#DaveWiseMatters

#DaveWiseMatters is a blog focused on sharing the truth that people matter. This blog explores topics of mental health recovery, faith, parenting and life. We hope to inspire others on their journeys.

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Pablo's medical needs

Help Dave & Kelly with hospital costs for Pablo, organized by Mitchell Ure

Dave & Kelly’s 5 year old son, Pablo, is in the hospital He was admitt… Mitchell Ure needs your support for Help Dave & Kelly with hospit

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This Blog was written before any employment in 2022. All views expressed are the authors own, and not that of The Crossing Church.

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Pablo Saying ABC's 21 Months Old

21 month-old, Pablo Phoenix Wise, says his ABC's. He has been in speech therapy for two months after not saying any words by 18 months of age and having speech delays. We are so proud of his accompl

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How TMS Therapy Offers New Hope For Individuals Struggling with Depression and Anxiety by Suzanne Jessee, M.A.

Unless someone has personally suffered through a bout of major depression or anxiety they would have no idea just how distressing and life altering it is. Imagine, in the case of major depressive disorder, being trapped inside your head, where a constant loop of hopelessness, sadness, and despair plays all day long. Energy is non-existent, so a deep sense of fatigue sets in, stealing all motivation and purpose from your days. While in this depressed state, others may begin to avoid you in their own sense of helplessness, of not knowing how to help you, so relationships suffer as well. In the case of anxiety, which often chases depression and becomes co-occurring, feelings of fear and dread compound the above scenario. Both mental health disorders can severely impact one’s ability to cope with life, or to even function at basic daily tasks.

Now, imagine trying in vain to find a cure for the depression or depression and co-occurring anxiety, to no avail. You may have gone to see a doctor, assuming that the fix was easy—just take some antidepressants and, voila!, you would feel better. But for you, and about 50% of individuals seeking treatment for these mental health disorders, relief does not come. Maybe you have tried several different antidepressant drugs. Doctors may prescribe one trial after another in hopes of discovering the perfect antidepressant for you, only to ultimately diagnose you with medication-resistant major depressive disorder.

For individuals who fit this unfortunate scenario, frustration and despair escalate. For them, they see no end in sight and assume they are out of treatment options. Thankfully, in recent years an alternative treatment has been found to help people with medication-resistant depression—TMS therapy. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a safe, noninvasive treatment option for individuals who found no relief from symptoms with antidepressants.

How Does TMS Therapy Work?

TMS therapy captures the power of electromagnetic energy to help produce changes in brain cell activity in the limbic system, the region of the brain that is involved in functions related to emotions, memory, and learning. There is evidence that mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety, may result when the brain chemistry is out of balance. TMS therapy can reset the brain chemistry, which leads to improvements in mood, concentration and focus, sleep quality, and energy level.

During a TMS therapy session, the client will be seated comfortably and remain alert during the treatment. This is an office procedure that does not require any surgery, anesthesia, or recovery period. A coil will be placed over the scalp through which magnetic pulses are repeatedly delivered. The client will experience a light tapping sensation and sound during the 40-minute treatment session. As the magnetic fields penetrate the cranium they are directed toward the prefrontal cortex where they induce electrical currents that reach about 2 centimeters into the brain tissue. At this, the currents then stimulate the underactive neurons. Over the 4-6 week course of treatment, the once underperforming brain cells become rebalanced. Following the treatment sessions, clients are free to drive and to return to their normal daily activities.

Clients may first begin to notice improvements in their symptoms after the second week of treatment. As the treatments progress, they experience more energy, better sleep, and improved mood. There are few, if any, side effects from TMS therapy. Those clients who do report some minor side effects, such as headaches or scalp irritation, found these effects to improve on their own during the course of treatment.

Clinical Studies Support the Efficacy of TMS Therapy for Depression and Anxiety

Clinical trials on the safety and efficacy of the TMS therapy success rate for treating major depressive disorder have been ongoing since 2005, with one study after another validating this alternative treatment option for medication-resistant patients. These studies have been conducted here in the U.S. and globally, and are in progress to this day. Some of the trial results include:

A review published in Current Opinion in Psychiatry, “The Expanding Evidence Base for rTMS Treatment of Depression,” authored by Mark S. George, M.D.

A study published in Brain Stimulation Journal, “Durability of Clinical Benefit with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in the Treatment of Pharmacoresistant Major Depression,” authored by Philip G. Janicak, et al.

