By Scott Thompson

#JohnnyManziel revealed in a new documentary he attempted #suicide after the Cleveland Browns cut him in 2016. 

"Untold: Johnny Football," scheduled to release Tuesday, is the latest of the Netflix series that gives an inside look at one of the top football stars of the 21st century who ultimately flamed out of the NFL despite winning the 2012 #HeismanTrophy at Texas A&M. 

His lack of success in the league, mixed with #substanceabuseissues and a #bipolardisorder diagnosis, left Manziel seeing no way out. 

KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 27: Quarterback #JohnnyManziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns walks off the field, after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs on December 27, 2015 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

"I had planned to do everything I wanted to do at that point in my life, spend as much money as I possibly could and then my plan was to take my life," Manziel explained in the documentary, per multiple reports.

In the documentary, Manziel said that following the 2015 NFL season, his second in the league during which he went 2-4 as a starter with Cleveland, he began using #OxyContin and #cocaine on a daily basis, per multiple reports. 

He was 215 pounds in January of that year, and by the time September rolled around, he had dropped to 175 pounds. 

More off-the-field problems came in January 2016, when his girlfriend accused him of hitting and threatening her, which led to a misdemeanor assault charge. 

Though lawyers reached an agreement with officials to get the charge dropped under conditions, the Browns, after using their first-round pick on him during the 2014 NFL Draft, cut him before the start of his third NFL season. 

Manziel was later diagnosed with #bipolardisorder that year, he said in the documentary, according to multiple reports. However, he refused to go to rehab, and his #substanceabuse issues got worse. 

#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 quarterback said he went on a "$5 million bender" before ultimately trying to take his own life. 

"I wanted to get as bad as humanly possible to where it made sense, and it made it seem like an excuse and an out for me." Manziel bought a gun prior to his "bender" to ultimately carry out his #suicideattempt. But it didn’t work. 

"Still, to this day, don’t know what happened. But the gun just clicked on me," Manziel said in the documentary, per reports. 

The #suicideattempt gave Manziel a new perspective on life. Despite a broken family relationship because he refused to get treatment, Manziel returned home to Texas, where he began his recovery. 

"It’s been a long, long road, and I don’t know if it’s been great or it’s been bad — that’s kind of still up for debate," Paul Manziel, his father, said in the documentary, per reports. "But we’re blessed. And he’s still with us. And we can mend all the fences still.

"I think Johnny’s got a lot better days coming than what he’s had."

COLLEGE STATION, TX - SEPTEMBER 14: #JohnnyManziel #2 of the Texas A&M Aggies celebrates after throwing a first quarter touchdown during a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Kyle Field on September 14, 2013 in College Station, Texas.

He was a dual threat quarterback who shocked the world when he led the Aggies into Tuscaloosa to face the Alabama Crimson Tide and blew up their highly-ranked defense in one of the most hostile college football environments in the country. Texas A&M won 29-24 that night, and Manziel threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 92 yards to beat the No. 1-ranked team. 

But Manziel admitted his popularity, which seemed to come immediately during that Heisman Trophy season, was hard to handle. 

And though it was known Manziel dealt with demons off the field, few knew until now just how low things got for him.   

If you are having thoughts of #suicide, call or text #988 to reach the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/08/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-johnnymanziel-says-he-attempted-suicide-after-browns-cut-him-in-2016-reports/

#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – #JohnnyManziel Says He Attempted #Suicide After Browns Cut Him In 2016: Reports

By Scott Thompson

#JohnnyManziel revealed in a new documentary he attempted #suicide after the Cleveland Browns cut him in 2016. 

"Untold: Johnny Football," scheduled to release Tuesday, is the latest of the Netflix series that gives an inside look at one of the top football stars of the 21st century who ultimately flamed out of the NFL despite winning the 2012 #HeismanTrophy at Texas A&M. 

His lack of success in the league, mixed with #substanceabuseissues and a #bipolardisorder diagnosis, left Manziel seeing no way out. 

KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 27: Quarterback #JohnnyManziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns walks off the field, after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs on December 27, 2015 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

"I had planned to do everything I wanted to do at that point in my life, spend as much money as I possibly could and then my plan was to take my life," Manziel explained in the documentary, per multiple reports.

