We just wrapped up Suicide Prevention Awareness Month…& sometimes in this space, these awareness months are nothing more than a regurgitation of the same old same old, w stale campaigns that have become white noise.
In my/our personal experience, that was NOT the case this month. Instead we saw real, raw, personal shares, that are starting to open up the convo in ways never seen before.
The trends in this space do not get better, if we speak in clichés talking abt “others” & “signs we see in them.” We have to talk abt it in the first-person. We need platforms that are large, willing to help us widely share those first-person takes.
Just some examples in slides ➡️ from this month, but so many folks/orgs rose to the occasion:
Our buddy Kwasi from Chasing Tomorrow talking abt the loss of his young son, Ben, our buddy Fred from 99 Smiles talking abt the loss of his young daughter, Jocey. Kendal Toole from Peleton openly sharing how she attempted but survived & now wants to help others (video from her talk), Reggie Walker former NFLer talking abt his attempt, to crowds of school kids (video as well). Groups like Julia Broglie & Kevin Hines putting together videos abt how “we want you here tomorrow.” NFL Quarterbacks past & present saying: We are in the huddle w you. Jen Lada from ESPN sharing the story of the head football coach of Utah State – the loss of his own son to suicide & how his openness about that loss has now saved the lives of players on his team. 988 signs in parking lots. The 6th largest school district in the country, 114 schools, implementing the LIFE Saver program.
We are amidst a sea change that WE are all holding hands & making happen. We need to do it on more platforms & more consistently, but the tides are turning & openness is taking place. We can do this. We can save lives, together.
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Check out the last post ⬇️ on c0mm&nity he@ling as it was crushed by s&ppr€ssion.