We have frequently featured “myths about suicide” in on Leaving the Valley. In “Episode 62: Myth BUSTED — No One Will Miss Me When I’m Gone”, we look at a belief than many suicidal people may tell themselves. This is of course, completely false. You will be missed. No matter what circumstances are leading to thoughts of suicide, there is simply no way your absence won’t be noticed. Humans are incredibly interdependent. That is why, …
In Episode 61: 988 – The Conversation Continues, Part II, we discuss the use of police in a mental health crisis. Police are often called when a person’s behavior is deemed “scary or unsafe.” In some examples, the reason for that behavior is because the person is suffering from a mental health condition. Police have frequent contact with those suffering from a mental illness. It is estimated that 20% of police activity is spent on …
In Episode 60: 988 — The Conversation Continues, we responded to an online post that was shared with us by a member of our audience. This post questioned how the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline worked. In some ways, it seemingly discouraged people from using it. We have a lot of thoughts about the comments made in the post. However, we also felt like there could be benefit in re-examining what the role of crisis hotlines …
There’s a big change affecting everyone in the US, but especially those who work in suicide and crisis intervention! The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has a new number (and a new name too– it’s now the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.) That number is 988. In episode 59 : We Call 988, we talk about the many reasons this is significant. A 3-digit number is a lot easier to remember than a 1-800 number, for example. …
It could be said that suicide means that a person has given up hope…of things getting better, of problems going away. In Episode 58: Losing Two Brothers to Suicide, Part II, our guest, Dennis Gillan, described the despair he felt after losing his two brothers to suicide and how he found hope again. In this blog we want to acquaint you with a tool we really like for times like these. It’s called a Hope …
