They may need extra support to thrive on the playing field

Writer: Rachel Ehmke

Clinical Experts: Jerry Bubrick, PhD , Michelle Kaplan, LCSW

What You'll Learn

- How can coaches help kids who are struggling to master skills and learn new plays?

- How can coaches and parents support kids who have trouble managing big feelings like frustration and disappointment?

- How does anxiety affect kids in sports, and what can we do to help them?

- Quick Read

- Full Article

- Identifying why a child seems to be struggling

- Rethinking how new skills are introduced

- Teaching kids to be a good sport

- Making expectations clear and realistic

- Helping anxious kids

- An opportunity to shine

#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/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite 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

Sports can play an important role in any child’s development, but they may be especially valuable for boosting the self-esteem of kids with mental health and learning disorders. Coaches and parent should be aware that these kids may need extra support to acquire the needed skills and manage their emotions successfully on the playing field.

The first step is to identify the specific struggles a #child is facing. Coaches, who may be new to working with children, should take some extra time to observe and understand what might be difficult for them. Common issues include struggling with learning the mechanics of a skill, acting out due to feeling overwhelmed, freezing due to #anxiety, or not passing the ball due to impulsivity.

Parents can play a crucial role by communicating with coaches about their child’s challenges and sharing strategies that have worked in the past. By adjusting teaching methods and breaking down skills, coaches can make the learning process easier. Visual aids, repetition, and individual instruction can be effective.

Teaching children how to manage their emotions is an important aspect of good sportsmanship. Kids who struggle with frustration or disappointment may need guidance on how to handle these feelings without acting out.

Coaches should take into account factors that might affect children’s performance during games, such as anxiety or sensory overload. Instead of criticizing children in front of others, coaches can provide feedback privately and calmly.

For children who are too hard on themselves or experience social anxiety, it’s important to help them adjust their expectations. Emphasizing that mistakes are a normal part of the game can be reassuring.

Although children with mental health and learning differences may face certain challenges, sports offer wonderful opportunities for self-esteem building. Recognizing their achievements in sports can boost their confidence and provide a sense of accomplishment.

Sports can play an important role in any child’s emotional development, but they may be particularly important for building up the self-esteem of kids with #mentalhealth and #learningdisorders.

Learning how to play a sport isn’t easy, though. Figuring out just the right way to hold the #baseball bat or kick a #soccer ball takes practice before it starts to feel comfortable. Mastering how to dribble a #basketball and then shoot a lay-up requires coordination, paying attention to rules (no traveling!), persistence, and even confidence that kids often need help developing.

Children who are already struggling with emotional, #behavioral, or learning issues may face greater barriers, but there’s a lot that #parents and coaches can do to help.

Identifying why a child seems to be struggling

Understanding exactly what kids are struggling with first is important. This isn’t always obvious, especially to coaches who may be new to working with children.

“Usually if you’re coaching, you were the kid who kind of picked up on things in the gym or on the field, notes Perrin Shelton, a girls’ basketball coach in Texas. “So understanding why somebody doesn’t understand what you’re saying can be hard, unless you’ve experienced it yourself.” This is something Shelton thinks a lot about, since she was a player who had trouble paying attention when she was younger. Today she is a learning specialist at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, where she also coaches.

Spending some extra time observing a child who seems to be struggling, to determine what in particular might be difficult for them, is important. Here are some common issues that kids have on the playing field, and possible explanations.

- Struggling with the mechanics of a particular skill or drill: If a child has #ADHD or a #learningdisorder, they may not actually understand what is being asked of them. Children can also struggle if they have issues with coordination or motor skills.

- Acting out: Kids may act out when they are feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated by being in a group, or have a hard time being patient during moments of inactivity. For other kids, dealing with big emotions like excitement, frustration, or disappointment can translate to ignoring instructions and throwing tantrums.

- Freezing: A child may look frozen in place because they are feeling anxious about performing in front of a group or worried about messing up. Other kids could look frozen because they have learning issues and it takes them longer to process directions.

- Not passing the ball: In the heat of the moment a child might forget that they are supposed to pass the ball to a teammate or have a hard time resisting the impulse to keep it to themselves.

If you’re a #parent, you may already know that your child is prone to struggling with certain things. Finding some time before or after practice to explain to the coach what your #child tends to find challenging and — most importantly — what you’ve found to be helpful can set the groundwork for a better practice. This transparency might make your child feel better, too.

Shelton notes that kids worry that their coach might think they don’t care, when the problem is that paying attention is hard for them. They ask, “So how do I let my coach know?”

Here are some pointers for helping kids with particular issues.

Rethinking how new skills are introduced

For kids who struggle with coordination, attention, or processing new information, being careful to break down exactly how to do things is important. Sometimes that means beginning with the basics.

 “Sometimes it’s the actual skill of kicking or dribbling that no one’s ever actually taught them,” notes Michelle Kaplan, a licensed clinical social worker in New York. Kaplan suggests slowing down the teaching process and giving kids extra support so that they’re “overlearning” the skill. For some kids, this might need to happen on a one-on-one basis, depending on how much assistance they need or how distracted they are by the group.

Shelton agrees. She advocates “reteaching, checking in, having the kid show you what they just learned. For kids who struggle to understand, having it written down and then saying it orally, or showing them a video.” For kids who struggle to understand plays drawn on a whiteboard, there are also apps that allow coaches to draw up plays so that kids can see them in motion before they try them out.

For teaching new plays or skills in a group, Shelton also suggests that coaches reconsider who tries things out first. “We have a tendency to put in our top five to run the play when you’re teaching them a new offense, but you probably want to put in the five that have the hardest time paying attention,” she says. “They are the ones who may miss out on the instruction, versus the other kids who learn very well just by seeing it and they can hop right in.”

Teaching kids to be a good sport

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and drama of sports, which is both a good and bad thing about them. Kids who have a hard time dealing with frustration or disappointment often need help managing their emotions to help them be good teammates.

Jerry Bubrick, PhD, a clinical #psychologist at the #ChildMindInstitute, worked with an anxious #patient whose perfectionism often resulted in frustration on the basketball court. “He was probably the most talented kid on the team, but he had a little bit of a temper,” says Dr. Bubrick. “So he’d miss a shot, he’d be cursing, he’d be stomping, and he would make a scene. Then he couldn’t figure out why the coaches would bench him and not start him. That would make him more angry and more anxious because he’d be thinking, ‘What’s wrong with me if I’m sitting on the bench?’”

Teaching kids what kind of behavior is expected of them, and how their conduct might influence how their #coaches or teammates think of them, is important. “If you’re trying and you’re putting your effort out there and then you miss, the coaches are going to see that,” Dr. Bubrick adds. “But if you’re like Bobby Knight throwing chairs across the floor because you missed a shot, then the coach will see that too.”

Kaplan encourages being very clear with what the #behavioral goals are. “What should they be doing with themselves and their body if they’re feeling frustrated or overwhelmed? How do you keep your body calm when you lose? How do you cope so that you’re not running off the field or stomping out of the gym?” For kids who struggle with this, Kaplan says, “We do a lot of practice with losing on purpose, not getting the ball, not getting the position that you wanted and sitting with that a little bit.”

Making expectations clear and realistic

In general making expectations very clear is important. Something you might think is obvious, like where kids’ bodies or materials should be, might not be understood. For sports that involve a lot of waiting, what should kids be doing during that wait time? Making sure no one stays on the bench too long and showing videos of plays can be helpful for kids who have a hard time waiting.

You might also need to adjust your expectations during games, which can bring on specific challenges. Kids might have been capable of doing something at practice, but during the game they could be anxious about their performance or overwhelmed by how loud the gym is or even the tenor of their coach’s voice.

 “If you’re barking at them on the court, in front of their parents, in front of their peers, it might not have the effect that you’re looking for,” Shelton notes. “Instead of motivating them it ends up making them afraid to take risks and afraid to try something different.”

Pulling kids aside and telling them calmly what you’d like them to work on is a much better strategy.  

Shelton also notes that sometimes kids might have trouble learning a new play in the heat of the moment. “If you have time to walk them through it and really coach them on it, they will probably be fine. But when you draw a new play on the clipboard, that doesn’t always translate very well for students who have learning differences. They have to process what they see on the board into the court.”

