James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, 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 suicidal thoughts 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
Despite misconceptions, mental-health conditions affect people of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds, many will recover.
Recently, and for the first time in NFL history, a team has hired an in-house therapist. And since November, Dallas-area residents have been able to see a mental health professional in a Walmart store. All this may signal a possible shift in how Americans view mental health. But Karen Ranus, executive director for the Austin chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, says there are still common misconceptions about mental health.
Myth 1: Mental health conditions aren’t common:
The truth is, one in five Americans, this year, will be impacted by mental health conditions. So the truth is, every single one of us knows someone, cares about someone, lives with someone who’s impacted by mental health each and every day.
Myth 2: Mental-health issues are caused by character flaws or personal weaknesses:
Just like heart disease, diabetes, asthma … mental health is a health issue. The brain is a really complex organ; there’s still a lot we don’t know about it, but we do know that genetics and environmental stressors play a big part in mental health, and that these are real health issues and that people aren’t to blame.
Myth 3: People don’t recover from mental health conditions:
The treatment success rates for mental-health issues are just as good as they are for any other health issues. When people have access to the right kinds of treatment, medication, therapy, exercise, good eating and most importantly a great support system, not only do they get better, they can definitely get better. … Treatment does work and the recovery is possible.
Myth 4: Mental health issues only impact adults:
Lifetime mental health issues usually show their signs by age 14, and we often know that the gap between the onset of symptoms and actual diagnosis and treatment is sometimes eight to 10 years. So it’s really important for us to recognize that the earlier that kids get help, the much better their outcomes.
Myth 5: Mental health issues aren’t life-threatening:
In 90 percent of cases, when we see a suicide, we’re seeing an untreated, undiagnosed or undertreated mental health issue. And we know that suicides are on the rise – that we’ve seen a 30 percent increase in the number of suicides, and that it’s impacting people from all stages of life, from all socioeconomic backgrounds. And we also know that suicide is preventable. But one of the things that we have to do is talk about mental health in a really proactive and positive way so we can catch these things really early.
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
