrder your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=11367

Say something, know something and be something to help improve #mentalhealth

By Madison Selcho

Carl L. Hanson, from BYU’s College of Life Sciences, speaks at a forum about #mentalhealth on July 26, 2022, at BYU in Provo. Hansen is sharing three strategies for navigating #mentalhealthstruggles: say something, know something and be something.

A BYU professor is sharing three strategies for navigating #mentalhealthstruggles: say something, know something and be something.

In a forum, BYU Public Health professor Carl L. Hanson described how these practices can aid in anyone's #mentalhealth journey, along with the important distinction between #mentalhealth and #mentalillness.

Say something

Hanson emphasized that while the terms #mentalhealth and #mentalillness are often used interchangeably, the phrases don’t mean the same thing. In order to discuss #mentalhealth, people need to say something about #mentalillness.

“#Mentalhealth is not simply the opposite of #mentalillness,” Hanson said. “#Mentalhealth exists on its own continuum and we can flourish and achieve optimal #mentalhealth or languish whether we have been diagnosed with a #mentaldisorder or not.”

Hanson explained that everyone has the responsibility to speak about #mentalhealth and #mentalillness in accurate terms so that others have a better understanding of how to help people in the community.

"Having conversations about #mentalillness can help us reduce the #stigma or negative perceptions of people with #mentalillness," Hanson said.

According to #MentalHealth America, more than half of the total #adults in the U.S. and half of Utahns with #mentalillness do not receive the help they need. Hanson referred to a study that found that #suicidalideation within college #students has increased 64% since 2013. That study also found that more than 600 people die yearly from #suicide in Utah.

Hanson said some of the factors contributing to the number of #suicides include “a lack of access to #mentalhealth care due to lack of insurance, fewer provider options, and cost of care and a personal choice not to utilize the services because of the #stigma related to obtaining treatment.”

Suicide itself is not a #mentaldisorder, Hanson emphasized — rather, #mentaldisorders are causes of #suicide. He urged everyone to look for ways they can support solutions and prevent #suicide.

The new #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline is available by calling #988 and the SafeUT app is available to help Utahns.

Know something

Hanson said there are many different root causes of #mentalillness, and these causes are usually put into two categories: risk factors and protective factors.

“Risk factors are those things that increase the likelihood of an individual experiencing the problem,” Hanson said. “Protective factors are those things that mitigate the risk and are often simply the opposite of the risk factor.”

Examples of risk factors include perfectionist attitudes and #childhood #trauma, Hanson said, while an example of a protective factor is healthy relationships, which research found help mitigate certain risk factors.

“Much of this work points to the powerful influence of context and our interactions with others in settings like home, #school and communities,” Hanson said.

Be something

Ultimately saying something and knowing something about #mentalhealth doesn’t lead people to excellent #mentalhealth without also being something, according to Hanson. “To achieve optimal #mentalhealth, be our best self and flourish, we must be something as well,” Hanson said.

He explained that focusing on the journey of improving yourself while embracing failure will lead to better overall #mentalhealth. Hanson also emphasized that having an overall sense of wellness, otherwise known as being "wellness wise," will help lead individuals and their peers to better #mentalhealth.

“As we become wellness wise by embracing wellness as a whole person opportunity, we ‘will not only be capable of meeting personal challenge and change but will also bring strength to others in the tasks of home and family life, social relationships, civic duty and service to mankind,’” Hanson said, quoting the BYU mission statement.

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleOrder your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/04/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-3-practices-to-improve-your-mentalhealth-according-to-a-byu-public-health-professor/

Emily Rizzitano | Health and Parenting

Tags: #adolescent medicine, primary care, #suicide

#Teens face a wide variety psychosocial challenges during the extremely formative #adolescent years

Being a #teen is hard enough, but with the current #adolescent #mentalhealthcrisis, #parents should know about the psychosocial challenges — from #stress to #suicidalthoughts — #teens face nowadays.