In the documentary, Manziel said that following the 2015 NFL season, his second in the league during which he went 2-4 as a starter with Cleveland, he began using #OxyContin and #cocaine on a daily basis, per multiple reports. 

He was 215 pounds in January of that year, and by the time September rolled around, he had dropped to 175 pounds. 

More off-the-field problems came in January 2016, when his girlfriend accused him of hitting and threatening her, which led to a misdemeanor assault charge. 

Though lawyers reached an agreement with officials to get the charge dropped under conditions, the Browns, after using their first-round pick on him during the 2014 NFL Draft, cut him before the start of his third NFL season. 

Manziel was later diagnosed with #bipolardisorder that year, he said in the documentary, according to multiple reports. However, he refused to go to rehab, and his #substanceabuse issues got worse. 

#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 quarterback said he went on a "$5 million bender" before ultimately trying to take his own life. 

"I wanted to get as bad as humanly possible to where it made sense, and it made it seem like an excuse and an out for me." Manziel bought a gun prior to his "bender" to ultimately carry out his #suicideattempt. But it didn’t work. 

"Still, to this day, don’t know what happened. But the gun just clicked on me," Manziel said in the documentary, per reports. 

The #suicideattempt gave Manziel a new perspective on life. Despite a broken family relationship because he refused to get treatment, Manziel returned home to Texas, where he began his recovery. 

"It’s been a long, long road, and I don’t know if it’s been great or it’s been bad — that’s kind of still up for debate," Paul Manziel, his father, said in the documentary, per reports. "But we’re blessed. And he’s still with us. And we can mend all the fences still.

"I think Johnny’s got a lot better days coming than what he’s had."

COLLEGE STATION, TX - SEPTEMBER 14: #JohnnyManziel #2 of the Texas A&M Aggies celebrates after throwing a first quarter touchdown during a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Kyle Field on September 14, 2013 in College Station, Texas.

He was a dual threat quarterback who shocked the world when he led the Aggies into Tuscaloosa to face the Alabama Crimson Tide and blew up their highly-ranked defense in one of the most hostile college football environments in the country. Texas A&M won 29-24 that night, and Manziel threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 92 yards to beat the No. 1-ranked team. 

But Manziel admitted his popularity, which seemed to come immediately during that Heisman Trophy season, was hard to handle. 

And though it was known Manziel dealt with demons off the field, few knew until now just how low things got for him.   

If you are having thoughts of #suicide, call or text #988 to reach the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources.

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/08/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-johnnymanziel-says-he-attempted-suicide-after-browns-cut-him-in-2016-reports/

By James Hegarty

The #mentalhealth field has seen numerous concerning studies and trends pour in over the last few years, recently culminating with the #CDC’s release of their latest #youth risk survey which contained some of the most sobering numbers yet; more than one in four #teen #girls seriously considered attempting #suicide in 2021, while nearly six in ten reported feeling persistently sad and hopeless. Much of the response from the media and medical world has focused on the national shortage of #mentalhealthproviders and gaps in access to #mentalhealthcare. Indeed, these are extremely valid points that we must address as a nation. 

However, when one takes a step back and considers that it is also true that from a #mentalhealth perspective, Generation Z is indisputably the most treated, most engaged, and most medicated generation in our country’s history. This fact suggests the very real possibility that perhaps our core problem, and therefore best potential solution, may run deeper than simply getting more of today’s #youth on psychotropic medication.

I believe that the key to turning things around starts with the very basic premise that humans are innately social beings. Medically, we see evidence of this in the very first stages of life. When a new mother is allowed to hold their newborn infant, studies show the infant is better able to regulate their own vitals including heart rate, body temperature and oxygen levels. This practice, now referred to as “skin to skin” time, has become widely encouraged by my colleagues in obstetrics and #pediatrics. We also see the benefits of socialization towards the end of the life cycle, with #Alzheimer’s #patients demonstrating better cognitive function if they get regular socialization and remain in meaningful relationships. Unfortunately, it appears that #socialmedia, or “digital socialization,” does not offer the same clinical benefits seen with actual socialization, and in fact many studies now show it can be the driver of significant #psychological distress.

