5 September Insights

Gosh...the month has flown by!  Thank you so much for reading Fashionable Giving!!  Writing this month has helped me honor my nephew Jeremy's memory.  For those who have taken the time to comment, you have my gratitude.  At least some of the heart sadness has been repaired with your kind words and encouragement. Here's what I've learned this month about surviving suicide and doing my part to be part of the solution.

1. Learn. Educate yourself, your family and friends.  Suicide can happen to any family, at any time and there are almost always warning signs.  Knowledge is power!  Learn the warning signs of suicide and do not be afraid to ask the hard questions.  Learn about suicide in the workplace and what you can do to help a colleague who may be considering suicide. Read the stories of survivors and then write your own!
2. Listen.  Be fully present in each and every encounter - especially with teens. We have two ears and one mouth - it's probably best to use them in exactly the same ratio!
3. Reach out.  If you are a suicide survivor, find other survivors and conversations using sites like LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook or one of the many websites dedicated to suicide.  Share your stories, share your grief and most importantly, share your progress.
4. Do Something Good.  Walk, ride or hold an event.  Raise money for an organization making a difference for suicide and prevention.  Raise awareness by getting active with an advocacy/public policy efforts sponsored by AFSP.  Consider the purchase of a Heart of Hope bracelet for holiday gift giving this year.
5. Encourage. In every encounter, you (and I!) choose our words. Make the deliberate choice to be encouraging, uplifting, positive or...silent. Send an encouraging Tweet, Facebook wall post, or eCard to someone you care about. I just might make the difference!

Which post resonated with you this month?

Calm in the midst of a storm.

I have two hats when I write.  When I wear my Fashionable Giving hat, the writing is dedicated to my business and the people I love.  I work to maintain a journalist's perpective, more curious, expressive and committed to learning and sharing information about causes that have touched me directly or, to those closest to me.  When I wear my DFTALS hat, the writing tends to be more personal, devoted almost exclusively to living with ALS, caring for a patient and/or finding my way, some days like Columbus in the new (post-ALS) world. 

From time to time, I find that I'm wearing both hats (and looking pretty dorky I might add!) because what has my attention applies equally to both audiences.  Calm in the midst of a storm is a DFTALS post from a few weeks ago.  I wrote about natural and emotional disasters and the steps one can take to be prepared for the inevitable storms (or earthquakes!) in life.  I find myself re-reding the post today as I struggle a bit to "re-center" myself on the anniversary of my brother-in-law Howard's passing.  We lost Howard 13 1/2 months after losing Bill in a freak motorcycle accident, that even today, 3 years later defies explanation.  Howard...I miss you.

We all face difficulties, annoyances, trials and daily irritants.  Some blow in... and then blow out.  Just like the stems on a dandelion.  Others, like Death, are tougher.  Death is but one of the many winds that will knock us off course if we have not prepared mentally.  Sudden death, can potentially take us off course forever.  Meditation, positive reading material, time with friends and loved ones are each important ingredients in our emotional emergency preparedness kits.  The DailyOM and the daily lessons/affirmations from The Science of Mind combined with my friends, create the safety harness that keeps me tethered to the planet.

So how about you?  What do you do to keep your balance when the inevitable storms hit?  Please share your stories here. In the meantime, I wish you "Cool Runnings" Peace be the Journey! 

Fundraising for "chickens"

OK...I'll just cut to the chase. It's scary to ask people for money. There...I said it. Now it's out in the open and we can talk about it.


I agree, it can be hard to ask for money. But I find it's less difficult to discuss a cause that I am passionate about. I don't have experience asking for big, grant sized sponsorships or donations. I aspire to this type of confidence! But I am pretty good with what I call "grassroots fundraising" where a lot of little bits quickly adds up to something significant. In my experience, there are three primary keys to success:

1. ASK! Countless surveys have shown that the #1 reason people don't give is... "because nobody ever asked them"! Don't ever think you can't ask. If someone is not able to donate, for whatever reason, thank them for listening and share your story with the next person on your list. Which leads us nicely into key #2 which is....
2. You need a great story! Keep it short, simple and heartfelt. Practice and speak from your heart. A good example can be found at DFTALS.  Here are a couple of the high points to include:
1. Why are you raising the money?
2. Why is the cause so important to you?
3. Why now?
4. How have you benefited from the services offered by the organization?
5. How will the funds make a difference to the cause?
3. And last, but certainly not least, you need a PLAN! Here's an easy guide to raising $200 in 10 Days for your favorite cause:

Day 1      Start it off right by putting in $20          $20
Day 2      Ask your significant other for $20          $40
Day 3      Ask one of your parents for $20            $60
Day 4      Ask a sibling for $25                            $85
Day 5      Ask 3 friends for $15 each                    $130
Day 6      Ask your boss for $20                          $150
Day 7      Ask 2 co-workers for $10 each              $170
Day 8      Ask a neighbor for $10                        $180
Day 9      Ask the kids' coach for $10                  $190
Day 10    Ask a local business owner for $10        $200


YOU DID IT!