Helping anxious kids

Sometimes it’s the kids who are too hard on themselves. They might be perfectionists who can’t move on from the mistakes they made or the shots they missed, and it makes it hard for them to enjoy sports. Dr. Bubrick describes working with kids who think, if they got three hits out of four at-bats, they had a bad game. For these kids, Dr. Bubrick recommends helping them adjust their expectations of what is a good performance. He might start by looking at the stats of their favorite player.

 “In baseball, Dr. Bubrick notes, “you can go to the Hall of Fame with a 300 average. Which means that you fail 7 times out of 10 times you come up to the plate. Some kids will still say, ‘I have to get 6 or 7.’ How is that realistic?”

#Socialanxiety can also be a factor. Kids might worry so much about making embarrassing mistakes in front of their teammates that they can’t relax and enjoy sports, even if they want to. Providing a reality check can help here, too. Dr. Bubrick suggests: “When one of your teammates makes a mistake, do you hear the team saying ‘Oh my god, that was horrible, why are you on this team?’ Or how many other times have you heard your teammates say that to you? It’s possible, but it’s highly unlikely.”

For kids who have serious anxiety that keeps getting in the way, working with a #mentalhealthprofessional on how to manage their feelings can make a big difference.

An opportunity to shine

While #kids with #mentalhealth and learning differences may encounter some obstacles to playing #sports, they often also find that the benefit they get out of sports can be huge. For kids who might be struggling in #school or socially, the boost in #self-esteem, the feeling of comradery, and the experience of developing mastery can help them see themselves in a different light.

As Shelton puts it, “To be able to point out where a #student is showing success, even if it’s just something small like ‘Oh my gosh, your free throws have really improved’ or ‘I loved your hustle’ or ‘Thank you for cheering on your teammates’— those kinds of things give them the opportunity to have a shout out that they may not get all the time in the classroom. For a lot of them, that is their place to shine.”
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/05/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-sports-for-kids-with-learning-and-emotional-challenges/

#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – #Sports For #Kids With Learning And Emotional Challenges

They may need extra support to thrive on the playing field

Writer: Rachel Ehmke

Clinical Experts: Jerry Bubrick, PhD , Michelle Kaplan, LCSW

What You'll Learn

- How can coaches help kids who are struggling to master skills and learn new plays?

- How can coaches and parents support kids who have trouble managing big feelings like frustration and disappointment?

- How does anxiety affect kids in sports, and what can we do to help them?

- Quick Read

- Full Article

- Identifying why a child seems to be struggling

- Rethinking how new skills are introduced

- Teaching kids to be a good sport

- Making expectations clear and realistic

- Helping anxious kids

- An opportunity to shine

#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

Sports can play an important role in any child’s development, but they may be especially valuable for boosting the self-esteem of kids with mental health and learning disorders. Coaches and parent should be aware that these kids may need extra support to acquire the needed skills and manage their emotions successfully on the playing field.

The first step is to identify the specific struggles a #child is facing. Coaches, who may be new to working with children, should take some extra time to observe and understand what might be difficult for them. Common issues include struggling with learning the mechanics of a skill, acting out due to feeling overwhelmed, freezing due to #anxiety, or not passing the ball due to impulsivity.

Parents can play a crucial role by communicating with coaches about their child’s challenges and sharing strategies that have worked in the past. By adjusting teaching methods and breaking down skills, coaches can make the learning process easier. Visual aids, repetition, and individual instruction can be effective.

Teaching children how to manage their emotions is an important aspect of good sportsmanship. Kids who struggle with frustration or disappointment may need guidance on how to handle these feelings without acting out.

Coaches should take into account factors that might affect children’s performance during games, such as anxiety or sensory overload. Instead of criticizing children in front of others, coaches can provide feedback privately and calmly.

For children who are too hard on themselves or experience social anxiety, it’s important to help them adjust their expectations. Emphasizing that mistakes are a normal part of the game can be reassuring.

Although children with mental health and learning differences may face certain challenges, sports offer wonderful opportunities for self-esteem building. Recognizing their achievements in sports can boost their confidence and provide a sense of accomplishment.

Sports can play an important role in any child’s emotional development, but they may be particularly important for building up the self-esteem of kids with #mentalhealth and #learningdisorders.

Learning how to play a sport isn’t easy, though. Figuring out just the right way to hold the #baseball bat or kick a #soccer ball takes practice before it starts to feel comfortable. Mastering how to dribble a #basketball and then shoot a lay-up requires coordination, paying attention to rules (no traveling!), persistence, and even confidence that kids often need help developing.

Children who are already struggling with emotional, #behavioral, or learning issues may face greater barriers, but there’s a lot that #parents and coaches can do to help.

Identifying why a child seems to be struggling

Understanding exactly what kids are struggling with first is important. This isn’t always obvious, especially to coaches who may be new to working with children.

“Usually if you’re coaching, you were the kid who kind of picked up on things in the gym or on the field, notes Perrin Shelton, a girls’ basketball coach in Texas. “So understanding why somebody doesn’t understand what you’re saying can be hard, unless you’ve experienced it yourself.” This is something Shelton thinks a lot about, since she was a player who had trouble paying attention when she was younger. Today she is a learning specialist at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, where she also coaches.

Spending some extra time observing a child who seems to be struggling, to determine what in particular might be difficult for them, is important. Here are some common issues that kids have on the playing field, and possible explanations.

- Struggling with the mechanics of a particular skill or drill: If a child has #ADHD or a #learningdisorder, they may not actually understand what is being asked of them. Children can also struggle if they have issues with coordination or motor skills.

- Acting out: Kids may act out when they are feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated by being in a group, or have a hard time being patient during moments of inactivity. For other kids, dealing with big emotions like excitement, frustration, or disappointment can translate to ignoring instructions and throwing tantrums.

- Freezing: A child may look frozen in place because they are feeling anxious about performing in front of a group or worried about messing up. Other kids could look frozen because they have learning issues and it takes them longer to process directions.

- Not passing the ball: In the heat of the moment a child might forget that they are supposed to pass the ball to a teammate or have a hard time resisting the impulse to keep it to themselves.

If you’re a #parent, you may already know that your child is prone to struggling with certain things. Finding some time before or after practice to explain to the coach what your #child tends to find challenging and — most importantly — what you’ve found to be helpful can set the groundwork for a better practice. This transparency might make your child feel better, too.

Shelton notes that kids worry that their coach might think they don’t care, when the problem is that paying attention is hard for them. They ask, “So how do I let my coach know?”

Here are some pointers for helping kids with particular issues.

Rethinking how new skills are introduced

For kids who struggle with coordination, attention, or processing new information, being careful to break down exactly how to do things is important. Sometimes that means beginning with the basics.

 “Sometimes it’s the actual skill of kicking or dribbling that no one’s ever actually taught them,” notes Michelle Kaplan, a licensed clinical social worker in New York. Kaplan suggests slowing down the teaching process and giving kids extra support so that they’re “overlearning” the skill. For some kids, this might need to happen on a one-on-one basis, depending on how much assistance they need or how distracted they are by the group.

Shelton agrees. She advocates “reteaching, checking in, having the kid show you what they just learned. For kids who struggle to understand, having it written down and then saying it orally, or showing them a video.” For kids who struggle to understand plays drawn on a whiteboard, there are also apps that allow coaches to draw up plays so that kids can see them in motion before they try them out.

For teaching new plays or skills in a group, Shelton also suggests that coaches reconsider who tries things out first. “We have a tendency to put in our top five to run the play when you’re teaching them a new offense, but you probably want to put in the five that have the hardest time paying attention,” she says. “They are the ones who may miss out on the instruction, versus the other kids who learn very well just by seeing it and they can hop right in.”

Teaching kids to be a good sport

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and drama of sports, which is both a good and bad thing about them. Kids who have a hard time dealing with frustration or disappointment often need help managing their emotions to help them be good teammates.

