Following more than a year of steady work, the #GigHarbor and Key Peninsula #SuicidePreventionCoalition celebrated the installation of 24 suicide prevention signs on the #TacomaNarrowsBridge in March.
Bob Anderson, a member of the coalition and a director on the KP Community Council, spearheaded the effort. His inspiration came from a visit to Portland where similar signs are posted on the Vista Bridge.
“The signs are designed to cause the pause that can save a life,” Anderson said. They have messages such as “Life is worth living. There is help,” and “You are not alone. Make the call.”
Funding for the project came from a grant through Pierce County that also included support for presentations by suicide survivor Kevin Hines last year (“Suicide Prevention Coalition: Making a Difference,” KP News, November 2018).
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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
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The coalition is now working on getting state funds to install netting and barriers on the bridge.
Anderson said there are extra signs they hope to post on the KP and that the county may produce signs for use in other areas. Anne Nesbit, a member of the coalition and the KP Fire Department prevention and public information officer, said she is coordinating with the Key Pen Parks to find locations for them.
The coalition was established seven years ago in response to suicide attempts by local students. Although the initial focus was on youth, suicide affects all ages and the coalition expanded its outreach.
“We deliver presentations to groups and also strategize on how to get the word out about #suicide education and #mentalhealthawareness,” Nesbit said. “We have a lot of social workers, school and hospital personnel, community members, and we’ve had a couple of Gig Harbor High School students come because they have a youth suicide support group there.”
The coalition offers three-hour training sessions to prepare individuals to identify those at risk of suicide and to help them get help. It also offers speakers for a 45-minute “Talk Saves Lives” presentation on suicide prevention.
“And out here on the Key, we now are in the sixth, seventh and eighth-grade classes talking about #mentalhealth,” Nesbit said. “We talk about how important it is to accept and appreciate yourself, about self-care and suicide awareness.”
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for teenagers aged 15 to 19 in Washington state, according to the Healthy Youth School Survey conducted in 2018. “That also shows that 61 percent of seniors in our district feel there’s no adult to talk to if they’re down and depressed and 40 percent were so depressed for a two-week period that it made them want to stop doing things,” Nesbit said. “That’s significant because it shows the problem really is here and is holding steady.”
#Depression and #anxiety are common and treatable conditions marked by persistent feelings of sadness and helplessness and can lead to substance abuse and thoughts of suicide.
Nesbit said anyone experiencing these feelings or with questions should call the #NationalSuicideHotline at 1-800-273-TALK or text “home” to 741741. Call 1-800-TEENLINK to talk to a caring teenager. “They can also call me,” she said, at 253-884-2222.
“The #stigma about #mentalillness and #suicide is still there but I think people are starting to talk more, which is fantastic because the bottom line of the workshops we host is that conversation and human connection is what people with #suicideideation need,” she said. “They need somebody to ask them what’s wrong and listen to them.”
The Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula Suicide Prevention Coalition meet 9 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month at Gig Harbor Fire District Headquarters at 10222 Bujacich Road NW. For more information, visit the coalition Facebook page. Bob Anderson also runs an informal group for those touched by suicide. Contact him at 253-753-3013 or bobtanderson@me.com. For more information on the Healthy Youth Survey, go to www.askhys.net.
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