Multi-site controlled trial, published results in Biological Psychiatry

Doctors using TMS therapy to treat patients with medication-resistant MDD and co-occurring anxiety disorder, such as PTSD or generalized anxiety disorder, have found that patients are reporting improvements in their anxiety symptoms as well. In fact, already in Europe, TMS is commonly used to treat anxiety disorders. Currently, while some published studies of TMS for treating anxiety disorders have been completed, such as a 2014 study with promising results, other trials for TMS and anxiety are currently underway in the U.S. Other clinical trials are currently studying the value of TMS therapy for treating bipolar depression, panic disorder, and psychiatric conditions such as auditory hallucinations.

Are You a Candidate For TMS Therapy?

While TMS is an exciting recent entry into the treatment of MDD and anxiety, the treatment is not appropriate for all patients with medication-resistant MDD. There are some limitations regarding who can qualify as a candidate for the treatment. Here is a list of disqualifiers:

Patients under the age of 18

People with pacemakers, vagus nerve stimulators, or implanted cardioverter defibrillators

Non-removable metal within 12 inches of the coil, including:

Stents

Electrodes to monitor brain activity

Shrapnel or bullet fragments

Implanted stimulator

Ferromagnetic implants in eyes or ears

Aneurysm clips or coils

Facial tattoos using metallic ink

Medical conditions related to seizure disorders or epilepsy

If you are interested in learning more about TMS therapy or wonder if you are a candidate to receive TMS therapy, please contact Anew Era TMS and speak to one of our knowledgeable representatives. They will walk you through specific questions related to your psychological and physical conditions and be able to provide a clear response as to your candidacy.

About the Author

Suzanne Jessee, M.A., Founder and C.E.O. of Anew Era TMS and Anew Era Psychiatry, and is a TMS industry expert.  Suzanne is a master’s level clinical therapist and addictions counselor with nearly two decades experience in chemical dependency patient care.  Her passion for improving patients’ mental health and her expertise in TMS Therapy technology and business make her a leader in the TMS patient services industry.  In addition, Suzanne is a published author, PBS show host, educator, and facilitator.

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The Words of God

As a child, I was taught the bible and to memorize scripture.  My parents taught me and I went to AWANA.  As a young adult and throughout my 20′s and early 30′s I did not practice reading scripture regularly, even though at various times I was a practicing Christian and involved in church.  I would love to read “theology” books or books about Christian life and thought that quoted scripture, but I rarely cracked open my own bible.  Shortly before the conception of my oldest son, Mateo Aslan Wise, I walked away from the faith.  After his death and shortly before it, I began seeking Jesus again.  During the pregnancy that followed, Pablo’s pregnancy, I started a bible reading plan that would last a year.  It took me about 14 months to complete it, but I was amazed at what God showed me through His Word.  Areas of scripture I had once found troubling, made more sense in context of the whole.  I saw Jesus in the Old Testament Law and Prophets.  I saw a story of humanity’s:  Creation, Fall, Redemption, and the promise of a New Creation.  It comforted me.  It gave me hope.  It gave me purporse.  Scripture showed me truth.  

Since the birth of my son, Pablo, I have been reading The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones with him and Rick Warren’s God’s Big Plan For Me Storybook Bible.  I have recently begun memorizing passages of Scripture beginning with John 1:1-5 to recite and teach to my sons.  I preached those scriptures to my son, Diego, in the car on the way home the other day like Deuteronomy 6:4-9 says.  I want my children to read Scripture, know Scripture, and memorize Scripture.  I want them to learn the truth, but more importantly see their father live out the truth of Scripture in their daily public and family life.  

I know many people have issues with the bible for a variety of reasons.  But I challenge you whether you’re an Atheist, follower of a religion other than Christianity, or a Jesus believing Christian to read the entire bible.  There are many different plans, apps, and journals to help you with that.  The only way to know for sure what the bible actually says is to read it.  The best way I have found to know God is regularly spending time in His Word and in prayer.  It has given me hope, restored my broken heart, and shaped my daily life and worldview.  

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Diego Declan Wise, Daddy again.