We spoke with Nanci Ginty Butler, LICSW, director of #MentalHealthServices in the Division of #Adolescent and Young #Adult Medicine at Boston Children’s to learn more.

Ginty Butler explains that #behavioralhealthsymptoms like exhaustion, moodiness, and inattentiveness are often reactions or adaptations to #trauma or acute #stress.

1. Help your #teen regulate their “window of tolerance”

We have smart bodies — constantly scanning the environment around us for threats and safety, even when we aren’t aware we’re even doing it.

“When our body perceives a threat is happening, it responds in ways to keep ourselves safe,” explains Ginty Butler. “This means we might run away, avoid, fight, or choose to numb feelings. Sometimes these #behaviors are effective in the short run but turn out maladaptive in the long term.” It’s important to be aware of your #teen’s #stress response cycle, where they are in it, and how to help them stay inside their window of tolerance.

Our window of tolerance is the zone where we are at our best mental state to digest information and be present in social situations. “We are constantly cycling in and out of our windows of tolerance throughout the average course of the day,” Ginty Butler says.

When we are above our personal window of tolerance, we are filled with #anxiety and panic fueled by adrenaline. When we are below, we can feel emotionally numb or distracted. When we are functioning from inside our window of tolerance, we feel alert, calm, and present.

Teach your #teen effective tools to regulate and return to their window of tolerance – often called coping mechanisms – when they feel stressed:

- hydration

- rhythmic-patterned movement to soothe the nervous system (walking, dancing, tapping on the sides of their body)

- patterned breathing (like breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth)

- progressive muscle relaxation (flexing a certain part of the body, then releasing while noticing how those muscles feel)

- fresh air and sunlight

- exercise 

- journaling or another healthy distraction

2. Educate yourself about #mooddisorders

It’s normal for all people — especially #teens — to cycle through different moods. This usually occurs as they cycle in and out of their window of tolerance, depending on what’s going on at any given moment.

Earlier in the #pandemic, many people noticed feeling especially sensitive to changes in their environment — and increased feelings of #hopelessness or negativity were common in people of all ages. These are typical reactions to stressors. However, when mood changes begin to affect your teen’s daily life for longer than two weeks, they could be a sign of a #mooddisorder

“In real life, #mooddisorders do not look like how they are portrayed in media,” Ginty Butler explains. “#Depression in commercials often shows people laying in bed for an extended period of time. But in #teenagers, #depression often presents very differently.”

#Adolescents may still attend #school daily, go to their extracurriculars, or appear to be socializing “normally,” all while experiencing a #mooddisorder. In this age group, #mooddisorders like #depression often manifest as bouts of anger or extreme irritability, indecisiveness, memory problems, social withdrawals, and inattentiveness.

“#Teens often feel misunderstood by those around them when they have a #mooddisorder,” she says. “You might understandably become frustrated or impatient with them.” Ginty Butler urges #parents to foster open communication with their #teen so that they feel comfortable voicing their feelings.

“As #parents, we should try to be proactive rather than reactive. This means creating a positive environment to feel supported and finding the right care for our #teens.”

3. Be informed of #eatingdisorders

#Eatingdisorders are extremely difficult for both #teens and their families. New research has shown a spike in diagnoses and treatment for #eatingdisorders in #teenagers.

Common types of #eatingdisorders include #anorexianervosa, #bulimianervosa, #bingeeatingdisorder, and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder.

It’s important that a young person understands how an #eatingdisorder can damage different parts of their body. #Eatingdisorders negatively affect nearly every organ system. “#Eatingdisorders can affect cognition, hinder rational judgment and impulse control, impede the ability to see situations objectively, and stunt growth and development,” she says.

Each #eatingdisorder has severe physical health consequences. One of the several consequences of #anorexia is low bone density, leading to osteoporosis. Binge eating can lead to #highbloodpressure or type 2 #diabetes, among others. Bulimia nervosa causes serious electrolyte problems, leading to serious heart problems, among multiple other complications.