Jerry Bubrick, PhD, a clinical #psychologist at the #ChildMindInstitute, worked with an anxious #patient whose perfectionism often resulted in frustration on the basketball court. “He was probably the most talented kid on the team, but he had a little bit of a temper,” says Dr. Bubrick. “So he’d miss a shot, he’d be cursing, he’d be stomping, and he would make a scene. Then he couldn’t figure out why the coaches would bench him and not start him. That would make him more angry and more anxious because he’d be thinking, ‘What’s wrong with me if I’m sitting on the bench?’”

Teaching kids what kind of behavior is expected of them, and how their conduct might influence how their #coaches or teammates think of them, is important. “If you’re trying and you’re putting your effort out there and then you miss, the coaches are going to see that,” Dr. Bubrick adds. “But if you’re like Bobby Knight throwing chairs across the floor because you missed a shot, then the coach will see that too.”

Kaplan encourages being very clear with what the #behavioral goals are. “What should they be doing with themselves and their body if they’re feeling frustrated or overwhelmed? How do you keep your body calm when you lose? How do you cope so that you’re not running off the field or stomping out of the gym?” For kids who struggle with this, Kaplan says, “We do a lot of practice with losing on purpose, not getting the ball, not getting the position that you wanted and sitting with that a little bit.”

Making expectations clear and realistic

In general making expectations very clear is important. Something you might think is obvious, like where kids’ bodies or materials should be, might not be understood. For sports that involve a lot of waiting, what should kids be doing during that wait time? Making sure no one stays on the bench too long and showing videos of plays can be helpful for kids who have a hard time waiting.

You might also need to adjust your expectations during games, which can bring on specific challenges. Kids might have been capable of doing something at practice, but during the game they could be anxious about their performance or overwhelmed by how loud the gym is or even the tenor of their coach’s voice.

 “If you’re barking at them on the court, in front of their parents, in front of their peers, it might not have the effect that you’re looking for,” Shelton notes. “Instead of motivating them it ends up making them afraid to take risks and afraid to try something different.”

Pulling kids aside and telling them calmly what you’d like them to work on is a much better strategy.  

Shelton also notes that sometimes kids might have trouble learning a new play in the heat of the moment. “If you have time to walk them through it and really coach them on it, they will probably be fine. But when you draw a new play on the clipboard, that doesn’t always translate very well for students who have learning differences. They have to process what they see on the board into the court.”

Helping anxious kids

Sometimes it’s the kids who are too hard on themselves. They might be perfectionists who can’t move on from the mistakes they made or the shots they missed, and it makes it hard for them to enjoy sports. Dr. Bubrick describes working with kids who think, if they got three hits out of four at-bats, they had a bad game. For these kids, Dr. Bubrick recommends helping them adjust their expectations of what is a good performance. He might start by looking at the stats of their favorite player.

 “In baseball, Dr. Bubrick notes, “you can go to the Hall of Fame with a 300 average. Which means that you fail 7 times out of 10 times you come up to the plate. Some kids will still say, ‘I have to get 6 or 7.’ How is that realistic?”

#Socialanxiety can also be a factor. Kids might worry so much about making embarrassing mistakes in front of their teammates that they can’t relax and enjoy sports, even if they want to. Providing a reality check can help here, too. Dr. Bubrick suggests: “When one of your teammates makes a mistake, do you hear the team saying ‘Oh my god, that was horrible, why are you on this team?’ Or how many other times have you heard your teammates say that to you? It’s possible, but it’s highly unlikely.”

For kids who have serious anxiety that keeps getting in the way, working with a #mentalhealthprofessional on how to manage their feelings can make a big difference.

An opportunity to shine

While #kids with #mentalhealth and learning differences may encounter some obstacles to playing #sports, they often also find that the benefit they get out of sports can be huge. For kids who might be struggling in #school or socially, the boost in #self-esteem, the feeling of comradery, and the experience of developing mastery can help them see themselves in a different light.

As Shelton puts it, “To be able to point out where a #student is showing success, even if it’s just something small like ‘Oh my gosh, your free throws have really improved’ or ‘I loved your hustle’ or ‘Thank you for cheering on your teammates’— those kinds of things give them the opportunity to have a shout out that they may not get all the time in the classroom. For a lot of them, that is their place to shine.”

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/05/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-sports-for-kids-with-learning-and-emotional-challenges/

#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – New Efforts To Help #Farmers At Risk Of #Suicide

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

ANN MURPHY

Actions targeting farmers at risk of suicide are to get under way in the coming weeks, amid concerns that stress in the agricultural community is being increased by blame against the sector around climate change.

SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE

Check out our Sustainability and Climate Change Hub where you will find the latest news, features, opinions and analysis on this topic from across the various Irish Examiner topic desks and their team of specialist writers and columnists.

The actions are the next step after a report published last October highlighted that 23.4% of farmers are at risk of #suicide, while more than half experience moderate to extremely severe #depression. 

The report was funded by the Health Service Executive National Office for #SuicidePrevention, and carried out by Dr Tomás Russell, assistant professor in #agricultural extension and innovation, and Alison Stapleton at the University College Dublin (UCD) School of Agriculture and Food Science.

It was presented at an event in Brussels last week hosted by MEP Maria Walsh, focusing on mental health and #suicideprevention within the farming community.

The report found that climate change policies, outsiders not understanding farming, and concerns about the future of their farm were among the top three stressors. It pointed out that participants in the study mentioned feeling scapegoated for climate change and felt they were being misrepresented in the media.

#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

Dr Russell told the Irish Examiner that interventions will get under way in the coming weeks to help farmers. The first phase will involve the development of protocols for clinical psychologists working with farmers at risk of #suicide.

Another phase of the interventions will involve psychologists and agricultural advisers attending discussion groups with farmers to test what works well with farmers, according to Mr Russell.

He added: “The end result of that hopefully will be the development of a website with resources where farmers can log in.

The aim is to get farmers better quicker and targeted quicker.

"It is important that we get to that 23.4% of farmers that are at risk. The overall aim of that part is that there would be clinical trained #psychologists in #rural #mentalhealth teams.” 

Maria Walsh said that #mentalhealthdifficulties have been the “silent #pandemic” in the farming community for too long.

“Farm safety is a major issue in rural Ireland," she said. "It is one that we hear about in the media and through safety campaigns, and rightly so. The difficulty, however, is that #mentalhealth is just as much of a problem in our farming community today, and sadly, we are still not talking about it. 

We need to break down the barriers and address the taboo. 

"Our farming community, particularly in rural Ireland, is finding it really tough and we are continuing to ignore the difficulties.” 

In the Dáil last week, Fianna Fáil TD Aindrias Moynihan of Cork North West echoed concerns that farmers feel scapegoated regarding #climatechange. 

“Farmers feel very much under siege from climate activists, unfortunately," he said. "It is not about a blame game. 

"We need to know that everybody is in it together, and farmers are very much to the forefront on that.”

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=11399

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

ANN MURPHY

Actions targeting farmers at risk of suicide are to get under way in the coming weeks, amid concerns that stress in the agricultural community is being increased by blame against the sector around climate change.

SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE

Check out our Sustainability and Climate Change Hub where you will find the latest news, features, opinions and analysis on this topic from across the various Irish Examiner topic desks and their team of specialist writers and columnists.

The actions are the next step after a report published last October highlighted that 23.4% of farmers are at risk of #suicide, while more than half experience moderate to extremely severe #depression. 

The report was funded by the Health Service Executive National Office for #SuicidePrevention, and carried out by Dr Tomás Russell, assistant professor in #agricultural extension and innovation, and Alison Stapleton at the University College Dublin (UCD) School of Agriculture and Food Science.

It was presented at an event in Brussels last week hosted by MEP Maria Walsh, focusing on mental health and #suicideprevention within the farming community.

The report found that climate change policies, outsiders not understanding farming, and concerns about the future of their farm were among the top three stressors. It pointed out that participants in the study mentioned feeling scapegoated for climate change and felt they were being misrepresented in the media.

#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/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite 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

Dr Russell told the Irish Examiner that interventions will get under way in the coming weeks to help farmers. The first phase will involve the development of protocols for clinical psychologists working with farmers at risk of #suicide.

Another phase of the interventions will involve psychologists and agricultural advisers attending discussion groups with farmers to test what works well with farmers, according to Mr Russell.

