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
Michelle Morales, 22, struggles with #depression but feels as if her mother is more worried about her physical health than #emotionalhealth.
“My mom would kind of mock me and say, ‘Oh, don’t talk to her. She’s #depressed.’ She would see it as a joke or confuse it for laziness,” said Michelle Morales, who lives in the South Central neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Experts say Morales is not alone. Nearly 10 percent of #Latino and #African-Americans have an “unmet need” for #mentalhealthservices, according to Rand Health Care. However, one of the barriers preventing others like Morales to seek help is the #stigma of #mentalillness in those communities, according to the American Psychiatric Association.
#Mentalillness is either considered a taboo or an affliction that can be cured with a change in attitude. Hispanic parents often say things like, “You don’t have #depression: You’re just lazy,” “Cleaning will help your #depression. You just need to stay busy,” or “You’re not sad. You just need attention.”
Hispanics are significantly more at risk for #mentalhealth problems than some other groups. #TheAmericanPsychiatricAssociation also reported that close to 19 percent of Hispanic high school students had seriously considered #suicide; over 15 percent made a plan to attempt suicide; 11.3 percent had attempted #suicide, and 4.1 percent had a #suicide attempt that led to the need for medical attention.
Sadly, some Hispanic families don’t learn the importance of #mentalhealth until it is too late.
“It had to take my cousin’s #suicide for my extended family to realize how important it is to address issues pertaining to #mentalhealth,” said Erick Ponce-Furlos, 21, a student at UC Berkeley who is from South Central L.A.
He added that his family know a lot more now and make concerted efforts to check up on each other, including calling and helping him when he’s stressed out with schoolwork.
Therapy can help, as it did for Frida Ramirez, 20, when she learned she has a generalized #anxiety disorder. But some of her family members’ reactions made things worse, she said.
“It was hard to hide,” Ramirez said about her symptoms, which started in middle school. At first, she attributed the symptoms to #stress from her Advanced Placement classes and homework.
Ramirez said, “When I had mild symptoms, I never thought it was worth mentioning because I thought I was just overreacting. [That’s] what people would tell me, mainly my family.”
Fortunately, she got help — though since losing her insurance, she hasn’t been able to afford therapy.
Resources for those struggling with #mentalillness include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which has a 24-7 hotline, 800-273-8255, and NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill)- South Central Los Angeles, which is at 1720 E. 120th St. Los Angeles CA 90059. The local NAMI group can be reached at (310) 668-4272.
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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
