Local panel speaks about warning signs, resources for sufferers of #suicidal thinking
- By Lacey Peterson
BELLE FOURCHE –– A seven-member panel of #mentalhealthprofessional spoke to community members Tuesday about recognizing the signs of #suicidal thoughts and how to get help for sufferers.
The event was held at the Belle Fourche Area Community Center.
#JamesDonaldsononMentalHealth –
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
Marilyn Charging, with the #NationalAllianceonMentalIllness (NAMI) of South Dakota, started off the symposium by talking about #NAMI and what it does within the Northern Hills communities.
She said #NAMI is a United States-based advocacy group originally founded as a grassroots group by family members of people diagnosed with #mentalillness.
She explained that the organization is conducting a free program in area schools called NAMI Ending the Silence.
Charging said the program includes an engaging presentation that helps audience members learn about the warning signs of #mentalhealth conditions and what steps to take if you or a loved one are showing symptoms of a #mentalhealth condition.
NAMI Ending the Silence presentations include two leaders: one who shares an informative presentation and a young adult with a #mentalhealth condition who shares their journey of recovery. Audience members can ask questions and gain understanding of an often-misunderstood topic. Through dialogue, NAMI works to help grow the movement to end #stigma.
“We have to figure out a better way to address this because our children all have a right to an education and they have the right to feel safe at school and in their community,” Charging said. “This program is a start.”
Rachael Petterson, the Northern Hills site supervisor with Behavior Management Service (BMS), spoke about the program’s Zero Suicide program, which presents an aspirational challenge and practical framework for system-wide transformation toward safer #suicide care.
“The idea behind Zero Suicide is that #suicide is preventable if people are connected to healthcare providers,” she said.
Whether its doctors or #mentalhealthcounselors, Petterson said, as long as a struggling person is connected to professionals who can help them in their community, #suicide is preventable.
The staff at BMS are currently receiving Zero Suicide program training, which will wrap up in October.
“We’ll be ready to add that additional line of support to our communities that we serve; and Belle Fourche is one of them,” Petterson said.
John Olson, Rapid City Police Department captain and crisis intervention training trainer, shared about crisis intervention’s place in community policing.
“If you look at the statistics … one in 10 people will suffer from some kind of #mentalhealth crisis,” he said. “One in 25 people suffers from a persistent and serious #mentalillness.”
Due to the closure of some area #mentalhealth treatment resources, the burden has fallen onto the lap of law enforcement, Olson said.
“(Including) law enforcement involved shootings where someone was in a #mentalhealth crisis and became excessively violent … with law enforcement attempting to protect themselves and the public, end up in a shooting situation or something like that,” he said. “Those documented cases are what really came to the forefront to make sure that law enforcement now is properly trained to be able to deal with those (crises).”
De-escalation is a major component of crisis intervention training, Olson said.
“So what we’re really doing is trying to do our best to de-escalate situations,” he said. “What is crisis intervention team?” He asked. “That is being able to communicate and be able to help someone out of a crisis; be able to de-escalate the situation to the point where you could get the person hooked into services.”
Dominique Charlson, owner of Spearfish-based Peer Advantage, spoke about #mentalhealth first aid training provided by her company.
The training, called Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), helps the public better identify, understand, and respond to signs of #mentalillnesses. The course is designed to give ordinary people the skills to help someone who is experiencing a #mentalhealthcrisis or intervene early to prevent a crisis from occurring.
The program is based on the principle that early intervention can prevent #mentalillness from becoming more severe by encouraging people to get help early.
Charlson said the program teaches people ways to connect to the appropriate professional, peer, or self-help care.
The core message of the training is communicated through a five-step action plan encompassing the skills, resources, and knowledge to help connect an individual in crisis with appropriate care, Charlson said. She is one of 90 MHFA instructors in the state.
“We have first aid and CPR for somebody who is having an acute crisis or is bleeding or needing first aid,” she said.
This training program has the same mission, only suited for #mentalhealth safety concerns.
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
