I never ask for donations for any cause but this is real important to me... AFSP
 

http://www.outofthedarkness.org/inde...&teamID=35 01

"This fall, I will join thousands of other people nationwide who are walking in their communities in the Out of the Darkness Community Walk, which raises money and awareness for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The goal of this event is to raise funds for suicide prevention, erase the stigma surrounding suicide and its causes, to encourage those suffering from mental illness to seek treatment, and to show support for the families and friends of the 30,000 Americans who die by suicide and the 20 million people that suffer from depression each year.

It is astonishing to realize that experts estimate a suicide attempt is made once a minute, and a person in the United States dies by suicide every 18 minutes. Mental Illnesses such as depression and bi-polar disorder affect millions of people we work with, spend time with and love. When accompanied with the widespread stigma that surrounds them, these mental illnesses isolate their victims, causing feelings of helplessness and despair that they don't' feel comfortable sharing with their friends or family.

Please take a moment to consider how many people you know that may be affected by suicide and mental illness, and then think of how you will be helping those same people. My goal is to raise $150.00 or more. I hope that you will help me reach my goal by making a donation today, or signing up to walk with me as a part of Taylor McLaughlin in Seattle Waterfront on October, 27 2007."

You can join my team, register for the walk if you're local, or donate even $5 if that's all you can do (I'm in that boat myself). It is in October so I decided to get on this now. I just found it last night. The whole website http://www.afsp.org/ is really informative and shows funding and what is done and how much research is funded. The numbers are staggering as the #3 cause of death among teens, and the funding is at the very very bottom.

I want to help erase the stigma and stop undermining the volcanic dangers of depression and pressures among teens. I have a feeling this might not be caressed as a real issue that deserves attention but I figure it can't hurt to ask.

Thanks ahead of time. I know some of you will help out and make a difference. I wouldn't wish the aftermath of this on my worst enemy so let's hope we can save a good handful of families with education and awareness.

Thanks,
RRRED

I hope you reach your goal

goodluck, it's a good cause

bump from me for a good cause.

Good luck. Peter

donated! Good luck Nicole

very good cause!

Goal is met, but this could use a bump.

I agree.

Thanks Rhonda and Peaches!!! Now we have a new member of the team, Cindy, who is a friend of Taylors who has contemplated suicide as an option as of lately as she no longer has him to turn to. I've been talking with her and given her some resources.

She has a 13 month old baby, is married (to a jerk it sounds like), and is only 17 years old. Her hope is lost and she is turning around, realizing that we need her help in understanding. We don't need her to crush us over a problem that is only temporary. It's so hard to convince people that life is a never ending loop of lessons that teach us strenth when they get down and depressed to a level of incomprehension. We gotta get her up to her 150.00 goal next.

Here's a little more info:

"The Foundation's activities include:

* Supporting research that is improving our understanding of suicide and its prevention. With close to $5 million in current research grants and initiatives, the Foundation is making progress in determining why suicide occurs and how best to prevent it.
* Providing education and information about depression and suicide to professionals, the media and the public through workshops, trainings, the AFSP website, videos, publications, brochures and public service announcements. AFSP's PSA,"Suicide Shouldn't be a Secret" has reached 88 million television viewers.
* Publicizing the magnitude of the problems of depression and suicide, advocating for polices and legislation that can help prevent suicide and working to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide.
* Offering programs for survivors of suicide loss that can be of assistance and involving survivors in suicide prevention. AFSP survivor initiatives include the National Survivors of Suicide Day program, which was broadcast to over 100 communities last year and was simulcast on the AFSP website, the Survivor e-Network and trainings for survivor support group facilitators.

By walking in an Out of the Darkness Community Walk you will be helping to support the following:

* Research to improve the understanding of factors that contribute to suicide;
* Suicide prevention of college campuses through the dissemination of an educational film;
* National Survivors of Suicide Day conferences;
* Development of national centers that will evaluate the effectiveness of suicide prevention treatments;
* Creation of new survivor support groups;
* Local suicide prevention programs."

Thanks for helping!! I will show you the chart later of the finance allocations from our country. It's really sad and unrealistic.

Niccole

See peaches? It's not something people wanna acknowledge. It's "taboo" like everyone thinks they're in the clear just cuz they love thier kids. Like we didn't... I know you get what I'm sayin. I'm gonna call you tomorrow. I'm supposed to go to the water slides with Jaz and Huk and I'm terrified and all socially paranoid and freaked. It'll be ok... you know. Plus I'm planning on going to my first support group at 7 pm tomorrow so I know I'll find some relief. Thank god I can't eat yet... I've lost 24 lbs and I can get into a bathing suit. lol....

It's amazing as long as you've been in this business and as many people who know you, the Owen Wilson "suicide attempt" posts have gotten more reaction.

here is a bump for you!

Rrred, I just tried donating but it won't allow me cuz I'm from Canada.
If you give me an epass, I'll send to you and you can do it for me?
Keep me posted please - ICQ in sig

Bump for an excellent cause

Early morning bump for a good cause!


*Donation made

Bump for a very worthy cause.

Good luck Nicole! That is a worthy cause for sure.

Good luck with everything. Another bump for you.

Bump since Owen Wilson seems to be getting more attention again.

Bump for a great cause and an important issue. Of course you have our support Niccole....

Thank you Ken. I know and you know that you're an ass most of the time ;) but I have a unique respect for you as your life isn't a bed of roses either.

Taylor really liked you alot and I want you to know that. I appreciate your contribution as the more I'm learning, the more I'm appalled at the stigmas and generalizations of something like this.

