By Katie Heaney
According to a new report released by the CDC, #suicide rates among teens and young adults have exponentially increased over the past ten years — a 56 percent jump from 2007 to 2017. In the same time period, #suicide overtook homicide to become the second-most common cause of death among people ages 10 to 24, after accidents.
#JamesDonaldsononMentalHealth –
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
Lisa M. Horowitz, a pediatric psychologist at the #NationalInstituteofMentalHealth, told the Washington Post that teenage #suicide should be considered a public health crisis, but added that most people aren’t aware of how prevalent it’s become. Researchers have puzzled over possible reasons for the increase; one study published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry examined the impact of the controversial show 13 Reasons Why, and found that #suicide rates among boys ages 10 to 17 rose significantly after the show’s release. No significant change among girls was observed, though, and other studies have shown that #suicide rates among women and girls are also on the rise. Authors of the 13 Reasons Why study also urged readers to remember that their study did not establish causation.
“The truth is anyone who says they definitively know what is causing it doesn’t know what they’re talking about,” Ursula Whiteside, a researcher with the University of Washington, told the Post.
Many studies have pointed to smartphones and omnipresent internet access as detrimental to teens’ #mentalhealth, for instance, but experts urge caution before jumping to conclusions. The internet has also made it easier for people to get help when they need it, allowing teenagers who might prefer texting to calling a hotline to reach #mental-healthservices.
While we don’t yet know why exactly #suicide rates among young people have increased so dramatically, we do know that it’s a topic we could stand to talk about more openly: Robert Howard Dicker, a psychiatrist at Northwell Health in New York, says people should feel empowered to ask their friends and/or children about #suicide without fearing they’ll somehow cause #suicidal feelings. “When you don’t ask, people’s impression is that people aren’t interested and don’t care, and that leads to more isolation and more rumination around the thoughts of #suicide,” he says.
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