He added: “The end result of that hopefully will be the development of a website with resources where farmers can log in.

The aim is to get farmers better quicker and targeted quicker.

"It is important that we get to that 23.4% of farmers that are at risk. The overall aim of that part is that there would be clinical trained #psychologists in #rural #mentalhealth teams.” 

Maria Walsh said that #mentalhealthdifficulties have been the “silent #pandemic” in the farming community for too long.

“Farm safety is a major issue in rural Ireland," she said. "It is one that we hear about in the media and through safety campaigns, and rightly so. The difficulty, however, is that #mentalhealth is just as much of a problem in our farming community today, and sadly, we are still not talking about it. 

We need to break down the barriers and address the taboo. 

"Our farming community, particularly in rural Ireland, is finding it really tough and we are continuing to ignore the difficulties.” 

In the Dáil last week, Fianna Fáil TD Aindrias Moynihan of Cork North West echoed concerns that farmers feel scapegoated regarding #climatechange. 

“Farmers feel very much under siege from climate activists, unfortunately," he said. "It is not about a blame game. 

"We need to know that everybody is in it together, and farmers are very much to the forefront on that.”

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=11399

Veronica Raussin

Special to the Daily News

This Memorial Day, millions of #Americans will honor the memory of the #men and women who died while in U.S. military service. It commemorates all those individuals who sacrificed their lives.

Outside of this day, we must never lose sight of the millions of servicemen and #women who made it home to their families but are fighting a new battle. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimates that more than 3.9 million veterans have a substance use disorder or #mentalillness.

Moreover, substance use disorders significantly increase suicidality among veterans ages 18 and older. #Suicidalthoughts and #behaviors occur frequently among veterans ages 19 to 49.

In Massachusetts, there are more than 300,000 veterans, over half of them over age 65. There are many reasons why veterans struggle with addiction and mental health issues.

“There is a correlation between veterans and #substanceusedisorders, #homelessness, and #suicide. Yet, this is preventable with early intervention and treatment,” said Michael Leach, of Addicted.org. 

Many veterans struggle to adjust to civilian life, face #financial hardships and have difficulty finding employment or accessing benefits. Mental and emotional health concerns can lead to significant problems, such as unwanted thoughts or feelings.

Untreated #trauma is common among veterans, which can lead to substance use as a means of coping. Veterans also face barriers when accessing help, such as cost and insurance gaps. Communities experience inadequate funding and limited access in rural locations. #Stigma regarding addiction and #mentalillness is also problematic.

#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/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite 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 

Fortunately, there are options to consider. Outside of the VA-Facility locator through the U.S. Department of #VeteransAffairs, other resources include:

- #Military and veterans services are offered through city websites and the state website Mass.gov;

- SAMHSA provides a treatment facility locator where veterans can find services specific to their needs;

- Helpful hotlines include the #VeteranCrisisLine, 1-800-273-8255, and the Lifeline for Vets, 1-888-777-4443.

When covering costs, families may consider combining VA benefits with other forms of insurance, such as private health insurance, Medicaid or Medicare to reduce costs.

Families play a significant role in supporting veterans. Speak to them often, openly and honestly about their #substanceuse. Express concern, but do not pass judgment. Help them find treatment. Be patient and show compassion for what they're going through. Remember, addiction and #mentalhealthissues are treatable.

Drug and alcohol treatment centers often offer specialized treatment programs for veterans and treat co-occurring disorders. Treatment centers have become increasingly better equipped to help #veterans.

It takes families and communities coming together to help our #veteran population. Too many #men and #women who served this country are struggling in silence.

While on this #MemorialDay, we honor those who lost their lives, we must also continue to fight for those who are alive with us today.

Veronica Raussin is a community outreach coordinator at Addicted.org, the website associated with Drug Rehab Services. She is passionate about spreading awareness of the risks and dangers of #alcohol and #drug use.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=11404

How irritability and #anger can be signs of #depression in #children and #teenagers

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Writer: Caroline Miller

Clinical Expert: Lauren Allerhand, PsyD

What You'll Learn

- When are irritability and anger signs of depression in children and teenagers?

- How is this different from typical teenage irritability?

- What should you do if your child seems unusually irritable and angry?

-

- Full Article

- What does irritability look like when it’s part of #depression?

- What to do if you’re concerned

- Talk to a #mentalhealthprofessional 

Back to Top

We usually think of someone who’s depressed as being sad or “down” for a very long time. But children and teenagers who are depressed can also be irritable or angry a lot of the time. They may seem on edge. Some depressed #kids are irritable instead of sad. Others are both: they alternate between sad and irritable.

Since teenagers are often irritable, how can you tell if your child’s irritability might be associated with depression? Normal irritability is intermittent, a reaction to something specific. In depression, it’s their mood most of the time. It’s also normal for kids to be cranky at home, but not at school or when they’re with friends. Or cranky in the morning, and then in a better mood later. But if they’re irritable all the time, and not just at home, but in all settings, it could be depression.

To be diagnosed with depression a child would need to meet other criteria for depression, too. Those include losing interest in things they used to enjoy, lacking energy, changes in eating and sleep habits, among other things. If they are irritable but high in energy, it’s more likely to be connected to #anxiety.

If you’ve noticed that your child has been unusually irritable and angry, the first step is to talk to them. Ask them if there’s something bothering them. If they’re upset about something specific, listen to their concerns without being judgmental. If not, and it seems to be a generally irritable mood, it’s a good idea to get care from a mental health professional.

Especially when it’s caught early, depression is very treatable. Treatment for depression includes both medication and specialized forms of #cognitivebehavioraltherapy that focus on helping kids learn to cope with difficult emotions.

We usually think of depression as a form of prolonged sadness, being “down” for a disturbingly long time. But depression can also take the form of irritability in children and teenagers. And irritability — a tendency to react angrily to slight annoyances or provocations — can result in everything from angry outbursts in younger children to cutting or snide remarks in teenagers.

“What we see with younger kids and teenagers is they’re always feeling annoyed or feeling on edge,” explains Lauren Allerhand, PsyD, a clinical #psychologist at the #ChildMindInstitute. “They always appear to be a little bit frustrated, like they’re simmering under the surface.”

In some kids, irritability replaces the depressed mood that we think of as the defining symptom of depression. In others it appears along with feeling down. “What I see most often is kids who experience both,” adds Dr. Allerhand. “It’s like an inability to experience positive emotions. They’re waffling between this irritability and low mood.”

Dr. Allerhand notes that it can be helpful for #parents to know that anger can be what is called a “secondary emotion.” That means that for some people – kids or #adults — it’s easier to experience anger than sadness or loss or #grief. “The locus of anger is usually external,” she notes, so it can be easier to be angry with those around you than to acknowledge some very painful negative feelings. It makes sense, then, that kids who are feeling deep sadness might express anger instead.

What does irritability look like when it’s part of depression?

There are many things that can prompt irritability and anger in young people. What are the signs that these negative moods might be associated with depression?

If the irritability is constant rather than conditional. We expect some level of irritability from teenagers in general, especially when they’re being asked to do something they don’t want to do, like put down their phones and join the family for dinner. But that typical kind of irritation or anger is intermittent, and it’s provoked by something specific.

“However, if irritation is the main way that a teenager is throughout the day,” says Dr. Allerhand, “and not only at home but also at school or in other environments, it may be related to a #mooddisorder rather than an environmental circumstance.”

If the irritability is accompanied by other symptoms of depression. In addition to depressed mood or irritability, to be diagnosed with depression a child would have to have at least four of these symptoms:

- Losing interest in things they once enjoyed

- Feeling worthless, saying negative things about themselves

- Lacking energy, feeling tired or seeming lazy

- Trouble concentrating or making decisions

- Gaining or losing weight, changes in appetite

- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

- Thinking about or attempting #suicide

Irritability with high energy could be caused by anxiety. Depression generally comes with low energy levels. So when irritability appears with high energy, or it is accompanied by a lot of worried #behavior, Dr. Allerhand says it’s more likely to be associated with anxiety. Or, in some cases, it can be a sign of #bipolardisorder. “I would look at anxiety first,” she said, “unless there was a very strong family history of bipolar or some very strong indicators, because that’s much less common.”

