ARP 384 Changes to 988 Suicide Hotline

I had a flashback. What generated it was that I watched a video of a congress person telling his constituents that only the truly deserving should have access to free health care. Those that work are worthy. That is my understanding of what he said. I could be wrong.

The example he gave was that a 28 year old person who refused to work. Once upon a time, I was truly ill. I had no savings. I owed bills. I couldn't work. The congress person would have deemed me unworthy. 

Just like the Department of Health and Human Services did with the removal of LGBTQ+ access to the 988 suicide hotline. In this episode, what has happened and alternative hotline options.

P.S. to the hot fingered. This is a mental health issue. 

Resources Mentioned:

The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.

 

Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.

 

National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of 988 and users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. There are also text/chat services available to folks in Canada, the UK and Ireland.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

ARP 348 - Bear Grylls App and Men's Mental Health Resources

In 2024, of the things we have to change is the active cultural block against men seeking mental health treatment. We don't have time for it. 

All hands on deck or at least pull the ropes trying to point the ship in the right direction. 

This episode is a little different because it is resource focus. Go to Helpguide.org to learn about therapy or to Heads Up Guys to learn about stress. Or use the Mettle app from Bear Grylls.

What I don't want you to do is suffer, grit your teeth and take it. Because that is causing some good people to reconsider their time on the planet. 

If the assholes won't go, why should you?

Just saying.

In this episode, a look at a few men's mental health resources.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

U.S. National Institute of Mental Health page on Men and Mental Health and their page on What is Anxiety?

Infographic from Mental Health America about Mental Health for Men

The Canadian website called Heads Up Guys have self-guided courses on anxiety, mindfulness and depression topics. It is a project of the University of British Columbia. The site has a lot of information dealing with depression, with roadmaps, stress management tips and more.

The Anxiety and Depression Association has a dedicated page on anxiety that includes statistics, symptoms and links to other pages about treatment options.

Adventure Bear Grylls is the co-founder of a new mental health app for men. It is called Mettle. You can find more information at the app website https://bemettle.com/

Australian Beyond Blue gateway page about men and mental health topics.

UK Mental Health Foundation page on Why Men Don't Talk About Mental Health

ARP Episode 161 Finding a Therapist, contains a list of therapists directories. 

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Pebble in the Road - Fight the Reaper

For those of you that don’t understand about the experience of depression, I have two websites that might help folks get a grip on it.  

The first is Will O’Neil’s Actual Sunlight. It is a fictional narrative game about the experience of living and trying to exist in a depressive state.  

Another expression of the experience is an old school HTML website called Depression Quest. 

It is an interactive experience about living with depression.

What am I talking about this? 

In this episode, a word or two about Heather Armstrong and a few resources that might help you understand depression a little bit more and a resource or two to help some of you stay on this side of the life fence.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

Washington Post article about Heather Armstrong.

The website Live Through This

Will O’Neil’s Actual Sunlight

Old school HTML interactive narrative Depression Quest

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Show 287 Risk Factors for the Big Dip

It is May it is U.S. version of Mental Health Awareness Month.

Treating mental health concerns is just as important to treat as conditions for physical health.

The need for mental health care is needed across all levels of society. Neither poverty nor wealth should be a barrier to access quality mental health treatment.

Suicide is not something I want to talk about. I always want to focus on what you can do.

Finding resources and keep putting that foot in front of the other. Rest when you need to but keep on going.

In this episode, a quick look at the some of the symptoms of entering the darkest of places.

Resources Mentioned: 

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has information, survivor stories and help for people in trouble and resources for the family and friends that want to help or understand.

Jenny Lawson has a new book called Broken, In the best possible way. Jenny has anxiety and treatment resistant depression. She is also a great writer who can make you laugh and come to tears in the next paragraph. You can also watch a five minute-ish interview of Jenny by CityLine on Youtube.

Mental Health America has a resource page on finding treatment resources.

Suicide Prevention Lifeline has stories from survivors, the fact, how to talk about suicide and pages of resources.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

 Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Show 241 - Learning from Ernest Hemingway

I generally don't talk about famous people unless they self-declare their illness or there is a compelling reason. Not in a million years did I think that I would have something to say about Ernest Hemingway. 

I knew he was a writer. I knew that he seem to love adventure and liked the ladies both within and outside of the bonds of matrimony. And that he was thought of as a manly man. 

So when I heard that there was going to be yet another documentary about Hemingway, I couldn't drum up any reason to watch. 

Until I learned more about the man. There are multiple levels to his physical and mental pain.

You got family trauma. Not to mention an undiagnosed hereditary disease attacking his organs.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Bipolar Disorder with two other mood disorders s riding in the backseat.

Arthritis. Depression and anxiety. Self-Treating with alcohol. 

Indeed he was a messed up man. Who wrote great books. Who was given the Nobel Prize for Literature. 

He was a pip but he was also human. Sometimes good. Sometimes a jerk.

In this episode, a quick look at the things that in hindsight, Ernest Hemingway can teach us about dealing with our situation and being proactive about taking care of our bodies.. 

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

Hemingway - A film documentary by Ken Burns and Lynn Novic. 

Ernest Hemingway: a psychological autopsy of a suicide by Christopher D. Martin.

PBS News Hour How mental health struggles wrote Ernest Hemingway’s final chapter by Dr. Howard Markel. 

The American Chronic Pain Association has a number of links to pain management resources. Mr. Hemingway would have been eligible for at least six of them.

There is good stuff at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.  They have information about Hemochromatosis.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance FAQ page about depression and mood disorders. They also have on-line support groups. There are also resources at ADAA.org and the National Institute of Mental Health and Medline Plus pages on Bipolar disorders.

If you suspect that someone you know is trying to take themselves off planet there are somethings you can do to help. Bethe1to offers five action steps to help a person in need.

The Gospel at Colonus a retelling of the Greek play with an African-American twist. It is available on DVD but your could take a gander at the play on YouTube. The music is therapeutic and provides another example of somebody having a rough road in life.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Episode 029 Comorbidity In the News

Comorbidity is one of those five dollar word that is a short cut way of saying a person has two or more conditions at the same time. You need to understand all of your conditions.




You can also download the current podcast to your mobile or media device.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

SAMHSA Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255 (TALK).

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or http://www.samhsa.gov

Rethinking Drinking http://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov

San Diego Tribune News Story http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/feb/05/veterans-suicide-erik-howard

Helpguide.org article on Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse 

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/addiction/alcoholism-and-alcohol-abuse.htm

Disclaimer:

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only.

Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.