It’s been a minute since I have shared from my life.  In early July, my wife and I, welcomed our final child, baby boy, Diego Declan Wise into our lives and home.  He is a bundle of joy and cuddles.  The past six weeks have been full of diaper changes between Diego and Pablo, playtime, less sleep than normal and life adjustments.  Through all of this, I am grateful for my family and my life.  I have realized, that now, more than ever, I need to take care of my mental health.  I have really remember to take my medication every day, and get rest and sleep as much as possible at night (when the kids allow it).  I must still tend to my vegetable garden, which is my hobby and my outlet for fun.  I must lean into my church and friends for help when I cannot do it anymore.  I need to blog.  I need to laugh.  Sometimes I need to cry and get frustrated.  That’s okay.  I need to remember I am human.  Self-care is a huge part of any life adjustment, and handling stress, even good stress like that from having a child.  If you struggle with a mental health disorder like I do, such as bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety, you are not alone.  There is hope and help.  If you feel like life is too much right now, I can tell you:  It does get better.  People do care.  You are worth fighting for.  If you are in crisis and need help in the U.S. you can call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll free 24/7 365 days a year:  1-800-273-TALK (8255).  Hang in there.        

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Matt Morris shares his story of “Dancing with Depression”.  

“It’s so refreshing to hear about other people that are going through similar situations in life because it is so easy to feel alone, especially with depression. I wanted to share my story about ‘dancing with depression.’” - Matt Morris

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Dealing with Depression and Anxiety - by Emma Jean

Hi All :) I have been going through a really hard time with my mental health these past few days, and I wrote this blog to try and set myself free from it, and hopefully come out from under the fog. If you struggle with depression and anxiety, please read this and know that you are not alone.

Depression lies over me like a heavy blanket, dark and warm, putting me into a sleep that I can’t wake up from. Anxiety wraps itself around me like a scarf made of straw, choking and scratching my throat. I go into a panic, start worrying, start thinking everything is going to fall apart, someone is coming to get me, to take away everything, all my plans, all the good things in my life are going to break down. Then I lie down and depression covers me in its blanket and I sleep and sleep. Getting out of bed means facing the anxiety, so sleep is the only option. I sleep for days.

I’ve had depression almost my whole life, and I do believe it started when I was about 11 years old. I was extremely insecure and felt very lonely. At an age where hormones were kicking in and kids were starting to “like each other” and we had school dances, I was not someone that anyone ever “picked.”“ I remember going to the first school dance and being the only one out of my group of friends who no one asked to dance. I stood there alone, watching everyone couple up, and I looked down at my feet, and I thought to myself “I guess I’m just not good enough.”

Sports were very popular in my town growing up, so I tried playing basketball, and soccer. I was not good at it, I didn’t understand the rules, and everything was so fast. I got so confused out on the field and on the court, people would say “pass pass!” or “block them, play defense!” And it felt like a bunch of demons screaming at me. Everyone got so angry at me because I would always mess up the game. So I was always sitting on the bench. I knew I wasn’t good at it, but it hurt. Because that was what all of my friends were doing, and I felt like there was nowhere for me to go, and nothing for me to do.

So I turned to food and the couch. I became very lazy. I overate. Food was my comfort. I became about 25 pounds overweight and my parents sent me to weight loss camp. I went for three years. My parents sent me because they wanted me to be happy, they weren’t trying to put pressure on me to be a certain weight, they just knew how depressed I was about feeling isolated and bored, and that the overeating was something I was ashamed of. So, they didn’t do it in a cruel way, they asked me if I wanted to go, and I said yes. So I did that for three summers, and it was a positive turning point for me in my life. I made some amazing friends, and felt like I fit in- with a lot of people that had emotional problems and turned to food, just like I did. Those were the wonder years for me.

In my twenties my depression and anxiety were very bad, I used to stay home for days at a time, not speaking to anyone, not getting out of bed, just isolating. At around the age of 26, I noticed that things would get particularly bad around my period. And everyone always says “oh it’s just PMS” but it was more than that. For about 10 days before my period, I literally wanted to die. I was completely suicidal, and couldn’t control myself. I would start fights with people, say nasty things, humiliate myself, I had no sense of self-control or rational. I finally sought professional help and was diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. I was put on medication and things started to get a lot better.

To this day (six years after my diagnosis) I am still on medication, and find it extremely helpful. However, medication can only do so much. I still suffer from the symptoms of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, and depending on the climate of my life, it can still affect me. This particular time right now I am suffering. I have some downtime from school and work right now and was originally excited to be on a “staycation” but the PMDD kicked in and it's turning it into a bit of a “stay nightmare”

This past Saturday I couldn’t get out of bed, and I slept from noon to 9 pm. Then I even slept all throughout the night and didn’t want to get out of bed in the morning. I feel very scared because its like I can’t control my moods, my feelings, my thoughts, because the depression is just there, and the anxiety. It doesn’t matter what blessings I have in my life, or how beautiful it is outside, this feeling is so powerful and it won't go away. I just can’t stop crying, and clenching my fists, and thinkings about bad things.

