Suicide awareness month is upon us. During this month we share with others and encourage them to reach out. I have felt compelled to share my story. Perhaps you will read about me and see yourself. Or you will see a friend, a loved one, a co-worker who needs your help. My hope is that [...]
Being a high school teacher, I see the effects of bullying on a weekly, if not daily, basis. I see it in the words of bullied kids, and in the way it makes the lives of many a living hell. Thankfully, there are procedures and policies in place to deal with school bullying, and because [...]
I am sure you have heard the term cyberbullying, but have you taken time to truly think about what it is and the trauma it creates? I know we see the statistics, but do you see the person behind the statistics? Cyberbullying is any form of bullying that takes place over the internet with digital [...]
I am saddened by another suicide loss this morning. I am grateful to CNN for not posting the details of his suicide. Thank you for putting the individual and his family above your ratings. Anthony Bourdain and his family are in our thoughts and prayers. As we have lost two great celebrities, we must also [...]
This is the first in a series that will discuss and explain the different types of bullying you or your child may fall victim to. We hope this information will help you to recognize the signs of bullying to help not only the kid being bullied, but the one that is causing the bullying. One [...]
Who Remembers the Lost? Those sad few who were with us only moments before yet now, are as gone as history past Who remembers the lost? Those who left because they felt The absence they’d leave would be noticed by no one Never knowing how in error they were. Who remembers the lost? [...]
On April 19th we rushed to the Arizona State Senate building. A friend called and said we were in trouble. We had been fighting to ensure that every school district in the State would be required to provide training in suicide prevention to their teachers and other school personnel who work with our students. Senate [...]
What is the RTS system and how can you register? The Request To Speak (RTS) system is a website that allows the public to register opinions and voice comments on bills as they pass through the Arizona Senate and House of Representatives. The following steps will guide you through registering for RTS and voicing [...]
We often think of suicide victims as people struggling with depression and anxiety. Over 90% of those that die by suicide have an underlying mental illness, but there is another population at great risk: the chronically ill. Living with chronic illness and for some patients, chronic pain, takes a toll, not only physically, but emotionally [...]
Unfortunately, I will never know whether the medication I put my son on for depression and anxiety played a part in his suicide. He died January 11 of 2016. The day all my nightmares came to life. Jake struggled with mental Illness practically his entire life. We had been dealing with violent outbursts since he was [...]