#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

As a board-certified forensic #psychiatrist and father of four young #children, including three daughters all under the age of 10, I believe the epidemic we are witnessing in #anxiety, #depression and suicidality among today’s teens and young #adults is not simply an access to care problem. Rather, I believe today’s #youth is responding as I would expect them to, given this new virtual lifestyle and the associated very superficial, deeply pathological message our modern society is sending them. In a variety of ways, we seem to be signaling to our #children and #teens that what matters in life are one’s number of “followers,” physical appearance, and materialistic possessions. Relatedly, a recent Wall Street Journal poll found that many traditional #American values that involve caring for others, including patriotism and community involvement, are on the decline while the only priority that has risen in recent years among Americans is “money.”

This is a deeply flawed and hollow mindset that will inevitably lead to intense levels of disappointment and despair in virtually all cases, with spikes in #anxiety, #depression, and suicidality to follow. That is precisely what our young ones are currently experiencing and struggling with. After all, if a young #teen spends countless hours viewing and posting highly selective pictures online - pictures that are then run through a slew of artificial “filters” – is it any wonder why that same #teen may experience high levels of anxiety and insecurity when leaving their home to step out into a completely unfiltered world?

I would submit that our #teenagers are actually experiencing a very normal reaction to a highly abnormal, highly digitized lifestyle pattern. Additionally, it is worth noting that the harms of #socialmedia addiction are not just limited to the false “reality” they are exposed to on their phones and computer screens. The harm is also in what we are not doing when we are staring at our phones – we are not exercising, not engaged in conversation, not actually socializing, or caring for others. Even when in the physical presence of family and friends, the screens still get the lion’s share of our attention all too often. 

A just and psychologically healthy society does not judge people based on their looks, material possessions or number of “followers,” but on what we do to care for and serve others – the very essence of humanity. How are we interacting with and serving our community? Our town? Our country? These are the values and key questions to ask and to prioritize when talking with our young ones, whether that is in the home, the classroom or at a social gathering. We must try to replace #selfies with service. The sooner we return our focus to these core principles, the better off the next generation will be from a #mentalhealth standpoint. After all, serving others is something that is deeply engrained in our DNA as #Americans. We are a nation that not only rallied together to fight and die for our own freedom, but our ancestors did the same so that other nations could be free as well.

Dr. Hegarty is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and Board-Certified in both General and Forensic Psychiatry. He is also a Commander in the #UnitedStates Navy’s Medical Corps. The views expressed in this editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, nor the U.S. Government.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/08/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-is-our-addiction-to-selfies-driving-the-surge-in-suicidality/

#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – Is Our Addiction To #Selfies Driving The Surge In Suicidality?

By James Hegarty

The #mentalhealth field has seen numerous concerning studies and trends pour in over the last few years, recently culminating with the #CDC’s release of their latest #youth risk survey which contained some of the most sobering numbers yet; more than one in four #teen #girls seriously considered attempting #suicide in 2021, while nearly six in ten reported feeling persistently sad and hopeless. Much of the response from the media and medical world has focused on the national shortage of #mentalhealthproviders and gaps in access to #mentalhealthcare. Indeed, these are extremely valid points that we must address as a nation. 

However, when one takes a step back and considers that it is also true that from a #mentalhealth perspective, Generation Z is indisputably the most treated, most engaged, and most medicated generation in our country’s history. This fact suggests the very real possibility that perhaps our core problem, and therefore best potential solution, may run deeper than simply getting more of today’s #youth on psychotropic medication.

I believe that the key to turning things around starts with the very basic premise that humans are innately social beings. Medically, we see evidence of this in the very first stages of life. When a new mother is allowed to hold their newborn infant, studies show the infant is better able to regulate their own vitals including heart rate, body temperature and oxygen levels. This practice, now referred to as “skin to skin” time, has become widely encouraged by my colleagues in obstetrics and #pediatrics. We also see the benefits of socialization towards the end of the life cycle, with #Alzheimer’s #patients demonstrating better cognitive function if they get regular socialization and remain in meaningful relationships. Unfortunately, it appears that #socialmedia, or “digital socialization,” does not offer the same clinical benefits seen with actual socialization, and in fact many studies now show it can be the driver of significant #psychological distress.