The feelings that I get when I’m in this state are very suicidal feelings because I feel that there is no way out. And I am writing about this, and sharing it, because I come across as a very bubbly and happy person, and I want people to know that just because someone seems happy doesn’t mean that they are. And believe me, when the chemicals in my brain are not attacking me with this horrible imbalance, I am happy. I have a lot of positive things in my life, and I have found a career path that I am excited about. But none of that matters when I’m in that depressed state. Mental health is something I’d like to be open about, since its something that I suffer from and I know a lot of others do too. When I hear about suicides from people who I love and admire, like Anthony Bourdain, it makes me so sad, and it scares me that I might know why someone would want to take their own life because I know that level of pain.

I just want to be open about it because I’m hoping it will help me cope. I don’t want to let this disease take over my life, so I’m hoping that talking about it will set things free a bit.

Much Love,

Emma Jean’s Blog:

http://www.goodconscious.wordpress.com/

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Psychosis is a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality. For three months I was in a “Psychosis”. It was the scariest moment of my life and it will follow me throughout my entire life. But, I got through it, and I want you to hear my story because you can get through anything if you just put your mind to it. 

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Gray is the Color of Mental Illness

I’m kinder to my husband when I write.

I’ve been saying this for a long time, ever since I began writing about living with my husband’s mental illness. My memoir, Rambler: A family pushes through the fog of mental illness, is finished, yet I continue to write. It helps keep my husband’s mental illness in perspective. He’s stable now, but the symptoms never completely go away.

Mental illnesses affect people’s thinking and behavior, which can wreak havoc on interpersonal relationships. When my husband, Steve, got sick, well-established family routines changed, and we lived for years in a fog of uncertainty.

Steve was diagnosed with… Well, he’s had several different diagnoses. First situational depression, after impulsively quitting his engineering job when our three children were young. His diagnosis was changed to bipolar disorder after an explosive incident in Detroit while at an engineering society conference sponsored by his former employer. And finally it changed to schizoaffective disorder, which was a relatively new diagnosis in the mid-1990s, when all this was happening. Schizoaffective involves some of the psychotic symptoms associated with schizophrenia, like paranoia or delusional thoughts, and the mood swings of bipolar disorder. It took several years after his breakdown for the doctors to figure this out, which meant living with an unstable husband and father for what felt like a very long time.

After a semblance of family harmony returned, I’d squirrel myself away in the local library on Saturday mornings to write. When I emerged several hours later, I felt kinder toward Steve, less angry about what had happened. I knew that having a mental illness wasn’t his fault, but I didn’t really understand this at first. Mostly what I saw then was a man who acted like he no longer cared for his family, someone obsessed with fixing an organization he no longer worked for. Writing about his illness helped put this in perspective. And by attending workshops and conferences on mental illness—and especially by listening to Steve, who shared his confusion about what was happening—I learned a great deal about his diagnosis.

Writing forced me to look deep into the nature of mental disorders, which affect one in five adults each year. Today I blog about my family’s experience with the hope that more people will better understand what it’s like to have or to live with someone who has a mental disorder. Only through understanding will we begin to tackle the stigma of these devastating disorders. You can read my blog posts at www.lindaschmitmeyer.com

A former features editor and newspaper columnist, Linda K. Schmitmeyer is a freelance writer, editor and adjunct university writing instructor. Her memoir, "Rambler: A family pushes through the fog of mental illness," is being released by Artists’ Orchard on Sept. 25. You can follow her on Twitter @LKSchm.

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Positivity Bracelets - Bracelets Fighting to End the Mental Health Stigma

My name’s Dylan Kuster and I’m a 17 year old entrepreneur from Chicago, Illinois. I’m the founder of a bracelet company called Positivity Bracelets, a brand fighting to ending the mental health stigma.

The brand stems from a personal interaction I recently had with a friend. A couple months ago, my friend told me he was going to kill himself. I remember everything so vividly because it took me by such surprise. I was sitting in my house and he told me it through text. I immediately drove to his house to talk him out of it. Luckily I made it in time. I talked with him for a long time, he got everything off his chest. I could tell he had not talked to anyone about this before. I was, and still am, 100% certain that his suicidal thoughts could have been prevented if he only had someone to reach out to. Of course, I would have been willing to talk any time he wanted to, but he felt foolish to reach out.