If you don't have parents or a significant other, adjust the friends/co-workers "ask" accordingly. Do not be surprised when people offer to give you more than you ask for! Remember to send a thank you note! You can find some additional fundraising hints to help with orgainzed, online fundraising in my earlier post "We're walking...we're walking...."


Now, share this game plan with every one of the folks who have signed up for your walk/ride. Help them develop their own story. When 5 of your friends duplicate your efforts, you will be responsible for $1,000+, which I can promise you, will go a long way for the cause of your choice.

Have fun and please share your success with your fellow grassroots fundraisers by posting a comment. I'd love to hear your stories!!

Put some FUN in fundraising!

If you are looking for additional ways to fundraise for your charity walk or ride team, I am a huge fan of FUN fundraising! 
Here are a few of my favorite successful ideas.

• Tap into the cause. Work with a local brewpub. Ask the owner/manager to dedicate the sales from one or two kegs to your cause. Contact friends and family to join you for the evening. Tip the wait staff and ask them to enthusiastically recommend the “cause” tap! Have fliers, walk brochures, handouts from the organization, silicon bracelets, photos, just about anything, to raise awareness. Ask someone from the organization to be on hand to say a few words and/or answer questions. Set up a basket or large jar for casual donations. Set out a guest list and ask for names/email addresses so you can sent out thank yous!
• Dine out for the Cause. A variation of the first idea only better (in my opinion!) because you don’t have to decorate and someone else handles the clean-up! Contact a local restaurant to host a benefit night. Generally 15 to 20% of the night’s sales are donated back to the cause. This can be a huge win for your walk/ride team, the organization and the restaurant! Check with the major chain restaurants in your neighborhood like Chevy’s, Chili’s, California Pizza Kitchen, or Rubios. However, don’t limit yourself…you may find your favorite restaurant is more than willing to help – they will get new customers without the cost of advertising. Then…advertise, advertise, advertise!
• Throw a theme party! Hawaiian Luau, Old Fashioned BBQ, Make your own Burritos/Tacos, Spaghetti Feed, Game Night with pot luck are just a few ideas. Location can be as creative as your imagination!  Ask for $10-$50 admission and try to get food/beverages donated from a local grocery store, catering company, restaurant(s) in exchange for advertising. Ask for merchandise donations and hold a silent auction to add excitement and additional revenue. Send me an outline of your event and I'll donate a pair of Heart of Hope earrings to support your efforts!  Please include the text "Fundraising Request" in the subject line and give me at least 10 days notice!
• Bowl-a-thon or Tournament.  Work with your local bowling ally to organize an evening or weekend tournament when they have a little downtime from league play. They should be able to help you with the details. Ask if the pro would be willing to give a “clinic” prior to the tournament start. Charge an admission fee that will cover any expense charged by the bowling ally, plus a donation to the cause, and encourage participants to get their friends/family to sponsor them – say 10 cents per pin. Encourage friends to form teams. Get prizes donated from local merchants. Take photos/videos and post to your social media sites. Send photos and a story to the press for the local human interest section. Again, advertise, advertise, and advertise.
• Golf Tournament. If you are near a golf course or belong to a club, this can be a great event but should not be taken on by amateurs or the fainthearted!  Check with the club and ask the pro to help organize a Pro/Am event. No Country Club membership? No worries, find a local Miniature Golf course and organize a peewee tournament for your cause.

Here are a few of my favorite ideas that don’t involve event planning or really much effort at all!

• ChipIn.  Use the ChipIn widget to the left and make a donation of any size...THANK YOU!!  You can also set up your own ChipIn widget, using their easy-to-use tools and a PayPal account.
• Recycling. If your state has a redemption fee for soda bottles and aluminum cans, this is an EASY, painless way to raise money and be “green”. Have everyone you know save their soda and water bottles/cans in large 33 gal garbage bags. You can offer to pick up the collection or ask friends to drop them off on a designated weekend. Then you take all of the bags to your local recycler and collect the fee.
• Change the face of [your cause].  Ask everyone to save their spare change for a designated period of time – 3 months is just about right. Then have an event (Beer night, Dine out night) and ask everyone to bring their change. You can roll the coins, but I highly recommend letting the local CoinStar® machine count it out for you.  The 10% taken is totally worth the time and aggravation saved. Plus... not all banks take rolled coin from individuals anymore!
• Getting married and don’t need or want any more STUFF?  Set up a Charity Wedding Registry.  A charitable gift registry is a meaningful way to commemorate your special day. A charitable donation is the perfect way to personalize your wedding gift and inspire greater giving.
• Set up a Facebook cause page .  Follow the instructions - it's practically foolproof!