#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

As a board-certified forensic #psychiatrist and father of four young #children, including three daughters all under the age of 10, I believe the epidemic we are witnessing in #anxiety, #depression and suicidality among today’s teens and young #adults is not simply an access to care problem. Rather, I believe today’s #youth is responding as I would expect them to, given this new virtual lifestyle and the associated very superficial, deeply pathological message our modern society is sending them. In a variety of ways, we seem to be signaling to our #children and #teens that what matters in life are one’s number of “followers,” physical appearance, and materialistic possessions. Relatedly, a recent Wall Street Journal poll found that many traditional #American values that involve caring for others, including patriotism and community involvement, are on the decline while the only priority that has risen in recent years among Americans is “money.”

This is a deeply flawed and hollow mindset that will inevitably lead to intense levels of disappointment and despair in virtually all cases, with spikes in #anxiety, #depression, and suicidality to follow. That is precisely what our young ones are currently experiencing and struggling with. After all, if a young #teen spends countless hours viewing and posting highly selective pictures online - pictures that are then run through a slew of artificial “filters” – is it any wonder why that same #teen may experience high levels of anxiety and insecurity when leaving their home to step out into a completely unfiltered world?

I would submit that our #teenagers are actually experiencing a very normal reaction to a highly abnormal, highly digitized lifestyle pattern. Additionally, it is worth noting that the harms of #socialmedia addiction are not just limited to the false “reality” they are exposed to on their phones and computer screens. The harm is also in what we are not doing when we are staring at our phones – we are not exercising, not engaged in conversation, not actually socializing, or caring for others. Even when in the physical presence of family and friends, the screens still get the lion’s share of our attention all too often. 

A just and psychologically healthy society does not judge people based on their looks, material possessions or number of “followers,” but on what we do to care for and serve others – the very essence of humanity. How are we interacting with and serving our community? Our town? Our country? These are the values and key questions to ask and to prioritize when talking with our young ones, whether that is in the home, the classroom or at a social gathering. We must try to replace #selfies with service. The sooner we return our focus to these core principles, the better off the next generation will be from a #mentalhealth standpoint. After all, serving others is something that is deeply engrained in our DNA as #Americans. We are a nation that not only rallied together to fight and die for our own freedom, but our ancestors did the same so that other nations could be free as well.

Dr. Hegarty is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and Board-Certified in both General and Forensic Psychiatry. He is also a Commander in the #UnitedStates Navy’s Medical Corps. The views expressed in this editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, nor the U.S. Government.

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/08/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-is-our-addiction-to-selfies-driving-the-surge-in-suicidality/

Early onset is rare enough that symptoms are often confused with something else

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k6Zas8x8rI&t=1s

#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

Rochelle Caplan, MD, professor of #child psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute, is a leading expert on #childhood #schizophrenia. She discusses how the disorder appears, and why affected #children may actually hide what they’re experiencing from their #parents.

In most cases, the onset of #schizophrenia is in #adolescences and in young #adulthood. But childhood schizophrenia does occur. It is much more infrequent than the later onset schizophrenia.

In most cases, the onset in childhood is actually quite gradual. A child, or a young adolescent, might become more isolated. The child might appear to be having difficulties with attention because they’re actually paying attention to internal stimuli, such as the hallucinations or to their delusional thoughts.

In other cases, the children might appear very anxious because it is a very, very scary experience for a child to have a hallucination. Number one, because sometimes the content of the hallucination is very threatening, like, “I’m going to kill you,” or accusatory, “You terrible child. You have done the most terrible things.” And children at the beginning of the onset of the disorder understand that this is very unusual, because #kids from about age five plus know that one doesn’t hear voices when no one is talking or one doesn’t smell smells that nobody else can smell.

As a parent, what you might experience is your child is being either, on the one hand, very anxious or, because from their perspective you don’t understand what’s going on with them, they might actually act out and be very irritable and very angry.

Schoolwork might go downhill because the child is having a lot of difficulty paying attention and retaining what they are learning.

And another very important symptom of onset would be difficulties with sleep. The child might have difficulties falling asleep, which is part and parcel of the disorder, but it also might occur because in the evenings these hallucinations seem to be more apparent.  When the child is alone and no one is around to distract them from the experience, the child may be experiencing the hallucinations and getting very scared.

So again, you as a parent might think, “Oh, my child is being rebellious and not going to sleep.” And you might get angry at your child, but in fact, the child is being very anxious and wants to be together with the #parent to protect them.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/08/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-childhood-schizophrenia-what-are-the-first-signs/

#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – #Childhood #Schizophrenia: What Are The First Signs?

