James Donaldson notes: I am turning more and more of my time and efforts towards mental health issues, especially pertaining to our young people 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
MANILA, Philippines — Mental health advocates strongly condemn the trivializing of suicide, which claims 800,000 lives in a year, according to the World Health Organization.
WHO considers suicide “a serious public health problem,” with data showing someone committing suicide every 40 seconds.
Suicide, mental health problems, and the Philippines
Raymond John Naguit, national chairperson of Youth for Mental Health, slammed controversial blogger Drew Olivar on Wednesday for saying in one of his videos that University of the Philippines students should just kill themselves
“Mental health advocacy groups work so hard to fight the stigma and promote responsible means of reporting mental health,” Naguit said in a Facebook post.
“It is but just to demand that we give the topics suicide and self harm the appropriate seriousness and sobriety they deserve,” Naguit added.
Naguit said Olivar should be made to account for his comments. Olivar, a friend and co-host of Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, has reaped criticism for his lewd ‘pepe-dederalismo‘ video and for mimicking sign language as a joke and is being investigated for making a “bomb joke” on his Facebook page.
He has also made unprintable comments about Vice President Leni Robredo and about President Rodrigo Duterte’s genitals.
Health Undersecretary Herminigildo Valle said last June that there were 2,550 recorded suicide cases in the country. He said that the 20 percent of the calls received over DOH’s Suicide Hopeline are related to depression.
Suicide and mental health problems
WHO said that “the link between suicide and mental disorders (in particular, depression and alcohol use disorders) is well established in high-income countries, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis with a breakdown in the ability to deal with life stresses.”
It added that according to data in 2016, 79 percent of global suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries.
The global organization also said that those experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse or loss and sense of violation “are strongly associated with suicidal behavior.”
Suicide rates are also high in groups of people who experience discrimination, such as refugees and migrants; indigenous peoples; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) persons and prisoners.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month.
Mental Health Law
The Philippines enacted a Mental Health bill on June 21, 2018 after years of lobbying and of going through the legislative mill.
READ: Advocates hail passage of landmark Mental Health Law
The law assures that those with mental health issues will have “freedom from social, economic and political discrimination and stigmatization, whether committed by public or private sectors.”
The law penalizes “discrimination against a person with a mental health condition” with imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than 2 years, or a fine of P10,000 but not more than P200,000, or both.
Read more at https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/09/27/1855217/why-suicide-not-something-joke-about#P7c1MOYh4C6CRwDU.99
MANILA, Philippines — Mental health advocates strongly condemn the trivializing of suicide, which claims 800,000 lives in a year, according to the World Health Organization.
WHO considers suicide “a serious public health problem,” with data showing someone committing suicide every 40 seconds.
Suicide, mental health problems, and the Philippines
Raymond John Naguit, national chairperson of Youth for Mental Health, slammed controversial blogger Drew Olivar on Wednesday for saying in one of his videos that University of the Philippines students should just kill themselves
“Mental health advocacy groups work so hard to fight the stigma and promote responsible means of reporting mental health,” Naguit said in a Facebook post.
“It is but just to demand that we give the topics suicide and self harm the appropriate seriousness and sobriety they deserve,” Naguit added.
Naguit said Olivar should be made to account for his comments. Olivar, a friend, and co-host of Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson has reaped criticism for his lewd ‘pepe-dederalismo‘ video and for mimicking sign language as a joke and is being investigated for making a “bomb joke” on his Facebook page.
He has also made unprintable comments about Vice President Leni Robredo and about President Rodrigo Duterte’s genitals.
Health Undersecretary Herminigildo Valle said last June that there were 2,550 recorded suicide cases in the country. He said that the 20 percent of the calls received over DOH’s Suicide Hopeline are related to depression.
Suicide and mental health problems
WHO said that “the link between suicide and mental disorders (in particular, depression and alcohol use disorders) is well established in high-income countries, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis with a breakdown in the ability to deal with life stresses.”
It added that according to data in 2016, 79 percent of global suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries.
The global organization also said that those experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse or loss and sense of violation “are strongly associated with suicidal behavior.”
Suicide rates are also high in groups of people who experience discrimination, such as refugees and migrants; indigenous peoples; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) persons and prisoners.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month.
Mental Health Law
The Philippines enacted a Mental Health bill on June 21, 2018 after years of lobbying and of going through the legislative mill.
READ: Advocates hail passage of landmark Mental Health Law
The law assures that those with mental health issues will have “freedom from social, economic and political discrimination and stigmatization, whether committed by public or private sectors.”
The law penalizes “discrimination against a person with a mental health condition” with imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than 2 years, or a fine of P10,000 but not more than P200,000, or both.
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