Speaking of Facebook...remember to post links for all of your fundraising efforts to Social Media Sites. Remember to add events to your Facebook, MySpace pages. Use Twitter to inform, recruit and generate interest. Take pictures and/or video and post up following the event. Thank your volunteers and sponsors publicly and remember to have fun!
My friends will tell you that I'm pretty organized and I've had work assignments as a Project Manager, so event production comes pretty naturally! However, if you were not born with the PM gene, no worries! You just need some extra enthusiasm and the ability to draft some uber organized friends! You can also check out any number of great books available to help you think through and organize a successful fundraiser.


What is your favorite fundraising tip? Please share it here!

Action through Advocacy

ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) is heartless and senseless - not unlike suicide. I lost my husband/best friend to ALS and I was mad...really mad! Anger is a very powerful emotion, which I believe, when left unchecked can result in the destruction of property, life or self. For me, the offer to become an advocate for ALS came at the exact time I was grappling with the really "meaty" anger stage of my grieving. I have often joked that channeling my anger through advocacy probably saved my life and at the very least spared me from a jail sentence!

So...for the past four years I have been involved in raising awareness for ALS and recruiting others to do the same. I will go on record here to say, I find it completely ironic that the girl who nearly flunked high school civics has grown up to be the woman who is a staunch advocate for patients who can no longer speak for themselves...go figure!

If you are looking for a way to DO something, (to channel your anger, sadness, or any other strong emotion) I cannot think of a better option than advocacy. But what is advocacy exactly?  Here's what I've learned in four years.

What is an advocate?

I have a very well loved copy of Miriam Webster's dictionary, and I found the following definition: "One that supports or promotes the interests of another"

What is advocacy?

From Wikipedia (an excellent resource!) "Advocacy is the pursuit of influencing outcomes — including public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions — that directly affect people’s current lives. (Cohen, 2001)"

I believe advocacy is the support and promotion of cause related interests. More specifically research, health and long-term care, caregiver and/or survivor support, at all levels (National, State, Local) of elected government with the intent to influence change. Advocates work to effectively lobby Congress, the White House, and related national organizations, as well as state and federal agencies for funding and support of programs which will benefit patients, victims and/or the families of any given cause.

Why is advocacy important?
Elected officials, government regulators, insurers and the media play a significant role in our society and certainly in healthcare today! Often, the laws, rules and/or perceptions they create directly influence our day-to-day lives and the medical treatments or financial compensation we receive. However, the majority of decision makers know little about suicide and mental illness, its effects and treatments, primarily in my opinion because they have no personal experience - no context to frame an opinon. That's where advocates step in! Organizations dedicated to mental health, mental illness and suicide prevention seek to increase awareness by encouraging those affected by suicide to become advocates. It is through the voice of patients, family members friends and medical professionals that current, pending and future laws, regulations, policies and perceptions are influenced and ultimately changed.

Who can be an advocate?

• Anyone with a commitment to help current and future generations affected by suicide.
• Anyone willing to raise their voice or write a letter to an elected official.
• Anyone willing to make a difference.
• You!

The true strength of an advocacy network is the dedication of the many individuals affected in some way by suicide. Individuals who have made the express decision to make a difference today, so that lives can literally be saved and (just maybe) the future can be brighter for survivors of suicide.

As an advocate, what do you do?

 In general, you may be called on to:

•  Educate: Tell your story - to the media and/or elected officials
•  Act: Write letters or send email correspondence to elected officials
•  Participate: Attend the annual National/State Advocacy Day or Public Policy Conference

Once you are an advocate, what is expected?

• Educate yourself – become familiar with the strategy and current objectives of the advocacy program
• Educate others – know your story and share it as needed. Encourage those within your sphere of influence to join you.
• Respond – write or speak when requested and be alert to opportunities where you can educate and inform elected officials concerning suicide.

Next step….take a minute today to learn more about the Advocacy and Public Policy efforts of the following organizations

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention Action Network USA

National Strategy for Suicide Prevention

or Google the following key words - suicide, advocacy, public policy - to find the right opportunity to channel your grief/anger. As always, please share your findings, so that we can all learn!

Suicide Survivor Resources

My Only Wish by Dhainee Phafflin
Grief, my sole companion through the rain
Grief stays with me but ease no pain
Grief, the emotion I feel when I hear your name
Grief, I don't know if I'm still sane


My only wish every time the rain falls
Is that you'll remember that I'm still here
Loving you and waiting for your call
And when the sky begins to clear
I'll still be waiting here after all

You are not alone.  Though my personal grief had a different beginning, I walk the path by your side.  I hope you find these sites helpful as you continue your journey to healing, one step at a time. ~Kathie


Survivor Resources from Stop a Suicide.org
On Saturday, November 21, 2009, simultaneous conferences for survivors of suicide loss will take place throughout the U.S. and internationally. This unique network of healing conferences helps survivors connect with others who have survived the tragedy of suicide loss, and express and understand the powerful emotions they experience. More information

The American Association of Suicidology has a number of resources including Stats & Tools, Support Group Directory, and a comprehensive listing of Resources for Survivors.