Early onset is rare enough that symptoms are often confused with something else

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k6Zas8x8rI&t=1s

#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

Rochelle Caplan, MD, professor of #child psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute, is a leading expert on #childhood #schizophrenia. She discusses how the disorder appears, and why affected #children may actually hide what they’re experiencing from their #parents.

In most cases, the onset of #schizophrenia is in #adolescences and in young #adulthood. But childhood schizophrenia does occur. It is much more infrequent than the later onset schizophrenia.

In most cases, the onset in childhood is actually quite gradual. A child, or a young adolescent, might become more isolated. The child might appear to be having difficulties with attention because they’re actually paying attention to internal stimuli, such as the hallucinations or to their delusional thoughts.

In other cases, the children might appear very anxious because it is a very, very scary experience for a child to have a hallucination. Number one, because sometimes the content of the hallucination is very threatening, like, “I’m going to kill you,” or accusatory, “You terrible child. You have done the most terrible things.” And children at the beginning of the onset of the disorder understand that this is very unusual, because #kids from about age five plus know that one doesn’t hear voices when no one is talking or one doesn’t smell smells that nobody else can smell.

As a parent, what you might experience is your child is being either, on the one hand, very anxious or, because from their perspective you don’t understand what’s going on with them, they might actually act out and be very irritable and very angry.

Schoolwork might go downhill because the child is having a lot of difficulty paying attention and retaining what they are learning.

And another very important symptom of onset would be difficulties with sleep. The child might have difficulties falling asleep, which is part and parcel of the disorder, but it also might occur because in the evenings these hallucinations seem to be more apparent.  When the child is alone and no one is around to distract them from the experience, the child may be experiencing the hallucinations and getting very scared.

So again, you as a parent might think, “Oh, my child is being rebellious and not going to sleep.” And you might get angry at your child, but in fact, the child is being very anxious and wants to be together with the #parent to protect them.

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/08/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-childhood-schizophrenia-what-are-the-first-signs/

“#Suicides among famous people are up because #suicides among everyone in #America is up. It’s a national disaster,” says #KurtCobain biographer Charles R. Cross

Sharon Knolle

Celebrities, from left, #Stephen"tWitch"Boss, #NaomiJudd and #AngusCloud are among the celebrities who struggled with #mentalhealth

The tragic deaths of “Euphoria” actor #AngusCloud and Irish singer #SinéadOConnor are only the latest stark reminders of Hollywood’s prevalent #mentalhealth and #suicidecrisis.

Although, as of this writing, neither has been officially determined to have died by #suicide, both had been open about their struggles with #mentalhealth.

After every high-profile #suicide, such as “Breaking Bad” actor Mike Batayeh, country singer #NaomiJudd and “So You Can Think You Can Dance” judge #Stephen“tWitch”Boss, the question is debated whether the industry, as a whole, has done enough to support people who may be in crisis.

“Euphoria” actor #AngusCloud was open about his #mentalstruggle, family said

A number of #mentalhealthexperts told TheWrap that although #suicides among the general population rose during the #pandemic, people who work in entertainment can be particularly vulnerable.

“Entertainment is already an occupational group that’s at increased risk,” said Colleen Carr, director of the #NationalActionAllianceforSuicidePrevention, citing a study conducted by the #CDC in 2016 that demonstrated people who work in entertainment, #sports and media had #suiciderates significantly higher than those of the general population.

“#Suicides among famous people are up because #suicides among everyone in #America is up. It’s a national disaster. And we only pay attention to it, it seems, when a famous person dies,” said Charles R. Cross, author of the #KurtCobain biography “Heavier Than Heaven.”

Nirvana front man #KurtCobain plays his last U.S. concert at the Seattle Arena on January 7, 1994 in Seattle, Washington

Cross cited the lack of access to #mentalhealth care even for those who are insured as well as the often unmanageable costs of treatment and taking time off from work.

“If this were a disease you caught, there would be benefits every weekend, with everyone in #Hollywood doing things to raise awareness,” he told TheWrap.

The conversation about #suicideprevention in #Hollywood is ongoing, but it’s not always easy to tell who is having a #mentalhealthcrisis, let alone get them help in time.

