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
The December – January Period can be really difficult for a lot of people.
The festive season is well and truly in full swing now.
Most people are on holiday already and making the most of spending time with friends and family in the lead up to Christmas and New Years.
But research has found that the December-January can be a difficult time for a lot of people.
From the financial stress that comes with Christmas to the social pressures and reminders of how many events, functions and family gatherings are expected, it can take its toll on people.
While a bus lot of people are busy and enjoying what’s going on, others can really struggle and it’s important to not only reach out to people, but to do it in the right way.
Earlier this year Lifeline launched a new campaign, #YouCanTalk – for suicide prevention in Australia, led by beyondblue, Black Dog Institute, Everymind, headspace, Lifeline, ReachOut and R U OK?
“Australia has world-leading suicide prevention services and we want to ensure people who need them access them. However, the reality is, not everyone will seek help themselves – they may firstly disclose their need to family and friends,” says Lifeline CEO Bob Gilkes.
There are some signs to look out for that might indicate that someone is thinking about suicide, but if you are worried about someone you should still seek help.
1. Withdrawing from friends, family and social activities.
2. Change in their mood or extreme mood swings – sadness, agitation.
3. Disinterest in maintaining personal hygiene or appearance.
4. Uncharacteristically reckless behaviour, including increasing alcohol or drug use.
5. Talking about death, suicide and wanting to die.
According to Lifeline there are several steps you can take if you do think a friend, family member or someone you know is struggling:
Let your friend or loved one know you have noticed they’re behaving differently.
If you feel uncertain and that your friend or loved one may be at risk, do ask the question: ‘are you having thoughts about suicide?’
Be prepared for the answer to be yes. Then listen with empathy and without judgement.
Make sure they’re safe for now and support them to seek help.
The mental health education program, People Reaching Out to People (PROP) is also reminding Aussies to take the time to reach out to those around them to help address and prevent suicide.
“When it comes to mental health, education is key in empowering us to engage with those that need help. I encourage everyone to take the time to educate themselves this Christmas season, and you could help save a life,” says PROP founder Rob Pruge.
“I established PROP in 2016 after losing five friends to suicide in one year. Losing a friend to suicide seems much more personal than losing one to illness or an accident. This is possibly due to its often unexpected nature and a feeling of ‘what if I could have done something to help?”
One in four people will experience anxiety, depression or other factors that contribute to suicide, according to Mr Pruge, and he believes friends and family are in the best place to help those suffering.
“I founded PROP to help those three in four people who are not struggling with mental health to feel empowered to engage with those that may be contemplating suicide,” he says.
PROP provides a free four-part tutorial series aimed at empowering people to address suicide and it was developed with SuperFriend, a national mental health organisation, and TAL, a leading Australian life insurance specialist.
“Unlike other valuable educational material on suicide awareness, PROP’s four-part tutorial is directed at those that aren’t struggling with mental ill-health because chances are the stigmatic beliefs are more visible within this healthy group than with those who are struggling,” say Mr Prugue.
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