Suicide.org is a comprehensive site with a Suicide Survivors Forum covering topics like "What should I do after a suicide", Coping with the emotional pain", "Coping with rumors and gossip", Coping with anger at your suicide angel" and much more.


Survivor Resources is a private, non-profit organization deducated to providing immediate and long-term emotional support and practical help for the families and friends of those who have died by homicide, suicide or accident.


GriefNet.org is an Internet community of persons dealing with grief, death, and major loss. They also provide a comprehensive listing of resources for survivors of suicide as well as links to support for other types of loss.

Movie Corner

As you might imagine, it was tough to find uplifing movies about Suicide.  Now that I write this, I think that my quest this month was a bit of an oxymoron.  However...in my searching I found a really cool site to share.

Rob Fried is the Founder/CEO of SpiritClips, "an online community centered on inspirational films and stories dedicated to universal themes of compassion, hope, courage, and strength." You can read the story of how SpiritClips was inspired by clicking the Founders Welcome link on their website. I LOVE that Rob also chose the Gandhi quote to begin his message!

One of the best features at SpiritClips is the ability to send an inspiring eCard with a short film (FilmCard).  It's quick way to send a thoughtful message to someone who's on your mind, using their easy-to-navigate website.  The hardest part is choosing ONE from the many great clips!  But never fear, they have some suggestions in the navigation bars to help narrow the selection!  Some are free to send, others require a membership with a pretty reasonable monthly fee. 

Most of the clips are under 5 minutes (looks like the average is 2 -3 min) and are definitely designed to make you smile.  Thanks to a Superhero is a 52 second Thank You clip with the tag " "The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention." - Oscar Wilde.  In less than 3 1/2 minutes Sally reminded me that I own my attitude and is tagged "Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind." - Eric Hoffer.  My favorite so far is The Little Frog, a 2 1/2 minute reminder that we can literally do anything, and it's never too late to give a shout of encouragement.  "They can because they think they can." - Virgil
 
No popcorn necessary!  Enjoy...

Reviewing: Silent Grief: Living in the Wake of Suicide

“Surely my experience with suicide is not unique; surely other survivors can benefit from learning about it and how—over the years---I have dealt with such a death.”  ~Christopher Lukas

In his lifetime, Christopher Lukas has lost a number of family members to suicide as well as to “regular” death. Beginning with his mother when he was 6 years old, to his Aunt and Uncle, almost 30 years later, to a childhood friend who committed suicide when he was 50, Mr. Lukas has intimate knowledge of the range of emotions which accompany loss. He sought therapy to deal with his depression and anxieties, but like most of us, suppressed many of his emotions. Following the death of his friend, he set out to explore the myriad of feelings associated with death/dying and suicide in particular, I suspect to bring about some measure of psychological peace. He turned to publications and professional journals, only to find that the majority of the material written, dealt with the person who committed suicide and all but nothing was written about or seemed to be concerned with those left in the aftermath. And so, he bravely stepped into the void – to write a practically based book that would help survivors cope with the loss by suicide of someone they loved. His collaborator is Henry Seiden, provided the professional, psychotherapy expertise.

Overview

The book is thoughtfully laid out to take the reader through the very real steps needed to process the grief of a death by suicide. Part I covers what happens to the survivor after someone commits suicide and provides an overview of the emotional reactions. Often, in addition to grief, a survivor may exhibit one or more symptoms of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). Anger, denial and sadness are normal stages in the processing of grief. I was surprised to learn that survivors of suicide must also process some degree (moderate to extreme) of guilt and shame as well.


Part II, entitled The Long Run: “What’s Going to Happen to Me?” covers a series of Bargains, or deals we make with life. These are quite literally the coping mechanisms the brain employs to move us forward. For example, Silence is a very normal reaction, often because of the religious or social stigmas attached to a death by suicide. “Many people don’t even want to admit that the death was a suicide. They hide behind a variety of myths: the death was an accident, a murder, a mystery.”


Part III outlines the pragmatic and practical steps of giving and getting help. This section covers Responding, Giving Help by Listening, Getting Help by Talking, Talking with Children and Living with Suicide.


The Appendix, Bibliography and Further Reading section is a comprehensive collection of resources that were not available to Lukas when he started his journey of emotional discovery. If he did nothing else but compile this list, he would have been successful in his mission to help others traveling this narrow and perilous path of life.


My Opinion
Lukas’s style is that of a compassionate reporter. It is clear that the research was intense and thorough. Each segment is filled with quotes from survivors, making it possible to understand the thoughts and emotions of a survivor in a very real and sometimes visceral way. I felt that he had extended a great deal of respect and courtesy to those who shared their stories. He is unflinching in his accounts of his loved ones deaths and candid about the range of emotions he’s had to wrestle with over the years.