Judd, who died by #suicide in April, talked publicly about her struggles with #depression. Judd’s daughters, Ashley and Wynonna, said in a statement at the time, “We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of #mentalillness.”

#NaomiJudd

Fans were shocked by the seemingly out-of-nowhere December death of tWitch, who was always upbeat and smiling on the Fox competition series. Speaking six months after his death, his widow, dancer Allison Holker told “The Today Show,” “No one that saw this coming. No one…” She’s now committed to bringing awareness to #mentalhealth and helping people who are struggling to get the support they need.

Support on set

“There are not a lot of industries that have done a terrific job getting ahead of this current #mentalhealthcrisis,” said Ashley N. Kolaya, lead impact and engagement officer at USC Annenberg’s Mental Health Storytelling Initiative.

“The entertainment industry is especially demanding in terms of time you spend working away from family. You can be in situations where you’re confronted with #trauma and if you’re playing a character who experiences a tremendous #stress or traumatic experience, or if you’re editing a scene where that’s the case, these can fall under that risk factor category,” Kolaya continued.

She added that unions usually have some form of #mentalhealthcoverage, “but if I’m doing a scene that’s got me really triggered or upset, there’s not a clear, universal path for what to do in that situation.”

Kolaya cited the work done by one of the initiative’s coalition members, Amazon Studios, where “Underground Railroad” showrunner Barry Jenkins “made it a point” to have #mentalhealthprofessionals on site since the series dealt in such heavy topics as slavery and abuse.

“That’s the kind of example we would love to have everybody following. One of the things that coalition will be thinking about is how can we get the industry to adopt some best practices,” said Kolaya. 

“Yellowjackets” star Jasmin Savoy Brown, who had to take time to “decompress” after filming the very dark second season of the Showtime hit that involves murder and cannibalism, said the mostly #female cast relied on their intimacy coordinator for emotional support.

“Last season was there for a couple of sex scenes. And then people started requesting her for other stuff — anytime there’s anything that might cause an emotional or psychological response. She emailed us and asked if we wanted her around, and towards the last couple episodes, she was there every day,” Brown told TheWrap in March.

The intimacy coordinators TheWrap spoke to for our June story about how their on-set roles have expanded, stressed the importance of also having a mental health expert, and not just an IC, available for actors and crew.

Kathy Kadler, who was an IC on Netflix’s “The Night Agent,” told TheWrap in May, “In my personal opinion, one of the reasons why we have such high levels of #suicide and #druguse in the industry is because we ask these performers to delve deep, to go vulnerable, to feel these big feelings. And then we finish that scene, we put them through wardrobe, hair and makeup and we pack them up in a car and we send them home.”

Kadler explained that ICs, along with professional #counselors, can help actors “debrief or de-role, which is a way of shedding the character.” She added, “So they’re not taking those leftover emotions z emotional bleed off is huge — back home, and then self medicating, however they choose.”

#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 media’s role

“I think entertainment plays a big part in portraying potential solutions, and contribute to the problem,” said Kolaya. “In a worst-case scenario universe, stories that are being told and consumed are actually causing more harm. And we know #suicidecontagion is a real thing. We want to make sure that content creators have a resource that they can turn to with experts in telling those kinds of stories that are informed and with the right knowledge and skill sets.

Netflix’s 2017 series “13 Reasons Why,” where the #suicide of one character sets the entire series in motion, was linked to a steep rise in online suicide searches and #suicidalbehavior, said Carr of research conducted by the #NationalInstituteofHealth.

“That really underscored the importance of responsible portrayal of #suicide and that helped to inform prevention efforts and outreach efforts,” she explained.

“It’s really important when we think about #mentalhealth and #suicideprevention, to recognize the key role that entertainment and news media played in changing the conversation about #suicide from one of #hopelessness and despair to one of hope and help-seeking and recovery,” said Carr.

“We know that the overwhelming majority of people who struggle with thoughts of #suicide do not die by #suicide, but instead access the resources, gain the skills needed to live full lives,” she continued. “The power of the work that the entertainment sector does every day can reach millions with stories that can help them on the road to recovery.”

The #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline #988 is a free, 24/7 confidential service that can provide people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, or those around them, with support, information and local resources.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/08/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-behind-hollywoods-rise-in-suicides-and-what-to-do-about-it/