You know and I know that this can indeed happen to ANYONE. Acknowledging that fact is the beginning and all we want is to pull our kids through the most challenging period of their lives and sometimes we don't succeed. I know this organization concentrates on proper screening and other aspects of an illness that can be deadly... impulsive... and shameful.

I don't wish this on my worst enemy but I feel at ease knowing that you for one, know how hard I pushed this entire time. I do present to you my sincerest gratitude.... as well as a long time friendship that can't be axed. Please give your cousins my best wishes. I want to call them soon in fact. Please thank any of your family that's been of great support to me during this time.

Thank you, Ken.... and family...

Ken, you rock. :thumbsup

Now now peaches, let's not get hasty ;) Ha... I needed that small giggle

Niccole,

You're more than welcome...ass comment and all :) I wish there was more we could do, but nobody can make this go away. All you can do is try and help others and keep your self moving forward, which it seems you are working hard at on both fronts.

You know I really liked Taylor a lot too. He was a really, really great kid with a huge heart. I'm glad I had a chance to know him and will miss him. My family would love to hear from you. You have been in their thoughts quite a bit lately. Take care of yourself and keep pushing forward.

Thanks....

bump!

Still amazing hardly anyone wants to contribute. Back THEN, 3 months ago, I'd have hesitated as well. I'd have had a smidge of judgement. "Gee that kid must've been so abused or on drugs or fucked up". Not so... No one is in the clear.

Why would no one want to fund research on the 3rd leading cause of death? I studied years ago with this fear, and the numbers were staggering then. Now they just piss me off.

It's simply an uncomfortable subject and if I hadn't decided on pretty much leaving the industry, I wouldn't have posted this. But I thought I'd try out of curiosity.

Other fund raisers that I've been a large part of got tons of respect and some effort in understanding such devestation. The silent killer, most think, should be shrugged off.

*sigh

why is it wrong for someone to choose to terminate their existence? it is the ultimate expression of freewill. to prevent someone from expressing freewill is a violation of their personal liberties, and also selfish.

bump for a good cause.

and good luck!

I can explain that a bit i think.

When i was a teenager i tried to kill myself.

It seemed like such a good idea at the time. but my actions were anything but free will. I felt forced to it by others. as little as 1 month later i realised how foolish a decision it was.


One small deviation from the rational almost ended my life.

I think its as simple as not understanding the ramifications of your actions.. just as it would be if a baby drank poison. you could call it free will, or just a silly decision.

good luck to yah!

Niccole I haven't spoken with you since your tragic event. I have been following the web page, myspace etc. I am glad to see you are hanging tough through this.

Give me a tap with your Epass. ID. please I would prefer to make a donation that way.

Killine ones self does not always have anything to do with mental illness.

bump for you

Well here lemme explain why it's a wrong choice. I can really relate to this quote I got off another site:

?That?s the thing, suicide has a way of only hurting the people who liked you. The people who hated you will forget your name in a month and, in fact, the evil bastards who tormented you and drove you to this will actually be a little happier with you gone. Suicide is like a bunch of your friends saving up money to buy you a car and then you taking the car and running them over with it.?

To me, that sums it up right there. Do I forgive him for basically destroying our lives? Of course. We all stood by him as we watched him slowly die day by day. There was an underlying but maintainable depression he had since Middle school.

The last 6 months were insanely worse and it was more of a sudden triggered incident. Very impulsive which was a trait he always carried. We knew he was getting desperately more tired and the pain was getting so bad that he begged for a chest ex ray and wanted to see the counselors as much as humanly possible. He was very open with us and he was very aware that he was completely maxed out the night before.

I kept doing the "sleep on it" and "wait 3-4 days and you won't see this as being the end of the world". He didn't threaten at all to do it though. He lied right to my face and to the last two friends he spoke with on the phone the night before. The fact he told his friends he was totally fine was the reason we searched the house. I knew he was NOT fine. Not even close.

When they're at the breaking point where that instinct to survive numbs or deadens, the decision had been made. There are many complex factors that contribute to this and they're only beginning to properly screen and know what to look for physically and emotionally.

I know many people have been "almost" there.

Hey there!! I've been thinking about you lately for some reason. Thanks a ton... the epass is "dougc" and I totally appreciate your help. Thanks for reading the banter on there. I'm sure it's distubing at times but it's a good place to vent and the way things change day by day, the best way to keep track and make sure I'm treading in quicksand and breathing rather than letting go. I gotta watch my p's and q's cuz hospitalizing me has been threatened... I'm all for it. Lock me up and drug me out cold lol...

Nice to see you.

Good Luck! and lots of kisses

Bump for awareness

Bump for a good cause!

A very good explanation.

There are obviously many reasons. I know if I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, I'd put a gun to my head within minutes. But impulse suicide there's almost no rhyme nor reason to.

The military has the same suicide rate as non-military. These are wo/men who have been through TONS of psychological evaluations and these tendencies still weren't caught.

Add in the many that occur while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and it's almost impossible to predict in many people.

Hanging and shooting are responsible for the vast majority since they are such "instant" kills. After taking a handful of pills or slitting a wrist many have the time to rethink it - not always just a cry for help, just realizing it was a mistake.

just got cindy's donations going... will donate more on wednessday
(had to use a fake phonenumer and state info though because they normally don't seem to accept international donations... hope that will not cause any problems)


ps for those wanting to help her to achieve her goal :http://www.outofthedarkness.org/inde...ipantID=120910