While it was certainly not an easy read because of the subject matter, I did find the book to be thoughtful, insightful and very educational. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone who lost someone they love to suicide. It will help uncover and process the various emotions and reassure the reader they are not crazy or alone. I think it would also be helpful to friends and co-workers of suicide survivors. Because death is a somewhat uncomfortable topic anyway, the insight provided could help prevent many of the well-intentioned, but uneducated comments made by those trying to reach out and provide comfort.


Bibliography
Lukas, Christopher and Seiden, Henry M.. Silent Grief – Living in the Wake of Suicide, Revised Edition. Philadelphia. Jessica Kinglsey Publishers. 2007.

Pause…to consider and raise money for the cause!

There are so many different ways to contribute time and/or money to Suicide Prevention Causes. Here are just a few ideas to get you started.


WALK. Get more information on starting or joining a local Out of the Darkness community walks, sponsored by AFSP. AFSP funds research aimed at improving our understanding of suicide and ways to prevent it as well as educational activities to increase awareness about prevention, warning signs and the psychiatric illnesses that can lead to suicide.

If you would rather RUN, Marathons, half marathons, triathlons or races of any kind are valuable opportunities to raise awareness and support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). We will support you every step of the way, from registration to fundraising advice and event preparation in any racing event of your choice. Please click here for links to additional information.

Pledge to donate $5, $10, $24 or $48 per month directly to an organization that suits you. Here are two more to consider.
Feeling Blue Suicide Prevention Council
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Update on the Heart of Hope for Suicide Prevention bracelet

We are half way through the month and as of last night, one bracelet has found its way to new homes for a total of $25 to be donated to our Suicide Prevention causes. THANK YOU!! A quick reminder…the coupon for a matching pair of earrings expires on September 30th.



Visit the Kathie Lichtig Studio website and place your order for the Heart of Hope benefiting Suicide Prevention bracelet. Add the earrings to your shopping bag and enter code AFSP at checkout to receive your earrings as a gift!


Gift giving that matters!

We're walking....we're walking...and we're raising money by walking!

My last post encouraged you to sign up for a walk in your neighborhood.  I know you're thinking about it....and I'm proud of you for taking that first big step!    Congratulations!  Now it's time to get moving and involve your friends and neighbors.  Here are just a few suggestions to get you started.  Check with your charity - I know the walk coordinator will have more ways to help make your participation fun and profitable for their organization.

• Create or Join a Walk team. Come up with a clever team name.  My husband was a firefighter, so "Bill's Brigade" was a natural fit!  Other team names I think are fun:  Mrs. Peabody's Tea Party, Peggy's Pedestrians, Feet for Fluckinger, and Rev'in 4 Kevin.  Set your imagination free!  Better yet, get together with a few friends, and get silly brainstorming.  You'd be amazed at the clever names you can come up with as a group!
• Set your fundraising goal – stretch a little and keep raising it as you reach each milestone.  Check the post "Fundraising for Chickens".
• Use the tools provided by the charity!  Sounds simple, but it can't be overstated.  Take the time to personalize your team home page and your individual home page. Tell your story!  Encourage people to join you.  Add some personality. Add your photographs.
• Upload your email address book - the tools make it very easy to do.
• Use the email/send mail utility to send a note to friends/family/coworkers asking them to join you in the cause.
• Hold a walk kickoff meeting at your home or ask a friend to host. Brainstorm ways to get additional friends/family members to join you or donate.
• Add your page link to your email signature with a catchy call to action.
• Ask your company to sponsor you or offer a matching donation. Invite friends to help you brainstorm local companies. Find out who has contacts and ask them to ask for the sponsorship.
• Contact your local media and tell them that you are walking and WHY. Get them interested...local papers are always looking for a good human interest story.  Share yours!
• Update your Facebook, MySpace, etc. accounts.  Tell your friends that you are walking and why.  Add a link to your walk page and encourage everyone to sign up.  "Tweet" your progress toward your goal!
• Create a team flier. Include the critical details and photos. Post at church, work, games, etc. Most Starbucks, Curves and Jamba Juice in CA have community events bulletin boards and will post fliers for charitable events.
• It’s never too early to recruit team members!
• Contact your local chapter for more ideas, tips and tricks specific to their chapter.

Most of all HAVE FUN and remember that you are making a difference.  And that matters!

Special announcement to support AFSP

BOOK ROYALTIES DONATED TO THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

In an effort to assist in the fight to educate and prevent suicide a portion of the proceeds from the sale of our new book, Lessons From 1 North: A Guide to Life Outside the Asylum ( http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/lessons-from-1-north-a-guide-to-life-outside-the-asylum/7573958 ) will be donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The book recounts the author's failed suicide attempt and recovery in a psychiatric hospital where he discovered the real meaning of life. The result of the experience was a dedication to two goals: 1) Suicide Prevention and 2) Assisiting Psychiatric In-Patients in finding public and private housing. The initial response has been overwhelming and the author will continue to travel the country lecturing and fundraising on the issues. Between today and Monday September 14, 2009 50% of the royalties from the sale of the book will be donated. Commencing Tuesday a smaller portion will continue to be donated.


