2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration internet kitzhaber language law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes technology television terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

I run support groups for people who suffer from depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, suicide can be the end result of a serious depression that is not successfully treated. The depressed person's brain plays a trick on him or her and says, "Things are hopeless. You will never get better." Being isolated allows this voice to take hold. On the other hand, if people can reach out and talk to others about their painful feelings, they are less likely to act on those feelings. What I tell a suicidal person is "This, too shall pass. Stay alive one day at a time, keep yourself safe, and one morning you will wake up and the nightmare will be over."

posted 4 years, 3 months ago
view in context