For these reasons, you should step in immediately if you see that your #child is losing weight or if you think your #child has an #eatingdisorder. Professional help is key. Be sure to approach this conversation with care and without any accusation or anger.

“The good news is that #eatingdisorders, like most #mentalhealthissues, are treatable,” explains Ginty Butler. “But they do require medical intervention. Do not hesitate to seek treatment if your #child is showing signs of an #eatingdisorder.”

4. Understand the risks of #suicide

Sometimes, your #teen might be dealing with even more serious #mentalhealthconcerns, like #suicidalthoughts.

Research shows that rates of #suicideattempts and other #mentalhealth emergencies have risen dramatically in #teens during the #COVID-19 #pandemic. That’s a good reason for #parents to be even more watchful for signs of #suicidalthoughts and to support their #teens as they go through challenging life stages.  

#Suicideprevention can include open communication with trusted #adults, so ask your #teen direct and non-judgmental questions to encourage them to share with you. If they aren’t willing to open up, get help through a professional #counselor as an outlet for your #teen to learn how to deal with challenges and implement positive coping methods.

If a #suicide has occurred in your community or to someone you know, prevention is even more crucial. After a #suicide occurs, the risk for #suicide increases among survivors, a phenomenon called #suicidecontagion.

If you or your #child is in crisis, call the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at the new three-digit dialing code #988, or contact the #CrisisTextLine by texting HOME to 741741.

“Encourage open communication and be ready to hear what your #teen is thinking,” says Ginty Butler. “Offer reassurance and avoid judging the person that died. Don’t focus on the method or speculate on what may have triggered the #suicide.”

You should also seek help from a licensed #mentalhealthprofessional if your #teen seems to be struggling to process the experience.

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleOrder your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/04/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-four-ways-to-support-your-teens-mentalhealth/

Emily Rizzitano | Health and Parenting

Tags: #adolescent medicine, primary care, #suicide

#Teens face a wide variety psychosocial challenges during the extremely formative #adolescent years

Being a #teen is hard enough, but with the current #adolescent #mentalhealthcrisis, #parents should know about the psychosocial challenges — from #stress to #suicidalthoughts — #teens face nowadays.

We spoke with Nanci Ginty Butler, LICSW, director of #MentalHealthServices in the Division of #Adolescent and Young #Adult Medicine at Boston Children’s to learn more.

Ginty Butler explains that #behavioralhealthsymptoms like exhaustion, moodiness, and inattentiveness are often reactions or adaptations to #trauma or acute #stress.

1. Help your #teen regulate their “window of tolerance”

We have smart bodies — constantly scanning the environment around us for threats and safety, even when we aren’t aware we’re even doing it.

“When our body perceives a threat is happening, it responds in ways to keep ourselves safe,” explains Ginty Butler. “This means we might run away, avoid, fight, or choose to numb feelings. Sometimes these #behaviors are effective in the short run but turn out maladaptive in the long term.” It’s important to be aware of your #teen’s #stress response cycle, where they are in it, and how to help them stay inside their window of tolerance.

Our window of tolerance is the zone where we are at our best mental state to digest information and be present in social situations. “We are constantly cycling in and out of our windows of tolerance throughout the average course of the day,” Ginty Butler says.

When we are above our personal window of tolerance, we are filled with #anxiety and panic fueled by adrenaline. When we are below, we can feel emotionally numb or distracted. When we are functioning from inside our window of tolerance, we feel alert, calm, and present.

Teach your #teen effective tools to regulate and return to their window of tolerance – often called coping mechanisms – when they feel stressed:

- hydration

- rhythmic-patterned movement to soothe the nervous system (walking, dancing, tapping on the sides of their body)

- patterned breathing (like breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth)

- progressive muscle relaxation (flexing a certain part of the body, then releasing while noticing how those muscles feel)

- fresh air and sunlight

- exercise 

- journaling or another healthy distraction

2. Educate yourself about #mooddisorders

It’s normal for all people — especially #teens — to cycle through different moods. This usually occurs as they cycle in and out of their window of tolerance, depending on what’s going on at any given moment.