 He felt stupid, like he was a burden.

 That’s when I realized that the mental health issue ran deeper than I expected, and it was affecting more people than just my friend. This is a problem that is NOT getting enough attention and is hurting our future generations to come.

A couple months ago, I began the initial work for Positivity Bracelets. I got the logo, prototyped the bracelets (too many times to count), spread the word, and began the brand building process. A couple days ago, I went live on Indiegogo.

I decided on using a bracelet to represent this message as it’s a constant reminder. Because it’s on your wrist, the bracelet serves to remind that you’re actively opposing the stigma on mental health.

Positivity Bracelets is a brand fighting to end the mental health stigma and let people know that their mental health matters. By wearing a Positivity Bracelet, you’re actively standing up to the stigma and letting others know that you are there for them. We’re fighting the stigma with every bracelet we sell. $2 out of every sale we make goes to Mental Health America, an organization that aligns with our values and spreads awareness for mental health. My goal is that one day we can radically redefine the way mental health is viewed. Instead of viewing mental health as a burden, society will view mental health as a natural part of one’s general health. People will be able to talk about how they’re feeling openly without feeling unimportant to anyone else and the world will be a more open, caring place.

My goal is to raise $1000 on Indiegogo to pay my startup expenses, first bracelet production run, and raise over $100 for Mental Health America! Every contribution fights to end the mental health stigma and get treatment for those who need it.

You can join the movement by purchasing your own Positivity Bracelet here:

https://igg.me/at/positivity-bracelets-project/x/19095369

Thank you so much!

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Reflections

It’s been a while since I’ve posted.  I’ve been busy being a dad and husband.  I’m anxiously awaiting the birth of our third son, due in a matter of days.  I’ve been reflecting on how far I have come on my mental health recovery journey in the past 6 years.  I’m no longer in and out of the psychiatric unit at the hospital.  I don’t have to take tons of medications or undergoing ECT.  I don’t struggle daily with thoughts of suicide and depression like I used to; however, it doesn’t mean that recovery has come easy and doesn’t require regular effort.  I still take daily medication (but perhaps the ones that work best for me).  I still have to exercise.  I rely heavily on my family support system and friends.  My faith has been reborn in the past three years and sustains me.  My sons inspire me.  My wife is there for me.  But it wasn’t always this way.  Look back at my stories and you will see darkness, pain, suffering, illness, and death.  I can’t offer you a simple or easy solution for your pain or struggles.  I can offer hope that life can begin again and that you can make it.  There is help.  There is hope.  There is time.  Please keep struggling, keep praying, keep fighting for your life.  Things do change.  People care.  You can live a life that is meaningful to you.           

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Pablo practicing walking with his walker toy.

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The Husband - A Book and Author Synopsis by Publisher

Aaron Daniel Behr’s breakout novel, The Husband, delivers a poignant and powerful message. It’s a revealing true story of abuse, betrayal, divorce, suicide, and mental illness.  The story is told with literary merit and tightly woven imagery. This heart-wrenching story is hard to put down. Despite the darkness and tragedy, the book leaves readers feeling hopeful and redeemed.

The book opens on The Husband, who is deeply suspicious of The Wife and her business trip with a coworker. The story masterfully weaves in The Husband’s enduring love for The Wife, and begins to unfold The Husband’s childhood trauma, and mental and physical illness, all of which leaves him at times incapacitated and helpless.

The Husband’s younger self (“The Boy”) pulls the story together. While the marriage is breaking down due to The Wife’s adultery, The Boy begins to emerge as a weakness in The Husband’s identity. He was not only bullied by his fellow students but also by the teachers who were charged to protect him. Loaded titles like “loser,” “thug,” “abuser,” “stupid,” and “worthless” have infected The Husband’s sense of self, even into adulthood. These dormant insults resonate with every attack The Wife makes to justify her sins.

The book shamelessly explores The Husband’s mental illness. The Husband’s anxiety and depressive disorder have long been unmanaged. As The Wife’s adultery and demand for a divorce unfold, he attempts to kill himself, which lands him in the suicide wing of a mental hospital. There he learns the true severity of his mental illness.

Through it all, The Husband is forced to confront his younger self. A part of him still festers with pain from his childhood. Over the course of an exhausting divorce, endless therapy sessions, and cutting-edge treatments for depression, he learns how to comfort the boy inside of him. He finds faith. In doing so, he learns how to take care of his younger self.