If the irritability is explosive, it could be DMDD. When a child regularly has explosive outbursts of anger with seemingly little provocation, they may have the relatively new disorder called #disruptivemooddysregulationdisorder, or #DMDD. “Those are the kids who go from zero to 100, throwing stuff, hitting — those really big tantrums, big displays,” notes Dr. Allerhand. The kind of irritability associated with depression is more of a steady state of being on edge, and prone to snap at someone or lash out verbally. DMDD usually shows up before age ten, but it isn’t diagnosed in kids younger than six, since temper tantrums are common in very young children.

#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/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite 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 to do if you’re concerned

If you’re wondering if the irritability or anger you’re seeing from a child or teenager could be a sign of depression, Dr. Allerhand has these recommendations:

Talk to them about how they’re feeling. If your child seems unusually irritable, something may be going on that’s driving the behavior. A good place to start is having a conversation with them to see if there’s something at school or at home that’s causing them stress.

“Start with something open-ended like, ‘How have you been feeling lately? I know things have been tough,’ ” she suggests. “See what the child says. If they are open to talking about how they feel, great! Parents should listen and validate without jumping immediately to problem solving — unless the child is specifically asking for problem solving.”

If the child is unresponsive to first attempts, Dr. Allerhand encourages parents to let it go and let the child know they are always available to chat. “I’d recommend doing this often — even daily — so they will come to you when they’re ready,” she says. “This shouldn’t be a power struggle, or kids will never want to share.”

If it’s less than constant, try to ignore it. If your child’s irritability seems to be triggered by things they don’t want to do, or they’re irritable in the morning but pleasant in the afternoon, it’s less likely to be a sign of a mood disorder. “If it’s more conditional and not happening all the time, I would ignore it as much as you possibly can,” advises Dr. Allerhand. “It’s best to avoid saying things like, ‘That’s disrespectful,’ or, ‘You don’t talk to me like that.’ Any of that kind of attention is going to increase the likelihood that you see more of it.”

On the other hand, do praise behavior you do want to see: “So anytime they come down to the dinner table and sit down and grunt one word at you, you say, ‘Thank you so much. I love when you have dinner with us.’ No sarcasm either.”

If it’s only happening at home, you probably don’t need to worry. Even if a teenager is irritable most of the time at home, if they’re happy at #school or in other environments, then it’s more likely to be typical edginess than a mood disorder, Dr. Allerhand advises.

Teenagers tend to direct anger and irritability towards parents, since venting is less risky where you are most secure. “Forming strong peer relationships is a high priority for teenagers. And if you’re irritable and blow up at people, they don’t generally want to be your friend. So oftentimes kids save it for the people who they have the most secure relationships with,” adds Dr. Allerhand.

And since parents have control over so much of a child’s – and even a teenager’s — life, they’re very easy targets for irritation and anger.

Talk to a mental health professional 

If your child’s irritability and anger are a pattern that’s going on every day, for more than a couple of weeks, and outside the home as well as with the family, it’s a good idea to consult a mental health professional. Especially when it’s caught early, depression is very treatable. Treatment for depression includes both medication and specialized forms of #cognitivebehavioraltherapy that focus on helping kids learn to cope with difficult emotions.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/05/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-depression-and-anger-2/

BY DANIEL DE VISÉ

America faces a large and growing public health problem: suicide by men. 

More than 38,000 men died by suicide in 2021, the highest number and rate of deaths in 20 years. Men die of suicide at four times the rate of women.  

As a societal issue, male suicide has been somewhat overshadowed by the very real #mentalhealthcrisis afflicting American women and girls.  

Thirty-seven percent of women have been diagnosed with depression in their lifetimes, compared to 20 percent of men, and those rates are rising, according to Gallup survey data released Wednesday.  

Paradoxically, women are more likely to attempt suicide, but men are more likely to die by suicide. The main reason is firearms. 

A person who attempts suicide with a gun is many times more likely to die than someone who uses another method, such as pills or self-inflicted cuts. Firearms figure in only 5 percent of suicide attempts but in over half of deaths.  

America may lead the developed world in #suicideattempts, according to a 2008 study of #suicidalideation in 17 countries.  

Many who attempt suicide are conflicted and irresolute. Too often, a gun makes the decision final. 

“Even at the moment when the person has decided to make the attempt, there’s a lot of ambivalence,” said Elly Stout, a #suicideprevention specialist at the nonprofit Education Development Center. “If you take a bunch of pills, there is a moment where you can change your mind.” 

Between 2015 and 2020, federal data shows, 122,178 men died of suicide by firearm, compared to 19,297 women. Together, those deaths represented about 2.5 million years of lost human life. 

The second most common method of suicide, suffocation, claimed 59,382 men and 17,088 women in that half-decade span. Suffocation typically means death by hanging, or by covering the head to cut off the supply of air.  

Drug poisoning, which was the third most common, was the only significant suicide method more prevalent among women (16,678 deaths) than men (12,641). 

The rise in male suicides mirrors the rise of #guns in America. The nation purchased nearly 60 million firearms between 2020 and 2022, part of a larger cycle of panic-buying amid the #COVID-19 #pandemic.  

More Americans died of #gunviolence in 2020 and 2021 than in any prior year on record. The majority of those deaths were suicides. 

“Our suicide rates are very much tied to firearms,” said Mitch Prinstein, the John Van Seters Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina. 

By age and gender, the demographic group most likely to die of suicide is elderly men. Men older than 75 died in suicides at a rate of 42.2 per 100,000 Americans in 2021, the highest quotient for men or women of any age. 

“Some of that is kind of related to our stereotypes of masculinity,” said Julie Cerel, a suicide researcher at the University of Kentucky. “If you’re no longer in your prime, what’s the point of it all? People who are widowed, people who are no longer able to provide.” 

Yet, over the past 20 years, suicides among elderly men are relatively flat.  

More alarming, perhaps, is the swift rise in suicides among the young. The suicide rate for boys and young men in the 15-24 age group rose by nearly half between 2001 and 2021, from 16.5 per 100,000 people to 23.8.  

#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/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite 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

The #suiciderate for girls and women in the same age group more than doubled in the same span, to 6.1 per 100,000. 

Suicides among girls ages 10-14, almost unknown 20 years ago, rose to 2.3 per 100,000 in 2021. 

#Girls and #women, too, are dying by self-inflicted #gunshot wounds in greater numbers than in years past. 

“It used to be that firearms were rarely used by #women,” Cerel said. “The myth used to be that #women wouldn’t use methods of taking their life that would change how they look, essentially, and that doesn’t seem to be the case.” 

The easy availability of firearms is an obvious factor in the prevalence of #suicide among men. Other reasons speak to the essence of American masculinity. 

Society encourages #girls to open up about their mental health and to seek therapy for #depression, a skill set discouraged in #boys. 

“#Boys and #men haven’t been socialized to talk about mental health concerns. They’ve historically been thought of as weaknesses,” Cerel said. “The expectation for #males in this country is, they’re strong, they’re independent, they take care of themselves, they don’t need help.” 

#Women are twice as likely as #men to seek #mentalhealthtreatment, according to federal data.  

And why are young people becoming more prone to suicide? One factor may be a sense of belonging, which, in recent years, seems to be slipping away.  

Men, in particular, have struggled in recent years to make friends and form relationships. 

“I think we don’t have as much of a sense of connectedness in our communities,” said Nadine Kaslow, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Emory University School of Medicine. 

“When I was growing up, everybody in the neighborhood knew everybody,” Kaslow said. “That’s changed. It’s this sense of #isolation and #loneliness.” 

Much was made of the nation’s collective ennui during the pandemic. Yet, suicide rates actually ticked down in 2020. Why? Because everyone was home. 

“During the summer, during holiday breaks, during the #pandemic, those rates actually went down,” Cerel said. 

It’s true: People are actually less prone to suicide during the holidays. Suicide rates rise in spring and summer, “when people get away from each other and go out in the world,” Cerel said. 

Solitude and suicide travel hand in hand. Humans don’t want to die where loved ones will find them, both because of the #trauma such a discovery will inflict and because a loved one might try to save them. 