Earlier in the #pandemic, many people noticed feeling especially sensitive to changes in their environment — and increased feelings of #hopelessness or negativity were common in people of all ages. These are typical reactions to stressors. However, when mood changes begin to affect your teen’s daily life for longer than two weeks, they could be a sign of a #mooddisorder

“In real life, #mooddisorders do not look like how they are portrayed in media,” Ginty Butler explains. “#Depression in commercials often shows people laying in bed for an extended period of time. But in #teenagers, #depression often presents very differently.”

#Adolescents may still attend #school daily, go to their extracurriculars, or appear to be socializing “normally,” all while experiencing a #mooddisorder. In this age group, #mooddisorders like #depression often manifest as bouts of anger or extreme irritability, indecisiveness, memory problems, social withdrawals, and inattentiveness.

“#Teens often feel misunderstood by those around them when they have a #mooddisorder,” she says. “You might understandably become frustrated or impatient with them.” Ginty Butler urges #parents to foster open communication with their #teen so that they feel comfortable voicing their feelings.

“As #parents, we should try to be proactive rather than reactive. This means creating a positive environment to feel supported and finding the right care for our #teens.”

3. Be informed of #eatingdisorders

#Eatingdisorders are extremely difficult for both #teens and their families. New research has shown a spike in diagnoses and treatment for #eatingdisorders in #teenagers.

Common types of #eatingdisorders include #anorexianervosa, #bulimianervosa, #bingeeatingdisorder, and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder.

It’s important that a young person understands how an #eatingdisorder can damage different parts of their body. #Eatingdisorders negatively affect nearly every organ system. “#Eatingdisorders can affect cognition, hinder rational judgment and impulse control, impede the ability to see situations objectively, and stunt growth and development,” she says.

Each #eatingdisorder has severe physical health consequences. One of the several consequences of #anorexia is low bone density, leading to osteoporosis. Binge eating can lead to #highbloodpressure or type 2 #diabetes, among others. Bulimia nervosa causes serious electrolyte problems, leading to serious heart problems, among multiple other complications.

For these reasons, you should step in immediately if you see that your #child is losing weight or if you think your #child has an #eatingdisorder. Professional help is key. Be sure to approach this conversation with care and without any accusation or anger.

“The good news is that #eatingdisorders, like most #mentalhealthissues, are treatable,” explains Ginty Butler. “But they do require medical intervention. Do not hesitate to seek treatment if your #child is showing signs of an #eatingdisorder.”

4. Understand the risks of #suicide

Sometimes, your #teen might be dealing with even more serious #mentalhealthconcerns, like #suicidalthoughts.

Research shows that rates of #suicideattempts and other #mentalhealth emergencies have risen dramatically in #teens during the #COVID-19 #pandemic. That’s a good reason for #parents to be even more watchful for signs of #suicidalthoughts and to support their #teens as they go through challenging life stages.  

#Suicideprevention can include open communication with trusted #adults, so ask your #teen direct and non-judgmental questions to encourage them to share with you. If they aren’t willing to open up, get help through a professional #counselor as an outlet for your #teen to learn how to deal with challenges and implement positive coping methods.

If a #suicide has occurred in your community or to someone you know, prevention is even more crucial. After a #suicide occurs, the risk for #suicide increases among survivors, a phenomenon called #suicidecontagion.

If you or your #child is in crisis, call the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at the new three-digit dialing code #988, or contact the #CrisisTextLine by texting HOME to 741741.

“Encourage open communication and be ready to hear what your #teen is thinking,” says Ginty Butler. “Offer reassurance and avoid judging the person that died. Don’t focus on the method or speculate on what may have triggered the #suicide.”

You should also seek help from a licensed #mentalhealthprofessional if your #teen seems to be struggling to process the experience.

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleOrder your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=11357