Brice Perkins had no idea his daughter suffered such acute #depression and #anxiety that she would cry herself to sleep at night.
But after a long journey in which she got the help she needed, Brice and Emily Perkins are sharing their experiences.
“We are a father-daughter team so we can really demonstrate how families can make #mentalillness not be a secret anymore,” Perkins said. “We are open with our story and our experience.”
The duo will describe the warning signs of #mentalillness and #suicide and how to get help during a free presentation at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the new gym at Eagle Point High School, 203 N. Platt Ave., Eagle Point.
They have shared their story with local police departments as well as middle school, high school, and college students.
Their presentation for Eagle Point police was so useful officers wanted the whole community to hear the message, said Mark Slagle, school resource officer for Eagle Point High School and several other schools.
Slagle said he hopes everyone will turn out to hear the information, which can change lives.
“If we could fill the place, that would be fantastic,” he said.
Emily Perkins and her dad volunteer through the Ending the Silence Program offered by the #NationalAllianceonMentalIllness.
But for a long time, Emily Perkins kept the severity of her #depression and #anxiety to herself.
Graphic images of her own #suicide would flash into her mind.
“They would come on almost like a movie,” Emily said. “They became more and more frequent. It became exhausting to try and fight these thoughts. You’re telling yourself almost moment to moment, ‘You’re not going to carry this out.’ The imagery became so intense I became afraid to be home alone with myself.”
She checked herself into a hospital, where she was evaluated and admitted to the psychiatric unit.
Therapy and medication helped Emily stabilize and cope with her symptoms. Now an adult, she lives in Jacksonville while her father lives in Medford.
Brice said signs of #mentalillness often start showing up in the teen years.
“We certainly want to reach out to school teachers, students and anybody with adolescent children,” he said.
The father and daughter want people to be aware of signs of #mentalillness in themselves and those around them. Brice said not everyone is aware of #mentalillness or how to help.
“I think there’s a very small segment of the population that truly gets it. In order to get help, you have to tell someone. You may have to tell more than one person before you get the help you need,” he said.
Emily said she is proof that with the right treatment, people with #mentalillness can have fulfilling lives.
“I’m stable and fully functional. We really want to instill in people that there is hope for living with #mentalillness,” she said. “We want to save lives.”
Emily and Brice’s presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer period with the audience.
The Southern Oregon chapter of the #NationalAllianceforMentalIllness, Jackson County Mental Health and other organizations will have tables at the event and also can answer questions about #mentalillness and treatment.
The statewide chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness is seeking more young adults age 18 to 35 to receive training and give presentations on their experiences with mental illness.
The organization also wants to recruit parents and other caregivers of children with #mentalillness to become volunteer teachers about diagnosis, treatment options and navigating school and #mentalhealth systems.
For more information and to apply for free training, see namior.org/programs/for-program-leaders/trainings/.
Reach Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or valdous@rosebudmedia.com. Follow her at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous.
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
Don’t ignore warning signs
Warning signs of #suicide include:
— Talking about wanting to die
— Talking about being a burden to others
— Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose
— Displaying extreme mood swings
— Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
— Withdrawing from others
— Acting recklessly or looking for ways to kill oneself
If someone exhibits warning signs of suicide:
— Don’t leave the person alone
— Remove guns, alcohol, pills, sharp objects and other items that could be used in a #suicideattempt
— Call the Jackson County Mental Health 24-hour crisis line at 541-774-8201 or the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
— Take the person to an #emergencyroom or seek help from a medical or #mentalhealthprofessional
— If #suicide seems imminent, or the person has attempted #suicide, or that person may hurt someone else, immediately call 911.
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
