Author: jewelsangels

Parents…how well do we really know our kids?  They are suffering right under our roofs and we don’t even see it.

Trust our hearts, not the words of a stranger.  This song says it all.

CHLOE ADAMS SONG ABOUT DEPRESSION

The entire month of September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness month. September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. As stated on our website, suicide has become the 2nd leading cause of death among teens in the United States. One of the reasons we believe so many teens are taking their own lives is because the subject is not talked about very often. To some, the topic of suicide can feel like a “taboo” or when someone mentions the word suicide in general there can be a sense of shame. This should not be the case!

Just like mental health in general, suicide and depression are real life issues, and we should not shame other people for either asking for help, in terms of their own suicidal ideation, or speaking out about suicide awareness based on personal experiences, on the behalf of others. Of course society, as a whole will take a lot longer to change than will us as individuals, but something to keep in mind for yourself this month is not to think of suicide as a “bad” word. Try not to feel uncomfortable bringing up suicide and talking about the subject. If adults feel uncomfortable talking about it, teenagers are not going to want to speak up and tell an adult if they are having suicidal ideations.

Let’s keep our minds and hearts open to this topic, not just this month, but all the time. Tell your loved ones and your teenagers that you are there to listen to them and nothing they say or admit will make you love them any less.

If someone out there needs to talk about anything related to suicide, depression, or mental health, please feel free to contact us through our emails or phone number.

jwilkinson@jewelsangels.org          pwilkinson@jewelsangels.org     (951) 393-0375

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YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!

IS SUICIDE INEVITABLE?

I’ve recently discovered that there are some people who believe suicide is inevitable, but I disagree.  I believe it is preventable, especially in teens.

The teenage years are an impressionable time in their young lives.  They are seeking answers from us and want us to have the right words to say to them.

It is critical for the adults in their lives; whether it be their parents, siblings, teachers, and / or mentors, to understand what to say to a teen who may be considering suicide. There are the right words to say and, yes, there are the wrong words to say to them during this sensitive time, especially, if they have chosen to reach out to you for help.

Suicide is not inevitable.  They don’t want to die, they just want the pain to stop.  By learning more about suicide and mental illness, we may be able to save a teen from suicide or at least prevent it from happening to your loved one.

If someone you know is suffering with thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help.  Our Resource page has links and phone numbers to Suicide Hotlines.

You’re not alone!

Please read the following link from the American Psychological Association:

TEEN SUICIDE IS PREVENTABLE

NICOTINE

I wonder what love is

When I press my lips up to yours

I feel it’s lust, but you say it’s love.

And when I press a cigarette against my lips

I wonder what love is

Love, this isn’t it, only addiction.

It feels more like love, though

Rather than your lips, a cigarette

Making my lungs fill.

It feels safer, though

People say cigarettes are bad and addictive

But I say it’s you.

Written By:  JCW

November 2016

When I first heard the term “suicide survivor” I thought it meant someone who attempted suicide, and survived. Nope! A suicide survivor is a family member or friend of someone who died by suicide.

For survivors of suicide the grieving process is slightly different from any other form of death. The difference is the guilt aspect. It is not unusual for people who lost someone to suicide to feel guilty about why that person wanted to die. Maybe if they had just been a better sister, maybe if they had answered that phone call, this person would still be alive. But honestly, you cannot blame yourself. However little or big your impact was in that person’s life, they had their own demons they were struggling with.

Some survivors of suicide say that people who completed suicide are going to do it one way or another; at one point in time or another. Who knows if this is the truth or not? Nobody really knows the answer to this agonizing question, especially since everyone has a different story, a different life. When you lose a loved one to suicide you have to remember that they loved you and that they more than likely had been contemplating it for a while; could have been years and could have not been their first attempt. The only reason they stayed as long as they did was because they wanted as much time with you as possible. Because they WERE thinking of YOU.

It is also really important to realize that suicide is not selfish; it is not cowardly. Most people who attempt/complete suicide feel that they are a burden to their families. They may feel that they are doing their family members a favor by taking themselves out of the equation. They don’t want their families to have to deal with their depression anymore, to worry about them, to ask them why they’re sad all the time. If someone chooses suicide, they chose it because they didn’t see any other option for healing. They saw no other way out.

Give a friend a hug today. Compliment a stranger. Invite someone you haven’t seen in a while to get coffee. Be someone’s shoulder to cry on and always be kind and compassionate!

And read this article!

Marijuana/cannabis has been deemed illegal until only very recently and because of this, extensive studies on cannabis have not been conducted. Such as, what are the effects of mixing cannabis and anti-depressants? Now that marijuana is legal, more experiments will be conducted on how it effects our everyday lives and therefore, we will have a clearer idea on the effects of marijuana when mixed with prescription medication.

