As part of its annual Longevity Project, the Post Independent is embarking on an enterprise series titled “Striking a Conversation: Mental Health for All Ages.”
The goal is to not just look at problems affecting our communities, but discuss possible solutions.
Last year’s Longevity Project examined issues associated with the aging demographic in Garfield County, life expectancy rates and how to stay active and productive after retirement.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
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 oe 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
This year, the project is diving into the broader issue of #mentalhealth across the age spectrum as a cornerstone of living a long, productive life.
“Throughout conversations in the past year, #mentalhealth keeps coming up as an issue,” Post Independent Publisher Jerry Raehal said. “From rising suicide rates to homelessness, to how we treat each other at work and at home, #mentalhealth is a topic that is often overlooked as stigmatized.”
An increase in the number of #suicides in Garfield County has been a growing concern for many years; even more so in the past year as the upward trend continues.
Garfield County public health officials were alarmed last summer when there was a sudden spike of six #suicide deaths in July alone.
According to Mason Hohstadt, who chairs the #SuicidePreventionCoalition of Garfield County, by the conclusion of 2018 the county coroner’s office had investigated 19 #suicide deaths.
2019 Longevity Project Events
Part of the Longevity project is a series of micro-events starting August 20 that will culminate on Sept. 17 with our main event featuring speaker and humorist Frank King, who also goes by the name, “the mental health comedian.”
About Frank King
Frank King, aka The Mental Health Comedian, is a Suicide Prevention and Post-vention Public Speaker and Trainer who turned a lifelong battle with #depression into a keynote worth spreading. After writing for the Tonight Show for 20-plus years and performing corporate comedy, Frank’s attention…His mission is to end the #stigma surrounding #mentalhealth by sharing his insights with anyone and everyone who will listen in an effort to “start the conversation.” Frank has thought about killing himself more times than he can count. Like many of us, depression and #suicide run in his family. He addresses his own trials and tribulations using a tool people from all walks of life can relate to, humor. With his TED Talk A Matter of Life or Death” he openly addresses topics considered taboo in today’s society.
All ticket sales to King’s event will be donated to nonprofits focused on mental health or abuse issues in Garfield County.
2019 Longevity Project Stories
Longevity Part I: Breaking down early childhood #bullying
During the course of her 20-year career as an educator, Audrey Hazleton has had plenty of difficult phone calls with parents.
“It’s just as hard to get a phone call that your child has hurt someone as it is that your child has been hurt,” said Hazleton, the Glenwood Springs Elementary School principal. “In fact, it might be even harder to get the call that your child hurt somebody.
“It’s really hard to hear that your child hasn’t been kind to another child. It goes really deep.”
At the elementary school level, professionals like Hazleton find themselves explaining to parents the difference between a child acting “mean” and one who is participating in full-fledged bullying.
“That’s really important in parent education is helping parents understand the difference, so that we can help parents help their kids,” Hazleton said.
#Mentalhealthprofessionals speak to adverse effects of too much screen time
#Mentalhealthcareprofessionals cannot #stress enough the importance of limiting the amount of time children spend staring at electronic device screens.
“It has a profound impact,” Mountain Family Health Centers marriage and family therapist and addiction counselor Oyen Hoffman said. “There is a whole part of their brain that will not develop if they have too much screen time.”
According to Hoffman, the creative part of a child’s brain suffers dramatically from too much time spent on tablets, watching TV and playing video games. Specifically, in young children between the ages of 3 and 12, too much screen time can equate to a child’s inability to self soothe, problem solve and deal with boredom.
Longevity Part 2: Positive #mentalwellness through teen years key to healthy life later on
An obvious or even subtle mood swing, withdrawing from a favorite social activity, or isolating oneself from a close group of friends or family could be all it takes to prompt the simple question.
Are you doing OK?
It’s a query Lily McCann-Klausz says she thinks about more after her involvement in the latest YouthZone mural project in Glenwood Springs.
The mural was designed to depict a young person’s journey from negative to positive #mentalhealth.
“A lot of people today are struggling with a #mentalhealthissue, especially teens. But it’s difficult to reach out,” McCann-Klausz, a junior at Rifle High School, said. “Often, you know something’s going on, but it’s so personal that it’s hard to talk about it.”
#Anxiety vs #Depression: Understanding the difference
Can you distinguish between #anxiety and #depression? Although some symptoms can often overlap, it’s important to get understand the difference between the two in order to treat them correctly.00:0000:00
Suicide Rates in Garfield County
Since 2015 in Garfield County, 58 people died by #suicide, according to Garfield County Public Health. Additionally, 27 percent of those 58 people suffered from #anxiety, 47 percent were diagnosed with #depression, and half told someone they were considering #suicide.
Seeking professional help
Mountain Family Health’s Oyen Hoffman explains how behavioral help professionals can assist in a moment of crisis, and what that first session looks like.
Teens: A clear head is a cool head
Roaring Fork School District prevention specialist Sonja Linman talks about substance abuse among teens and building a culture focused on wellness instead of drinking.
Anxiety and Depression in Children
Oyen Hoffman of Mountain Family Health Centers talks about the symptoms of #anxiety and #depression in children.
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