Social Media is amazing...I received this notice via my LinkedIn network.

Facebook® Groups - Suicide Prevention

There are literally 1000’s of groups on Facebook and an equal number of ways to connect with anyone interested in the same causes you are. Here are a few I found related specifically to Suicide Prevention.  Please remeber: To access/join any of these groups, you must have a Facebook Profile and be logged in. To log in or create a profile, please visit the Facebook website.
General Search Link using Suicide Prevention as the keyword.
General Search Link using Mental Illness as the keyword
With 22,00+ fans, The Suicide Prevention Group on Facebook has a list of the warning signs and links to several good websites:
Four guys, one destination, one mission: Suicide Prevention These guys have 244,000+ members and a very compelling story!

As always, your comments and recommendations for resources you find helpful are encouraged and welcome.

LinkedIn® Groups - Suicide Prevention

LinkedIn is almost as popular as Facebook and an excellent professional networking tool. I found a wealth of informtaion and many of the website links I referenced a few days ago have a LinkedIn community.  Reminder: To access/join any of these groups, you must have a LinkedIn Profile and be logged in. To log in or create a profile, please visit the LinkedIn website.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is the leading non-profit organization dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research and education and reaching out to survivors of suicide.

Feeling Blue Suicide Prevention Council  Perhaps in a perfect world, all suicides can be prevented, but fortunately or unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world. Just as all heart attacks can't be prevented, neither can all suicides, but like heart attacks, there are steps we can take to prevent more of them from occuring.

Working Minds: Our vision is of a community of workplaces eliminating the devastating impact of suicide at work and beyond.

Mad2Live: Our goal is to save lives through focusing on suicide prevention and promoting awareness by leveraging Art as a way to augment mental health services.

Pieta House: Members support and/or assist in the work and awareness/fund-raising for Pieta House Centre for the Prevention of Suicide & Self-Harm. This charity provides free professional help for those affected by suicidal & self-harming ideations.

Samaritans-You are not alone: Samaritans’ purpose is to alleviate despair, isolation, distress and suicidal feelings among individuals in our community, 24 hours a day; to educate the public about suicide prevention; and to reduce the stigma associated with suicide. We accomplish this through services that emphasize confidential, nonjudgmental, and compassionate listening.

Adolescent Wellness User Group: This is a group for key adults in the lives of youth – parents, educators, clergy, coaches and scout leaders – encouraging communication with adolescents about depression and suicide, early treatment and prevention.

Carson J. Spencer Foundation: We sustain a passion for life through:

1. Innovative and effective suicide prevention efforts targeting the working aged population.
2. Encouraging social enterprise that generates revenue and awareness for suicide prevention and mental health advocacy.
3. Support emerging leaders and entrepreneurs through our Rising Star Scholarship.

Suicide in the Military

I have learned so much about suicide and hope that the posts this month have been informative and helpful.  I don't have any experience with the military, beyond being born on a Naval base (my dad was a Marine!) and dating a few Navy guys in my youth.  My research this month has been quite an odyssey, and as I continued to check links, I kept bumping up agaist information specifically discussing military personnel and the increase in both attempted and completed suicides.  Curious...I kept clicking links.  A 2008 CNN report Concern mount over rising troop suicides provided some insight.

The triggers for suicide (relationship issues, work, legal, finances, substance abuse and the like) are no different for service personnel than civilians.  However, the stress of combat and/or the horrors of casualties on mental well being can only be imagined.  Add in the stress of longer tours of duty or re-deployment, the stigma often attached to seeking mental health care and the ready access to firearms, and it becomes easier to understand the strain that can push someone to the brink and beyond.  According to the CNN article, Sen. Jim Webb, D-Virginia was concerned about the number of suicide attempt by members of the military, and introduced legislation to improve the military's suicide-prevention programs. 

The result...a comprehensive website, maintained by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, solely devoted to the mental health of our service men and women, covering topics such as Alcohol, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Drug Abuse, Returning Service Personnel, and more.  There are links to educational material and a handy pocket guide that is not military specific, and journalist Deborah Norville and actor Gary Sinese have collaborated with the VA to produce two excellent Outreach PSA's.

This week, as part of Suicide Awareness week, the Suicide Prevention campaign is piloting an online, one-to-one chat service for Veterans who prefer reaching out for assistance using the Internet. Veterans Chat, enables Veterans, their families, and friends to anonymously chat on-line with a trained VA counselor. If a chatter is determined to be in a crisis, the counselor can take immediate steps to transfer the person to the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline, where further counseling and referral services are provided and crisis intervention steps can be taken. Veterans, family members or friends can access Veterans Chat through the Suicide Prevention web site (click on the CHAT LIVE button). The Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline is available at 1-800-273-TALK.

I must admit that there are times when I am frustrated by how my tax dollars are spent.  However, I am grateful to Congress and Senator Webb in particular for providing the VA with the funding to protect those who put their lives on the line, to preserve the peace and freedoms we enjoy in this country.