It is important to remember that marijuana IS a psychoactive drug–it DOES alter the way your brain receives and processes information. Every person reacts differently to different substances; especially when multiple substances are being consumed. If your friend is prescribed Prozac, for example, and smokes weed, they may not experience any adverse effects from the marijuana. For this person, marijuana does not interact with their anti-depressants negatively. However, you or another friend may react differently to the same mixture of drugs. Mixing marijuana and a prescribed anti-depressant can be the reason for a list of unwanted symptoms.

Some studies have shown that smoking marijuana as a teen can lead to an onset of psychosis or even schizophrenia, especially if one has a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia. Cannabis does not cause or create schizophrenia, but it can trigger psychotic symptoms for people already vulnerable to the illness (Scientific American, 2014).

The point is to be weary about using another substance with a prescription medication. This includes any street drug, as well as alcohol, and other pharmaceutical drugs. Just because marijuana is legal now does not mean that it is safe to use in conjunction with other prescription medications.

Continue to watch for new research on this topic!

Imagine you are hanging out with a new friend, one you do not know too well yet. You are getting ready to head out somewhere and your friend says, “Hold on, before we go I need to take my medication.” They take a couple of pills from several different bottles.

What is your first thought after experiencing this? It probably isn’t a positive thought. You might think this person is crazy, has a deadly illness, or just likes popping pills. Why is there such a terrible stigma around prescription pills?

Medications help tons of people live fairly normal lives. If someone is bi-polar or schizophrenic, just to name a couple mental illness, they will rely on prescription pills (definitely anti-psychotics, and possibly a number of other types of pills) in order to complete every day tasks, hold a job, make & maintain relationships, and live in a social community.

The pharmaceutical industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. Simply put, they make money off people taking their pills. This leaves lots of us with a sour taste in our mouths when we think about prescription pills. It also makes people who seriously need to take them weary about others’ reaction to them.

However, we need to think about the possibilities of medication and how they help tons of people become their better selves and live stable, normal lives. If medication is an option/necessity for someone, we don’t want them to feel less about themselves because they have to take pills, or feel like others would judge them, for relying on a substance to feel and be better.  Someone shouldn’t have to feel ashamed because they need something to help.

Let’s all try to keep an open mind about methods of healing for different people- remember to be kind & non-judgemental. We are all just trying to live our best lives.

California is implementing a new California State Law into effect this upcoming 2017-2018 school year.  The following information is directly quoted from the California Legislature and the link to this article has been provided.

This new law will allow teachers and administrators the education and resources to better recognize suicidal tendancies and warning signs.

Section 1 of the article AB2246 states:

• According to the latest 2013 data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth and young adults in America 10 to 24 years of age, inclusive.
• As children and teens spend a significant amount of their young lives in school, the personnel who interact with them on a daily basis are in a prime position to recognize the warning signs of suicide and make the appropriate referrals for help.
• In a national survey conducted by the Jason Foundation, the number one person whom a pupil would turn to for helping a friend who might be suicidal, was a teacher.  It is imperative that when a young person comes to a teacher for help, the teacher has the knowledge, tools, and resources to respond.
• There are national hotlines available to help adults and youth experiencing suicidal ideation, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Trevor Project, respectively.
• A model policy on suicide prevention created in consultation with suicide prevention experts and other stakeholders is available through the Trevor Project for adoption or adaptation, or both, by the State Department of Education and local educational agencies.

California Legislative Information – Assembly Bill No. 2246 Chapter 642

I know there are a lot of people struggling out there; everyone struggles within their own situations. Sometimes life may feel hopeless, pointless, not worth living. The most important concept to remember is POSITIVITY. Nobody can make you happy except yourself. If you rely on others for your happiness, you are guaranteed to be miserable–and disappointed often. Happiness comes from within ❤

Here are some little tips to help you smile throughout your day 

• Go outside and pick flowers
• Workout
• Go for a run or walk
• Do something creative that you love: make art (color, paint, draw), write a poem, play music, build something, scrapbook, take photographs, read
• Keep a journal
• Listen to your favorite uplifting music
• Call up a friend or relative
• Google puppy or kitten pictures
• Cook a healthy meal or bake an unhealthy one
• Go for a drive with the windows rolled down, the music turned up, and sing at the top of your lungs
• Smile (seriously, when your facial muscles are turned up in a smile your brain translates this to happiness)

I know it is easier said than done, but all things accomplished in life require effort & thought. So put effort into your daily happiness.

WebMD – Cutting & Self-Harm: Warning Signs and Treatment