The Husband is a harrowing look into the names which hang around a man’s neck into adulthood. A man’s very nature as a husband is broken down and used against him.  But this is the groundwork for new faith. In finding who he is without these titles, The Husband discovers a brokenness inside of him that he needs to fix, or he will continue the same cycles of illness and abuse for the rest of his life. The reader shares in The Husband’s peace when he finally finds a way to comfort “The Boy.”

Readers and critics agree that The Husband is a triumph of vulnerability, a masterfully crafted narrative, and an engrossing, redemptive work of creative nonfiction.  The Husband is available in hardcover, paperback, and digital editions.

Purchase The Husband, by Aaron Daniel Behr, on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Husband-Aaron-Daniel-Behr/dp/1633371867/

On Barnes & Noble here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-husband-aaron-daniel-behr/1127857518?ean=9781633371866

Purchase the ebook from iTunes:  https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-husband/id1339220501?mt=11

Or find it from Kobo (Sony) here: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-husband-18

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Pablo and my first visit to Grant’s Farm in St. Louis.

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Shakin' that Butt (toddler style)

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TIP the Tivoli - AJ French

Michelle Tibbs & I have spent two recent Saturdays canvassing local neighborhoods promoting the documentary film “Suicide: The Ripple Effect.” It’s a bit unusual for me to work on a Saturday, but talking to people about something so important really didn’t seem much like work.

We met a woman who is a Pastor and has a son battling addiction.  We met a man whose Father died when he was only fifteen by jumping off the Martin Luther King Bridge.  For me, the most heartbreaking point was meeting a woman whose Mother tucked her and her siblings in bed crawled into bed with the children and then she didn’t wake up the next morning.  This woman was a five-year-old child when her mom died from suicide.

On average there are about 123 suicides per day in our country; including 22 Service Member and Veteran suicides.  Older white males have higher suicide rates than any other population, but people of all ages and from all walks of life can be vulnerable to suicide.  You can contact your local coroners’ office for statistics in your area.

Most people genuinely care about others, but our silence about depression and suicide has been deadly.  Canvassing neighborhoods and talking to so many people who have been directly impacted was like breeching emotional dams.  Again and again, we spoke with people who told us of their own attempts, people who were yearning – some yearning for decades – to tell someone about their deepest pain.          

As I listened, I couldn’t help but weigh the cost of the tickets against the value of human life.  It’s only $12.50 to view this film and it costs only our time to have a community dialog about saving lives.  For those of us who have attempted suicide, what an unparalleled powerful demonstration of community concern.  For those of us who have lost loved ones to suicide, what we wouldn’t give to have them in our arms for just one more embrace.  

I’m so grateful to Dave Wise for his willingness to post my blog.  Gift of Voice has tried to alert the local media about our efforts to sell 77 tickets before May 21st but, so far, we haven’t had any success.  Two major television stations expressed initial interest in interviewing us, but we haven’t received a response from either of them.  So we’re asking Dave’s readers for your help in spreading the word.

The film interviews Kevin Hines, a man who jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge and miraculously lived to tell about it.  It interviews first responders, health care providers, faith leader, family and his high-school wrestling coach.  It includes footage from people he has helped in the years which have followed his attempt.  It also provides insight and understanding to people who have lost loved ones to suicide.  

Michelle and I are both asking you to support health and wellness in the St. Louis area.  Please purchase a ticket for wellness and post this link on your social media pages.  Reserve tickets for yourself or donate tickets for someone else.  Help us “Tip the Tivoli” and prevent suicides in St. Louis.  Immediately following the film, Gift of Voice will be joined by a suicide prevention representative from the Veteran’s Administration for a community dialog about the mental health needs in the St. Louis area.  

While reading about prevention initiatives at St. Louis University, I learned that according to a 2016 survey, “…18 percent of SLU students reported having suicidal thoughts in the past year, while the national average is nine.”  How do we interpret this statistic?  Should we be alarmed that the SLU rate is double the national average or should this be attributed to a university culture which cultivates an environment where students feel safe and can honestly respond to personal questions about suicide?

I have no connection with the school and cannot answer these questions, but I was very pleased to see their Counseling Department has been intentional about conducting suicide prevention trainings and this information is easily accessible on their website.  This is very close to where we, as a community, must start.  The Ripple Effect provides the perfect platform for a community dialog about suicide prevention and mental health recovery.

Help us “Tip the Tivoli.”  Purchase your ticket before May 21st and join us on Thursday, May 31st.  

Don’t wait for the next tragic suicide before you decide this is important.  Thank you.