Some of Cerel’s research focuses on exploding the myth that only a few loved ones suffer when someone dies by #suicide.  

A longstanding theory held that every suicide left roughly six people behind. Cerel found the number closer to 135, a massive circle of friends and loved ones who may need mental health support to endure the loss. Tragically, suicide can beget more suicide. 

“For many people, losing someone to suicide opens the door to suicidality where it hadn’t been open before,” she said. 

Social media plays an ambiguous role in suicide. Many reports have suggested a link between #TikTok and #Instagram and worsening mental health. But researchers see potential benefits in those platforms. 

“#Socialmedia is a place where people who are marginalized can get help,” Cerel said. “And you can find online social support when you don’t have it at home.”  

Our nation’s mental health investment stands in dire need, #suicide experts say. 

All Americans could benefit from an annual mental health checkup, on top of the standard physical checkup, Prinstein said.  

Sadly, the mental health checkup isn’t really a thing, partly because of enduring #stigmas around #mentalhealth.  

#Psychotherapists are spread thin. The nation spends hundreds of times more money training its medical workforce than preparing #mentalhealthproviders, Prinstein said.

As a result, #rural #Americans may find themselves an hour’s drive from the nearest #therapist, a scenario hard to imagine in medicine.  

“There’s not as much access as we need,” Kaslow said. 

If you are having thoughts of #suicide, contact the #988SuicideandCrisisLifeline.  
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/05/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-more-women-attempt-suicide-more-men-die-by-suicide/

#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – More #Women Attempt #Suicide. More #Men Die By #Suicide.

BY DANIEL DE VISÉ

America faces a large and growing public health problem: suicide by men. 

More than 38,000 men died by suicide in 2021, the highest number and rate of deaths in 20 years. Men die of suicide at four times the rate of women.  

As a societal issue, male suicide has been somewhat overshadowed by the very real #mentalhealthcrisis afflicting American women and girls.  

Thirty-seven percent of women have been diagnosed with depression in their lifetimes, compared to 20 percent of men, and those rates are rising, according to Gallup survey data released Wednesday.  

Paradoxically, women are more likely to attempt suicide, but men are more likely to die by suicide. The main reason is firearms. 

A person who attempts suicide with a gun is many times more likely to die than someone who uses another method, such as pills or self-inflicted cuts. Firearms figure in only 5 percent of suicide attempts but in over half of deaths.  

America may lead the developed world in #suicideattempts, according to a 2008 study of #suicidalideation in 17 countries.  

Many who attempt suicide are conflicted and irresolute. Too often, a gun makes the decision final. 

“Even at the moment when the person has decided to make the attempt, there’s a lot of ambivalence,” said Elly Stout, a #suicideprevention specialist at the nonprofit Education Development Center. “If you take a bunch of pills, there is a moment where you can change your mind.” 

Between 2015 and 2020, federal data shows, 122,178 men died of suicide by firearm, compared to 19,297 women. Together, those deaths represented about 2.5 million years of lost human life. 

The second most common method of suicide, suffocation, claimed 59,382 men and 17,088 women in that half-decade span. Suffocation typically means death by hanging, or by covering the head to cut off the supply of air.  

Drug poisoning, which was the third most common, was the only significant suicide method more prevalent among women (16,678 deaths) than men (12,641). 

The rise in male suicides mirrors the rise of #guns in America. The nation purchased nearly 60 million firearms between 2020 and 2022, part of a larger cycle of panic-buying amid the #COVID-19 #pandemic.  

More Americans died of #gunviolence in 2020 and 2021 than in any prior year on record. The majority of those deaths were suicides. 

“Our suicide rates are very much tied to firearms,” said Mitch Prinstein, the John Van Seters Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina. 

By age and gender, the demographic group most likely to die of suicide is elderly men. Men older than 75 died in suicides at a rate of 42.2 per 100,000 Americans in 2021, the highest quotient for men or women of any age. 

“Some of that is kind of related to our stereotypes of masculinity,” said Julie Cerel, a suicide researcher at the University of Kentucky. “If you’re no longer in your prime, what’s the point of it all? People who are widowed, people who are no longer able to provide.” 

Yet, over the past 20 years, suicides among elderly men are relatively flat.  

More alarming, perhaps, is the swift rise in suicides among the young. The suicide rate for boys and young men in the 15-24 age group rose by nearly half between 2001 and 2021, from 16.5 per 100,000 people to 23.8.  

#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

The #suiciderate for girls and women in the same age group more than doubled in the same span, to 6.1 per 100,000. 

Suicides among girls ages 10-14, almost unknown 20 years ago, rose to 2.3 per 100,000 in 2021. 

#Girls and #women, too, are dying by self-inflicted #gunshot wounds in greater numbers than in years past. 

“It used to be that firearms were rarely used by #women,” Cerel said. “The myth used to be that #women wouldn’t use methods of taking their life that would change how they look, essentially, and that doesn’t seem to be the case.” 

The easy availability of firearms is an obvious factor in the prevalence of #suicide among men. Other reasons speak to the essence of American masculinity. 

Society encourages #girls to open up about their mental health and to seek therapy for #depression, a skill set discouraged in #boys. 

“#Boys and #men haven’t been socialized to talk about mental health concerns. They’ve historically been thought of as weaknesses,” Cerel said. “The expectation for #males in this country is, they’re strong, they’re independent, they take care of themselves, they don’t need help.” 

#Women are twice as likely as #men to seek #mentalhealthtreatment, according to federal data.  

And why are young people becoming more prone to suicide? One factor may be a sense of belonging, which, in recent years, seems to be slipping away.  

Men, in particular, have struggled in recent years to make friends and form relationships. 

“I think we don’t have as much of a sense of connectedness in our communities,” said Nadine Kaslow, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Emory University School of Medicine. 

“When I was growing up, everybody in the neighborhood knew everybody,” Kaslow said. “That’s changed. It’s this sense of #isolation and #loneliness.” 

Much was made of the nation’s collective ennui during the pandemic. Yet, suicide rates actually ticked down in 2020. Why? Because everyone was home. 

“During the summer, during holiday breaks, during the #pandemic, those rates actually went down,” Cerel said. 

It’s true: People are actually less prone to suicide during the holidays. Suicide rates rise in spring and summer, “when people get away from each other and go out in the world,” Cerel said. 

Solitude and suicide travel hand in hand. Humans don’t want to die where loved ones will find them, both because of the #trauma such a discovery will inflict and because a loved one might try to save them. 

Some of Cerel’s research focuses on exploding the myth that only a few loved ones suffer when someone dies by #suicide.  

A longstanding theory held that every suicide left roughly six people behind. Cerel found the number closer to 135, a massive circle of friends and loved ones who may need mental health support to endure the loss. Tragically, suicide can beget more suicide. 

“For many people, losing someone to suicide opens the door to suicidality where it hadn’t been open before,” she said. 

Social media plays an ambiguous role in suicide. Many reports have suggested a link between #TikTok and #Instagram and worsening mental health. But researchers see potential benefits in those platforms. 

“#Socialmedia is a place where people who are marginalized can get help,” Cerel said. “And you can find online social support when you don’t have it at home.”  

Our nation’s mental health investment stands in dire need, #suicide experts say. 

All Americans could benefit from an annual mental health checkup, on top of the standard physical checkup, Prinstein said.  

Sadly, the mental health checkup isn’t really a thing, partly because of enduring #stigmas around #mentalhealth.  

#Psychotherapists are spread thin. The nation spends hundreds of times more money training its medical workforce than preparing #mentalhealthproviders, Prinstein said.

As a result, #rural #Americans may find themselves an hour’s drive from the nearest #therapist, a scenario hard to imagine in medicine.  

“There’s not as much access as we need,” Kaslow said. 

If you are having thoughts of #suicide, contact the #988SuicideandCrisisLifeline.  

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=11426

#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – #Depression And #Anger

How irritability and #anger can be signs of #depression in #children and #teenagers

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Writer: Caroline Miller

Clinical Expert: Lauren Allerhand, PsyD

What You'll Learn

- When are irritability and anger signs of depression in children and teenagers?

- How is this different from typical teenage irritability?

