By Allie Corey
#Mentalhealthawareness during the #holidays
#MentalHealth #America found nearly 20% of #adults in the US are dealing with a #mentalillness.
LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. – If you or a loved one is feeling distressed, call the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline. The crisis center provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to civilians and #veterans. Call the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (tel:18002738255). Or text HOME to 741-741 (Crisis Text Line).
Click here to learn more about the warning signs and risk factors of #suicide. Call 1-800-273-TALK for free and confidential emotional support.
Many knew him as the fun, energetic DJ from The #EllenDeGeneresShow. #Socialmedia lit up Wednesday night with remembrances of #StephenBoss. TMZ confirms the man, better known as Twitch, died by #suicide.
Ellen DeGeneres wrote on Twitter “I’m heartbroken. Twitch was pure love and light. He was my family and I loved him with all my heart.”
Twitch leaves behind his wife and three young #children.
His death shows that you never know what someone is going through, and it brings awareness to #mentalhealth and just how many people are struggling this time of year. #MentalHealth America found nearly 20 percent of #adults in our country are dealing with a #mentalillness.
Clara Reynolds from the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is seeing that increase as well, saying this is the busiest time of the year for their call center.
After witnessing mother’s death by #suicide, Crisis Center CEO lives to help others
“While this is considered the happy #holidays, the most wonderful time of the year, that is not the case for many of us,” she said. “I can promise you if you can just pick up the phone and give us a call were going to help you get to a place of better so that a tragedy like this does not have to be replicated in our community,” She explained.
On Tuesday night, a Pasco County husband shot and killed his wife. He injured his 5-year-old daughter, before taking his own life.
In a matter of seconds, a little girl’s life was changed forever inside the gated community of Marchmont in Land O’ Lakes.
#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:
From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com
Pasco sheriff: Murder-#suicide sheds light on #domesticviolence during holiday season
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said a man shot his wife and daughter, then shot himself in Land O’Lakes. Only the #child survived. Deputies said it was tragic result of an ongoing domestic situation.
“This man, he killed his wife, he shot his daughter,” said Sheriff Chris Nocco. “He left his daughter in a world without any #parents.”
Nocco said the mother did everything right. She got a restraining order against her husband back in August after he was arrested for felony domestic battery.
“This is the sad tragedy that goes on in #domesticviolence in our communities and every community,” he added.
The sheriff said the mother had just paid the babysitter on Tuesday night around 8 p.m. and was heading back towards the house with her 5-year-old daughter when her husband ambushed them. The babysitter saw it happen as she was leaving.
“As she’s backing out, she sees an #adult start running towards the mother and the daughter and starts firing rounds. The babysitter then calls 911 immediately,” explained Sheriff Nocco.
The mother died, and the #girl was shot in the arm.
“The little #girl comes out of the house. She says, ‘My daddy is upstairs. He’s inside the master bathroom and I heard a big bang,’” the sheriff described.
SWAT swept the home and found the father dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“We’re seeing #mentalhealth calls escalating,” Sheriff Nocco said “We’re also scared to death because we know #domesticviolence calls, unfortunately, tend to go up this holiday season.”
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office did not release any further details about where the 5-year-old is at this point, just that she was checked out at the hospital and will be taken care of.
If you or someone you know is struggling, The #CrisisCenterHotline is 2-1-1. The #NationalSuicidehotline is 9-8-8. Both have someone available 24/7.
If you or a loved one is feeling distressed, call the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline. The crisis center provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to civilians and #veterans. Call the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (tel:18002738255). Or text HOME to 741-741 (Crisis Text Line).
Click here to learn more about the warning signs and risk factors of #suicide. Call 1-800-273-TALK for free and confidential emotional support.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