Book of the Month - Suicide Prevention

Oprah loves to read, she has a book club. I love to read so I decided to start my own book club! Each month, to further my own knowledge, I’ll choose a book to read and share my thoughts. Please join me and add your thoughts using the comments section below, on Twitter or the Facebook Fan Page.

For September, I’ve selected: Silent Grief: Living in the Wake of Suicide by Christopher Lukas and Henry M. Seiden. “"Silent Grief" is a book for and about "suicide survivors" - those who have been left behind by the suicide of a friend or loved one. Author Christopher Lukas is a suicide survivor himself - several members of his family have taken their own lives - and the book draws on his own experiences, as well as those of numerous other suicide survivors. These personal testimonies are combined with the professional expertise of Henry M. Seiden, a psychologist and psychoanalytic psychotherapist.”
Amazon.com makes it so easy to search for and purchase a book on literally any topic.  Surviving Suicide – is a list of relevant books available for purchase on Amazon.com.  Here are some additional books you may want to add to your library.
No Time to Say Goodbye: Surviving the Suicide of a Loved One by Carla Fine.  Carla's husband commited suicide.  She shares the suicide, its aftermath, her survival and how to make sense of the chaos.
Surviving Suicide, Help to Heal Your Heart Life Stories from Those Left Behind by Heather Hays.  In this book, Heather shares life-changing stories from people around the world who have also been left behind. Through them, you will learn lessons on love and loss to help guide you on your journey.
Real Men Do Cry by Eric Hipple.  Eric is a former professional athlete who lost is 15 year old son to suicide, reached the brink of losing everything himself and found his way back.  This is his unflinching story.


Who knows….maybe Oprah will want to join our group!

Twitter® Resources - Suicide Prevention

Twitter is a fun tool for quickly sharing information or plugging into a specific community.  Here are a few Tweeps in the suicide prevention community I follow:

@ArmyWellBeing   @MyArmyLife   @CounterSuicide   @TrevorProject   
@ ASPENWV   @ OutoftheDark_KC   @ YellowRibbonSPP   @ IASPinfo   @ jedfoundation

Hashtags are a community-driven convention for adding additional context and metadata to your tweets. Used sparingly and respectfully, hashtags can provide useful context and cues for recall, as well as increased utility for the track feature. Used excessively can cause annoyance, confusion or frustration, and may lead people to stop following you. It's best to use hashtags explicitly when they're going to add value, rather than on every word in an update. Here are some Hashtags I have used to find suicide prevention/mental health related conversations:
#suicide     #endstigma     #mentalhealth     #mentalillness     #yellowribbon

Please help me grow the list by sharing your Tweeps!

BLOGs of interest - Suicide Prevention

I had a difficult time finding BLOGs that relate specifically to Suicide Prevention or how to cope in the aftermath of a suicide. Here are the few I found.

Alive Campaign for Suicide Prevention: Waco, TX, United States Nathan Lloyd, Justin Brown, Kyle Ferguson, Alyson Erikson, and Andi Nakasone, will bike from Waco TX, to Anchorage Alaska. This is their amazing story.

Suicide Prevention Help is written by Kenneth Hemmerick.  There is an extensive directory of global suicide prevention resources
Suicide Prevention From India: Suicide is a cry for help not a wish to die, preventing suicide is everyone's responsibility, let's talk about suicide and prevent it

Heather Hays - As a News Anchor I report on what's going on in the world around us - except something that takes a life every 16 minutes. That's because people rarely talk about suicide. I want to change that through my book Surviving Suicide: Help to Heal Your Heart.
Specifically For Veterans
Oh My Gov - For Veterans, a virtual world of support. DoD taps into Second Life
US Department of Defense Military Health System Blog - Index of articles related specifically to suicide in the military and its prevention.
Army Well-Being covers a variety of topics, not just suicide and suicide prevention. This link will display the suicide related postings.
Other Resources - not Blogs per se, but still look like good resources:
BlogTalk Radio – Talk Radio Podcasts on suicide and prevention related topics.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)  Find links to articles and resources under the headings of General Information, Scientific Information, What's New and Featured Resources.


Whose BLOG do you follow? PLEASE use the comments tool to share any that BLOG resources you have found helpful or interesting.

Online resources for Suicide Prevention

Over the next few days, I’ll post various on-line resources I found. Today’s list includes some potentially helpful websites I found related to Suicide Prevention. They are listed in alphabetical order and I have no experience with any of these organizations. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH before you take advice or send money! Many of these organizations are represented on social media sites. Check their websites for details and if the cause is important to you, raise awareness by sharing the information with your friends and family through your personal social media pages.