- What should you do if your child seems unusually irritable and angry?

-

- Full Article

- What does irritability look like when it’s part of #depression?

- What to do if you’re concerned

- Talk to a #mentalhealthprofessional 

Back to Top

We usually think of someone who’s depressed as being sad or “down” for a very long time. But children and teenagers who are depressed can also be irritable or angry a lot of the time. They may seem on edge. Some depressed #kids are irritable instead of sad. Others are both: they alternate between sad and irritable.

Since teenagers are often irritable, how can you tell if your child’s irritability might be associated with depression? Normal irritability is intermittent, a reaction to something specific. In depression, it’s their mood most of the time. It’s also normal for kids to be cranky at home, but not at school or when they’re with friends. Or cranky in the morning, and then in a better mood later. But if they’re irritable all the time, and not just at home, but in all settings, it could be depression.

To be diagnosed with depression a child would need to meet other criteria for depression, too. Those include losing interest in things they used to enjoy, lacking energy, changes in eating and sleep habits, among other things. If they are irritable but high in energy, it’s more likely to be connected to #anxiety.

If you’ve noticed that your child has been unusually irritable and angry, the first step is to talk to them. Ask them if there’s something bothering them. If they’re upset about something specific, listen to their concerns without being judgmental. If not, and it seems to be a generally irritable mood, it’s a good idea to get care from a mental health professional.

Especially when it’s caught early, depression is very treatable. Treatment for depression includes both medication and specialized forms of #cognitivebehavioraltherapy that focus on helping kids learn to cope with difficult emotions.

We usually think of depression as a form of prolonged sadness, being “down” for a disturbingly long time. But depression can also take the form of irritability in children and teenagers. And irritability — a tendency to react angrily to slight annoyances or provocations — can result in everything from angry outbursts in younger children to cutting or snide remarks in teenagers.

“What we see with younger kids and teenagers is they’re always feeling annoyed or feeling on edge,” explains Lauren Allerhand, PsyD, a clinical #psychologist at the #ChildMindInstitute. “They always appear to be a little bit frustrated, like they’re simmering under the surface.”

In some kids, irritability replaces the depressed mood that we think of as the defining symptom of depression. In others it appears along with feeling down. “What I see most often is kids who experience both,” adds Dr. Allerhand. “It’s like an inability to experience positive emotions. They’re waffling between this irritability and low mood.”

Dr. Allerhand notes that it can be helpful for #parents to know that anger can be what is called a “secondary emotion.” That means that for some people – kids or #adults — it’s easier to experience anger than sadness or loss or #grief. “The locus of anger is usually external,” she notes, so it can be easier to be angry with those around you than to acknowledge some very painful negative feelings. It makes sense, then, that kids who are feeling deep sadness might express anger instead.

What does irritability look like when it’s part of depression?

There are many things that can prompt irritability and anger in young people. What are the signs that these negative moods might be associated with depression?

If the irritability is constant rather than conditional. We expect some level of irritability from teenagers in general, especially when they’re being asked to do something they don’t want to do, like put down their phones and join the family for dinner. But that typical kind of irritation or anger is intermittent, and it’s provoked by something specific.

“However, if irritation is the main way that a teenager is throughout the day,” says Dr. Allerhand, “and not only at home but also at school or in other environments, it may be related to a #mooddisorder rather than an environmental circumstance.”

If the irritability is accompanied by other symptoms of depression. In addition to depressed mood or irritability, to be diagnosed with depression a child would have to have at least four of these symptoms:

- Losing interest in things they once enjoyed

- Feeling worthless, saying negative things about themselves

- Lacking energy, feeling tired or seeming lazy

- Trouble concentrating or making decisions

- Gaining or losing weight, changes in appetite

- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

- Thinking about or attempting #suicide

Irritability with high energy could be caused by anxiety. Depression generally comes with low energy levels. So when irritability appears with high energy, or it is accompanied by a lot of worried #behavior, Dr. Allerhand says it’s more likely to be associated with anxiety. Or, in some cases, it can be a sign of #bipolardisorder. “I would look at anxiety first,” she said, “unless there was a very strong family history of bipolar or some very strong indicators, because that’s much less common.”

If the irritability is explosive, it could be DMDD. When a child regularly has explosive outbursts of anger with seemingly little provocation, they may have the relatively new disorder called #disruptivemooddysregulationdisorder, or #DMDD. “Those are the kids who go from zero to 100, throwing stuff, hitting — those really big tantrums, big displays,” notes Dr. Allerhand. The kind of irritability associated with depression is more of a steady state of being on edge, and prone to snap at someone or lash out verbally. DMDD usually shows up before age ten, but it isn’t diagnosed in kids younger than six, since temper tantrums are common in very young children.

#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 to do if you’re concerned

If you’re wondering if the irritability or anger you’re seeing from a child or teenager could be a sign of depression, Dr. Allerhand has these recommendations:

Talk to them about how they’re feeling. If your child seems unusually irritable, something may be going on that’s driving the behavior. A good place to start is having a conversation with them to see if there’s something at school or at home that’s causing them stress.

“Start with something open-ended like, ‘How have you been feeling lately? I know things have been tough,’ ” she suggests. “See what the child says. If they are open to talking about how they feel, great! Parents should listen and validate without jumping immediately to problem solving — unless the child is specifically asking for problem solving.”

If the child is unresponsive to first attempts, Dr. Allerhand encourages parents to let it go and let the child know they are always available to chat. “I’d recommend doing this often — even daily — so they will come to you when they’re ready,” she says. “This shouldn’t be a power struggle, or kids will never want to share.”

If it’s less than constant, try to ignore it. If your child’s irritability seems to be triggered by things they don’t want to do, or they’re irritable in the morning but pleasant in the afternoon, it’s less likely to be a sign of a mood disorder. “If it’s more conditional and not happening all the time, I would ignore it as much as you possibly can,” advises Dr. Allerhand. “It’s best to avoid saying things like, ‘That’s disrespectful,’ or, ‘You don’t talk to me like that.’ Any of that kind of attention is going to increase the likelihood that you see more of it.”

On the other hand, do praise behavior you do want to see: “So anytime they come down to the dinner table and sit down and grunt one word at you, you say, ‘Thank you so much. I love when you have dinner with us.’ No sarcasm either.”

If it’s only happening at home, you probably don’t need to worry. Even if a teenager is irritable most of the time at home, if they’re happy at #school or in other environments, then it’s more likely to be typical edginess than a mood disorder, Dr. Allerhand advises.

Teenagers tend to direct anger and irritability towards parents, since venting is less risky where you are most secure. “Forming strong peer relationships is a high priority for teenagers. And if you’re irritable and blow up at people, they don’t generally want to be your friend. So oftentimes kids save it for the people who they have the most secure relationships with,” adds Dr. Allerhand.

And since parents have control over so much of a child’s – and even a teenager’s — life, they’re very easy targets for irritation and anger.

Talk to a mental health professional 

If your child’s irritability and anger are a pattern that’s going on every day, for more than a couple of weeks, and outside the home as well as with the family, it’s a good idea to consult a mental health professional. Especially when it’s caught early, depression is very treatable. Treatment for depression includes both medication and specialized forms of #cognitivebehavioraltherapy that focus on helping kids learn to cope with difficult emotions.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/05/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-depression-and-anger-2/

Don't minimize their feelings, but do praise them for being resilient

Writer: Rae Jacobson

Clinical Expert: Rachel Busman, PsyD, ABPP

What You'll Learn

- How can we help #kids who feel #embarrassed?

- What can #parents do to model good coping skills?

- When should you be concerned about a #child who feels #embarrassed?

- Quick Read

- Full Article

- Model #behavior

- Take your child’s #embarrassment seriously

- But don’t overreact

- Praise positive skills

- Create perspective

- When to step in

- #Embarrassment and #socialanxiety

- Life lessons

For grown-ups, minor embarrassments are no big deal. But for #kids, being embarrassed can be very upsetting. Helping #kids build resilience and confidence will make sure they have tools to deal with #embarrassment in a healthy way. 

