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Good mental health is a key component to managing the stress of the COVID-19 epidemic. It’s frankly okay if you are feeling overwhelmed, unmotivated, or scared. We all are. That is a very normal reaction to what is going on. We will not be able to change these circumstances overnight, but we can learn skills that will serve us in this stressful time and the next. If you’ve listened to Episode 3 : COVID-19 &

As we’ve discussed in previous posts on “The Ramp”, the descent into the “Valley of Suicide” can move slowly for some and very quickly for others from passive suicidal thoughts, to starting to form a plan, and finally to implementing a suicide plan. Regardless of the time frame, if you or someone you care about is beginning to put in motion a plan to end your/their life, the time for action is NOW. Do not

In a previous blog post we described what we refer to as the “The Ramp” to the “Valley of Suicide”.  In this post we’ll discuss what happens and what to do when a person moves from “passive thoughts of suicide” to making plans to end their life.   If you’ve asked, “Have you ever thought about suicide?” to a troubled friend or family member, and the answer was something like, “Sometimes...”, “Yes” , or “Maybe…Kinda” .

On “What’s the Ramp?” we described what we refer to as the “The Ramp” into the “Valley of Suicide”.  The first stage of “The Ramp” is characterized by Passive Suicidal Thoughts. What distinguishes this stage is that the person is considering that death may be preferable to the life they are experiencing. You may hear:  “I sometimes think it would be easier if I didn’t wake up.”“I wish I could sleep forever.”“Death doesn’t seem so

“The Ramp” is what we call the descent from general suicidal thoughts into the “Valley of Suicide.”  “The Ramp” is not a physical space. It is an emotional state of being. The further you slide down the ramp, the more grave the danger of death by suicide. Some people remain near the top of “The Ramp”, while others progress slowly down the ramp towards suicide. Others may move very quickly down the ramp, perhaps making