Suicide

James Donaldson on Mental Health - Amid Gaza's rubble, families are trying to protect their children from suicide

November 23, 20264 min readBy James Donaldson

A few days ago, Maryam attempted suicide for the first time.

"I left for a few minutes to get water, and when I came back, I found her trying to hang herself with a rope we tied the tent with.

I screamed, ran to her, and saved her at the last moment.

Since that day, I have never left her alone," her mother recounted, tears falling from her eyes.

The family now lives in constant fear that Maryam may try to end her life again, so her mother has been forced to take harsh measures to protect her.

"I hide all the knives in the tent, and I don’t leave any rope near her.

Sometimes when I feel she is very bad, I tie her hand to the bed so she does not hurt herself.

I am a mother, and I know this is cruel, but what can I do?

I want to protect her from death," said the mother.

"Sometimes I hear my daughter talking and saying: 'Wait for me, I will come soon.' When I hear her say that, I feel that I will lose her at any moment," she added.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

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James Donaldson is a former NBA All-Star (1988, Dallas Mavericks) who played 20 years of professional basketball with the Seattle SuperSonics, L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Utah Jazz, and teams across Europe, before touring with the Harlem Globetrotters. A Washington State University graduate inducted into both the Pac-10 and WSU Athletic Halls of Fame, James went on to found The Donaldson Clinic, an outpatient physical therapy practice he operated for nearly three decades. Today he devotes his time to mental health awareness and suicide prevention — speaking to organizations, schools, and youth groups — and is the author of Standing Above the Crowd and Celebrating Your Gift of Life (2021). James recently relocated to the Dallas, TX area and believes deeply in being a role model of success and professionalism for the young people he serves.

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James Donaldson on Mental Health - Amid Gaza's rubble, families are trying to protect their children from suicide

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