• Adolescent Wellness, Inc. a non-profit 501c3 organization, was founded to simplify prevention of depression and suicide in adolescents. A primary activity is creating awareness of depression prevention resources.
• Alive Campaign for Suicide Prevention is a grassroots suicide prevention group with an optimistic and down to earth approach to one of our last "taboo" subjects.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide.
• The Carson J Spencer Foundation envisions a world where leaders and communities are committed to sustaining a passion for life.
• Feeling Blue Suicide Prevention Council is a community-based (Pennsylvania/Tri-State Area) organization dedicated to preventing suicide, reducing the stigma associated with suicide, and supporting those people affected by depression or by the loss of a loved one to suicide. We do this through education and support.
• Link2Health Solutions (L2HS) is a leading innovator developing technology and communications infrastructure critical for supporting the emotional well-being of individuals and communities in need. Through its service networks and agency partnerships, L2HS provides high-quality, scalable programs that reach over 500,000 people nationally every year.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. With help comes hope. A free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call will be routed to the nearest crisis center to you.
• Pieta House, the Centre for the Prevention of Self-Harm or Suicide, is the first charity of its kind in Ireland. Pieta House offers a specialised treatment programme for people who have suicidal ideation or who participate in self-harming behaviours. In particular, this centre targets people who have already attempted to take their lives - often the forgotten people.
• Samaritans, Inc. is a non-denominational, not-for-profit volunteer organization serving greater Boston, MA & Metrowest communities. We are dedicated to reducing the incidence of suicide by befriending individuals in crisis and educating the community about effective prevention strategies.
• The SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) mission is to prevent suicide through public awareness and education, reduce stigma, and serve as a resource for those touched by suicide. Based in Bloomington, MN.
• Screening for Mental Health Inc. (SMH), is the non-profit organization that first introduced the concept of large-scale mental health screenings in 1991 with its flagship program National Depression Screening Day. The Suicide Education and Research Division of SMH educates the public on warning signs of suicide, and professionals about the assessment and treatment of suicidal individuals.
• Stop a Suicide Today is a program of the Suicide Education and Research Division.
• The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. The Trevor Project operates the only accredited, nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBTQ youth. If you or a friend are feeling lost or alone, call The Trevor Helpline 866.4.U.TREVOR (866.488.3867). There is hope, there is help.
• Working Minds – Suicide prevention in the workplace provides tools and networks to workplaces to assist with suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.
• Yellow Ribbon International Suicide Prevention Program® is a community-based program that empowers and educates professionals, adults and youth. This is a program of people helping people.

This is by no means a comprehensive list. Please share your experiences with these sites or others you like by posting a comment.

ChipIn® to support Suicide Prevention programs!

It’s the economy! Or is it? Every day, media sources describe, in exquisite detail, our tough economic times. But I am encouraged by some of the positive signs I’m hearing that the worst may be behind us. I am also a firm believer in the power of Karma…putting good energy into the universe that finds its way back to me in ways I never imagined. Sometimes just a kind word is enough to keep the positive benefits flowing. With that said, supporting causes we care about is more important than ever. When financial hard times hit, most everyone will instinctively cut back on “discretionary” spending, which often includes charitable donations. Organizations, who serve those in need, need CASH. And every little bit adds up.

ChipIn® is a cool resource I found to collect all the “bits”.  Each month, I'll set up a ChipIn widget and set a goal of least $300 for each month's cause.  Here are some ideas on how to “scrape up” your spare change to support the Suicide Prevention work done by Working Minds, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. See yesterday’s post for details about the work done by each organization.   Pick one (or more!) that resonate with you.

• Donate the cost of 1 cup of Starbucks or your favorite beverage to ChipIn. For the true SBUX junkies (like me!) do it once per week!
• Save your spare pocket change. Every night, empty your pockets, wallet, coin purse, etc., into a designated container. I have a rice bowl (good feng shui!) but you can use just about any vessel. Every Sunday, this month, add it up and donate that amount to ChipIn.
• Recycling. If your state has a redemption fee for water/soda bottles and aluminum cans, this is an easy way to raise money and be “green”. Have everyone you know save their soda and water bottles/cans in large 33 gal garbage bags. You can offer to pick up the collection or ask friends to drop them off on a designated weekend. Then take all of the bags to your local recycler and collect the fee and donate the amount to ChipIn.
• Check the sofa cushions, ashtrays, under the car seats, jean pockets, bottom of the handbag, or anywhere spare change “gathers” in your world. This is a GREAT project for youngsters!
• Tweet this post and encourage your friends to donate their spare change.
• Hold a garage sale and dedicate 15% of the proceeds to this cause. Moves the Chi in your life and makes room for new abundance in your life.
• Remember to post links to this page to your Facebook and MySpace accounts to share with family and friends. Feel free to tweet away!

What’s your idea!? Share your thoughts on collecting/saving spare change to make a difference.  To encourage creativity, every suggestion posted by midnight PST on 9/30/2009 will be entered into a drawing. On October 1st, I'll draw from the entries and the winner will receive a pair of crystal Heart of Hope earrings!  Good luck!!

By collecing and donating the loose change we (collectively) have lying around we can re-circulate the cash and create some good economic Karma! Check back regularly to see how we’re doing!