awareness

August: Vacation/Staycation

Standard

August comes in like a lion and out like a lamb.

That’s April.

That’s not right.

March is the lion and the lamb.

August is hot.

It has no personality of its own.

It’s school supplies already gathering dust.

It’s vacation.

It’s my wedding anniversary.

It’s an oven that doesn’t work, but if it did work, I’d complain that I’d have to turn it on in August.
It’s lazy and hazy and the air is muddy like April’s boots.

It’s melancholy and lethargic.

Or is that just me?

But it’s not all that bad, I suppose.

The birds are noisy, the grass is green.

The spices are fragrant.

The whirr of the air conditioner.

The hosta petals on the ground, and bunny prints in the drying rain.

I guess we’ll give August a chance.
Let’s go.

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month – Resources

Standard

This is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Here are some important numbers that you may need or find helpful if you have suicidal thoughts. While I am available to be an ear to listen through email or message, I am not a professional. It is always best to contact on of the professional helplines. That is what they are there for.

Suicide Prevention Help Line: 1-800-273-8255

The Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860

The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386

IMAlive: (an online crisis network): https://www.imalive.org/

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, Press 1. Text to 838255. There is also a confidential online chat.

Suicide Prevention Awareness

Standard

Thursday will be one month since Robin Williams killed himself. Some of his battles over the years happened in the public eye, but the shock and surprise at his suicide shows the true iceberg effect of depression, bi-polar, and other related mental illnesses that it is speculated that he had. No one can know what that last straw was for him.

This is a struggle that countless people combat in their daily lives and for many it is hard to know from day to day what will work and what will not, including things that have worked in the past as a positive coping tool. Another issue that becomes problematic is that far too often we ignore mental illness in favor of physical illness because mental struggles are less obvious and we’re expected to hide them as if it’s a character flaw rather than a genuine illness. It’s no wonder that it is often called the invisible illness. For those of us spending part of our days faking it, it can often take all we have to get through one hour of one day.

One of the ways we can show support for those in the throes of mental health issues is to be vocal in our support; let the people around us know that we are here no matter what. A general statement and/or attitude can take the pressure off of those who can’t get through, who feel alone, who aren’t ready to come out as suicidal or in need of help.

If they know instinctively that we are here for them, they may feel comfortable enough to ask for that help. Or maybe just to talk.

You will never know what you had done that will change someone’s mind about suicide, but I guarantee that they will remember it and they will appreciate it and if you unwittingly give someone an extra day to find their way, this is a good thing.

This week is Suicide Prevention Awareness Week. Awareness for those who are not suicidal to know the signs and the resources available; to know what to say and how to show support to someone who needs it, but may not realize how close they are to the precipice until it’s too late.

Awareness is also for the suicidal, those at the very edge to learn that they are not alone, never alone and where they can go for help when they’re ready; even a simple phone conversation to alleviate the pressure.

I’d like to take a moment to mention LGBT youth. These kids are at higher risk for abuse and suicide as well as homelessness and assault. This is especially true of trans youth. Being young, it is often not realized that their problems seem gigantic in comparison and they do not feel that this will go away or that these feelings are only temporary. We need to be there to encourage them and stand by them in whatever capacity that they want us to.

The Trevor Project specializes in helping LGBT youth and is an amazing resource for others who want to support those kids and teenagers.

They can be reached toll-free at 1-866-488-7386 or online at thetrevorproject.org

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK or suicidepreventionlifeline.org

For people feeling that suicide is their only way out, here are a couple of other resources to assist you:

IMAlive.org – an online crisis network with trained volunteers available to chat 24/7

SAFE (Self-Abuse Finally Ends): 800-DONT-CUT (366-8288) – informational hotline, educational resources, and advice about intervention.

 

trevorproject

wpid-avatar_1410199469815.jpg

October is – – –

Standard

October is a busy month, both personally and in important causes to many of us.

Some of them include:

Breast Cancer Awareness, Research and Treatment – women get your mammograms. Men, ask the women in your lives if they’ve gotten their mammograms or self-examined themselves this month.

Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention – 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

LGBT History Month and October 11th is National Coming Out Day. It’s a good time to reevaluate why you’re (if you are) still in the closet and why and if now is the time that you feel safe, both physically and emotionally, with coming out.

Suicide Prevention Month ended with the end of September, but the depression and reasons for suicide, both in adults and children and teens is still ongoing despite turning the calendar page to October. Please be aware of those people in your lives who seem a bit more off than usual or who reach out in whatever ways they need to.

1-800-273-TALK

I’d like to add something that is coming up in November – the 20th of November is Transgender Remembrance Day. Being transgender, either openly or closeted is not always a safe place to be, so in teaching your children and talking about men and women who are only different on the outside than what you usually think about when you ‘assign’ gender labels to people you see or know, please also think about how much more danger Transgender people are in than most others in the LGB community.

In many cases, where there are non-discriminatory and hate crime statuses for most LGB people, transgender is excluded, which increases their chances for poverty, sexual and physical abuse, verbal and emotional abuse and being murdered.

All of these ribbons – pink, yellow, puzzle pieces, rainbow, red, purple – wearing them is a nice reminder – for me it’s as a reminder of my murdered friend. However, there is so much more that needs to be done, including the simple awareness and respect for all people.