#Kids look to #parents to see how to behave. When you feel embarrassed, set an example by responding calmly and keeping your cool. This doesn’t mean you should hide embarrassments. Instead, let #kids see you handling embarrassing experiences in a reasonable way: “Whew! That was embarrassing! But it was kind of funny, too.” 

#Embarrassment can be a powerful emotion for #kids. Something that sounds small to you — like giving the wrong answer in class— may feel huge to your #child. When kids are embarrassed it’s important not to dismiss their feelings, even if the situation that caused them sounds like no big deal.  

Instead, let them know you take their feelings seriously. Then, focus on moving on and modeling healthy coping skills. Offer perspective: “It might feel like everyone will remember this forever, but…” And praise resilience: “Sure, you made a mistake, but I loved how you just kept playing! That was amazing!” 

Embarrassing situations happen to everyone from time to time. But if a #child regularly comes home from #school upset, or has a major change in behavior or mood, there may be something more serious going on. #Bullying could be a problem. Or if your #child is so worried about being embarrassed that they avoid activities most kids enjoy, they could be struggling with #socialanxietydisorder, and may need help.

For most #adults minor #embarrassments are just a part of life — annoying, but inevitable and hardly a big deal. But for many #kids, embarrassing experiences can be very upsetting and, in some cases, may lead to serious issues like #anxiety and avoidance.

We can’t protect our #children from #embarrassment, but we can help them build the resilience and confidence they need to deal with it in a healthy way.

Model #behavior

#Kids look to #parents for cues on how to manage difficult emotions like #embarrassment. “As #parents we set the #behavioral tone for our #kids,“ says Rachel Busman, PsyD, a clinical #psychologist, “So when we’re helping #children learn healthy emotional habits, the first step is to consider how we handle similar situations in our own lives.”

Taking a look at how you deal with embarrassing experiences at home will help you set an example of healthy #behavior for your #child.

- Don’t obsess: If you tend to dwell on mistakes you’ve made (“I can’t believe I did that!” “I could have died of #embarrassment!”), it’s more likely your #child will do the same.

- Stay calm: If you lose your cool when an embarrassing situation happens to you, or react by becoming angry or upset, you’re sending a message to your #child that it’s a big deal.

- No teasing: #Kids accidentally do and say some very funny things, but it’s important not to mock mistakes or poke fun at embarrassing incidents. If small embarrassments are treated with ridicule, #kids may start associating even minor missteps with feelings of shame and humiliation. Teasing — even if it seems gentle — can be very upsetting to #kids, especially if they’re already feeling sensitive.

Take your child’s #embarrassment seriously

There’s no yardstick for #embarrassment. Something that sounds small to you — giving the wrong answer in class for example — may feel huge to your #child.

If your #child is embarrassed it’s important not to dismiss their feelings, even if the situation that caused them sounds like no big deal.

“We naturally want to downplay embarrassing experiences by saying things like ‘it’s not as bad as you think,’” says Dr. Busman. “But when #kids are experiencing these big, really upsetting emotions that can feel like a brush-off.”

But don’t overreact

If your #child comes home upset, what they don’t need is for you to get upset, too, or angry on their behalf. (“That sounds awful!” “Those #kids should be ashamed of themselves for laughing!”) And don’t assume that they want or need you to do something about it. When a #self-concious #child worries that a #parent will overreact or make an embarrassing situation worse, they’re likely to be reluctant to share their feelings.

“When a #child is hurting, as parents we want to do all we can,” says Dr. Busman, “but if your #kid is feeling embarrassed, heaping more attention on the situation can make it worse, not better.”

Praise positive skills

If your #child shares an embarrassing situation with you, take care to validate their feelings, but don’t dwell on them or over comfort. Instead, praise positive coping skills. If they made a mistake during a piano recital, praise them for staying focused and finishing the piece. Reframing negative experiences will help your #child identify healthy reactions and practice them, building what we call metacognitive skills. You could say: “I’m so sorry that happened today. I know it was upsetting but I am so proud of how you handled it. It takes a really brave person to keep playing when things are hard.”

#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/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite 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

Create perspective

If your #child fell in gym class and other #kids laughed, it may seem to them as though everyone saw, everyone laughed and no one will ever forget it — ever.

Of course you know that’s not true but #kids, especially younger ones, often struggle to see beyond their own feelings, which can make embarrassing situations feel like front-page news. “#Kids can be egocentric,” explains Dr. Busman, “so when something embarrassing happens to your #child it can feel like everyone is thinking about it as much as they are, when in reality most #kids will have moved on by the next day.”

Learning to put their feelings and experiences in context will help your #child gain perspective and build resilience.

- Unpack: Help your #child take a metacognitive approach to their feelings by asking open-ended questions. For example: Your #child isn’t the only one who’s ever fallen down in gym class, so you could begin by asking how they felt when other #kids did the same thing. Learning to put their own experiences in context can help your #child start to see embarrassing situations from a better angle.

- Share: Sharing examples from your own life will help normalize embarrassment. “I dropped my handbag at the grocery store the other day. It practically exploded all over the floor. Everyone laughed, but then several people helped pick things up.”

- But don’t compare: Offering perspective is good but be careful to avoid comparing your experiences with your child’s. (“You think that’s bad, when your brother was your age…”) Your #child may end up feeling like their experiences are unimportant — or not serious enough to warrant how upset they’re feeling — which can make them feel worse for not being tougher.

- Let your #child take the lead: Sometimes questions are helpful, but there may be times when your #child just doesn’t want to talk about it. “Letting kids take the lead is important,” says Dr. Busman. “If your #child says, ‘I don’t want to talk about it’ or seems too upset, don’t push.” Embarrassment is a big feeling and sometimes #kids just need space to cool down.

Helping your #child gain perspective without minimizing their feelings will make it easier for them to move past negative experiences — and give them an important tool for building #self-awareness in the future.

When to step in

Embarrassing situations happen to everyone from time to time, but if your #child regularly comes home from #school upset, or has a major change in #behavior or mood, there may be something more serious going on.

- #Bullying: Unfortunately, #kids aren’t always kind. Most #children will be made fun of at some point during their lives. Sporadic episodes of embarrassment are unpleasant — but not unusual. However, if your #child regularly reports being teased or humiliated by their peers — especially #kids who are bigger, older or more “popular” — there’s a chance they’re being #bullied, and it’s time to step in.

- #Behavioral changes: Feeling a little down or anxious after an embarrassing incident is normal, but lingering #behavioral changes — not sleeping, low appetite, excessive worrying — are not.

- Overreacting or obsessing: If your child’s reaction to something embarrassing seems out of proportion to the situation or they seem unable to move past it, they may need support.

- Avoidance: Most #kids who’ve had an embarrassing experience feel reluctant about returning to the class or social group where the problem occurred for a little while, but persistent avoidance is cause for concern. Some signs to watch for include frequently being too sick to go to #school or asking to go to the #nurse during a particular class, making excuses to avoid seeing friends, cutting class, skipping extracurricular activities or refusing to attend #school entirely.

Embarrassment and #socialanxiety

For some #kids, fear of being embarrassed itself can become a serious issue. If a #child seems to live in perpetual fear of embarrassment — even when there’s no obvious reason to worry — they may be experiencing #socialanxiety.

#Socialanxiety usually occurs in #children who’ve reached #adolescence, but it can develop earlier. A #child with #socialanxiety panics at the thought of participating in day-to-day activities because they worry chronically about what other people will think of them, obsess on how they appears to others, or fear making a mistake.

These fears can be very debilitating. For #kids who see potential for humiliation at every turn, even basic interactions can feel like a minefield, and social, #school and personal interactions often suffer. Withdrawal is common, but #kids with #socialanxiety are also prone to lashing out when the threat of embarrassment overwhelms them.

The good news is that #kids who develop #socialanxiety respond well to #cognitivebehavioraltherapy, and with help can return to their normal activities.

Life lessons

It’s natural to want to protect your #child from experiences that are hurtful or upsetting, but in the end, the best way for your #child to build coping skills is through experience — with a side of support.

“Being embarrassed is part of life,” says Dr. Busman. “It’s tempting to try to shield our #kids from difficult things, but in reality learning how to deal with those experiences in a healthy way is a skill that will serve your #child well as they grow up.”
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=11474