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
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Millions of British adults have experienced suicidal thoughts or feelings due to their body image, a new survey has found.
The Mental Health Foundation polled 4,505 adults in March and revealed that one in eight (13 percent) of them had considered taking their own lives because of concerns relating to body image.
The charity commissioned the survey for Mental Health Awareness Week, which begins on Monday 15 May with a theme of body image in light of growing concerns over how this can contribute to poor mental wellbeing, particularly in young women.
More than a third of respondents said their body image left them feeling anxious (34 percent) or depressed (35 percent).
Additionally, 20 percent of those surveyed felt shame over the way they looked and 19 percent reported feeling “disgusted”.
Body positivity activists protest outside London Fashion Week
The survey found that social media and images used in advertising have a significant part to play in how we perceive our body image, with almost half of the 18 to 24-year-olds blaming the former for provoking anxieties about the way they look while one in five said the latter.
Mark Rowland, the chief executive of the #MentalHealthFoundation, said the research clearly shows that body image is having an adverse effect on millions of people’s mental wellbeing.
“For some people, this is potentially very severe, with large numbers saying they have self-harmed or had #suicidal thoughts and feelings,” he added.
“Many people identified social media as an important factor causing them to worry about their body image – and the majority of respondents felt the Government needed to take more action.”
In light of the research, the charity is calling for effective regulation of how body image is portrayed in the media, urging the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to consider vetting ads from high-risk industries, such as cosmetic surgery companies and weight loss services.
As for social media companies, the charity has directed them towards the Be Real Campaign’s Body Image Pledge, which encourages the companies to commit to finding new ways to promote a positive body image and ensure a diverse range of body types is presented on their platforms.
On its website, the charity also lists several tips for individuals on how to improve their relationships with their bodies. These include confiding in a trusted friend, spring-cleaning apps from your smartphone and exercising.
You can contact the Samaritans by calling them for free from any phone for free on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org to find details of your nearest branch.
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
