Student Mental Health Must Be Our Priority

TALON

SUICIDE IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS ISSUE 100 SPECIAL EDITION / SPRING / 2019

WE ARE HERE, WE WILL LISTEN PAGE 6

MIND, BODY, SPORTS: ANXIETY PAGE 14

WE WANT YOU ALIVE PAGE 30

The Talon Team and CDA with Lindsey Doolittle

INSIDE

P. 6 WE ARE HERE, WE WILL LISTEN | P. 8 THE SHADOW| P. 9 SURVIVOR’S GUILT| P. 10 SUGAR AND SUICIDE | P. 11 EMOTIONAL CYCLE OF DEPLOYMENT | P. 12 CRACKING UNDER PRESSURE | P. 14 MIND, BODY, SPORTS: ANXIETY

P. 16 DANCER DIES

BY SUICIDE | P. 17 TRUTH BEHIND SUICIDE | P. 18 AGENDAS AND STIGMAS | P. 20 THE RIPPLES CAN STILL BE FELT | P. 22 MASKED EMOTIONS | P. 24 THE LOSS OF A FRIEND

P. 25 THE LOSS OF A FAMILY MEMBER| P. 26 LIFE IS PRECIOUS, BE YOUR NEIGHBOR’S KEEPER | P. 28 PREVENTING SUICIDE | P. 29 ATHLETES AND ADDICTION | P. 30 WHEN NOT ENOUGH BECOMES TOO MUCH |P. 30 WE WANT YOU ALIVE

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CONTRIBUTORS CO-EDITOR IN-CHIEF SAVANNAH PARRIS HESHAM ALBADR MANAGING EDITOR KYLEIGH ZOLTEK COPY EDITOR BRELANDE EDMOND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR SARAI JORGENSON DESIGN EDITOR EMME MOOREHOUSE SPORT EDITOR JOSH DYSON PHOTOGRAPHERS MARLON JONES TALAL ALASSEERI

STAY CONNECTED

TALON TEAM MAKENZIE MUSGROVE BRITTANY FREEMAN AUSTEN CUMMINS TURKI JALOUD GERSON STERLING CONNOR WYTKO ALEXANDER CALDWELL TREY HEINRICH MOHAMMED ALBADER JONATHYN LOPEZ EMME MOOREHOUSE KHALID ALZAMIL JUSTIN STARKS JONATHYN LOPEZ

INSTRUCTOR CODY TAPP ADVISOR DR. J ANTHONY SNORGRASS

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ON THE COVER & BACK: Emme Moorehouse & Marlon Jones ISSUE 100 |

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STUDENTS FREE!

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FROM THE EDITORS This issue is one that speaks up about the taboo inclinations of suicide and mental illness. Our goal is for readers to educate themselves about what to do when feelings of sadness and despair occur. These stories are raw and full of emotion so please be vigilant and process what is being said. This is important, and shouldn’t be swept under the rug any longer. We are here, and we are listening.

Sincerely, Hesham Albadr Savannah Parris Co-Editors-in-Chief

EDITORIAL POLICY The Talon News Magazine is produced by students of Avila University. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the Talon News Staff, the Trustees, administration, faculty, or staff of the University. The Talon News Magazine encourages letters to the editor. These may be submitted electronically or in writing and should include the writer’s name, address, and telephone numbers for verification purposes. Letters can be mailed to the Talon News Magazine Editor, Avila University, 11901 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145. The Talon reserves the right to edit letters for reasons of space, clarity, or inappropriate language. Copies of the Talon News Network Operational Guidelines may be requested by writing to the above referenced address.

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We Are Here, We Will Listen.

On-Campus Resources For Mental Illness The Editorial Team

Being a student here at Avila, you have a free counseling session available. It will help provide tools to overcome obstacles and set goals for your college career. These sessions aren’t just for academic concerns, adjusting to college life, etc.

They are for mental illness as well. We also have a trained individuals for the program Ask, Listen, Refer so they know warning signs and what to do to help. These stories can be triggering so please reach out for help. Speaking for the Talon team, we will always listen and be a support system for whoever needs it. Thank you for all the support and caring for one another. We are Avila strong.

TEXT HOME TO 741741 CRISIS TEXT LINE

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SUICIDE IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS

The Shadow Suicide Prevention Alexander Caldwell

Growing up, no one was there to ask “What’s wrong?” or “How are you feeling?” No one was there when I was constantly under fire from middle school bullies.

Though I may be a little young, I feel like I come from a generation where I couldn’t talk about my emotions or let all my tears out. Probably the hardest part of growing up is facing bullies. I know what I didn’t know then, and that is kids are cruel. They say the most outlandish things you will ever hear. But at the time I didn’t understand this; I was always sad and would often wonder: “Why me? Why don’t they like me? Is it the color of my skin? Am I too tall? Or maybe its my gap.” As a young child, you shouldn’t have to wake up every morning and fear to get on the bus for school or eat in the cafeteria, but it was all day every day. I was scared, because I didn’t have anyone. I felt completely empty inside. I could talk to my parents or teachers, but I couldn’t confide in myself, due to my insecurities that I built up. I remember coming home and the older kids would pick on me the whole bus ride. Tears were running down my face as I walked up the steps to the apartment. I had it I told myself then and there that I would do the world a favor and kill myself, because it was better off that way. I grabbed the pills out of my mom’s medicine cabinet and I started to cry even harder because I felt as though no one would miss me, but before I get the bottle open my neighbor knocks on the door to play the game with me and that little friendliness he showed changed my outlook on life and to this day that neighbor from across the way became my best friend but I’ve never told him that he really saved my life.

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Survivor’s Guilt How Mass Shootings Impact Survivors and Families Trey Heinrich

Mass shootings are some of the biggest tragedies imaginable. The repercussions of these shootings can be tragic and felt long after the shooting is over.

On February 14th, 2018, there was a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland, Florida. 17 people were killed, and 14 other people were wounded. This shooting was the 9th deadliest in the history of the United States. As result of this shooting, Sydney Aiello, a survivor of the horrific shooting, took her own life on March 24th, 2019. Since the shooting at her high school took place, she had been dealing survivor’s guilt after losing 14 of her classmates, friends, and teachers. Her mother Cara said that Sydney had also been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder. People who knew Aiello described her as “nice, always smiling, and talkative”. On March 25th, only one day later, Jeremy Richman was found dead by an apparent suicide. Richman was the father of Avielle Richman, who was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012. Since his daughters death, Richman and his wife Jennifer have been coping by establishing a foundation in their daughter's name to support research into brain abnormalities that could be linked to violent behavior.

Community members were shocked by his suicide given his recent work with the Avielle foundation. These two suicides were absolutely tragic and are examples of why it is so important to have discussions about mental health and to treat situations like these shootings very seriously. It is important to keep a close eye on your friends, family, and co workers and do everything in your power to get someone help if they’re behavior changes.

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Sugar and Suicide A Story of Changing Health Habits Khalid Alzamil

What happened with me changed my life. One time I found a YouTube video about sugar. To be specific, I’m talking about refined sugar. In that video the doctor talked about how refined sugar causes depression and as you know depression leads to suicide.

I stopped the video and started thinking about not consuming sugar. In my research I found a diet called the Keto Diet which is not eating carbohydrates, and you can eat only meat and vegetables with as much fat as you want. This was interesting to me so I started doing it. In the first week I got the keto flu, which is feeling dizzy, headache, difficulty sleeping, etc. After a week I started feeling better and all my depression and suicidal thoughts are gone now. I feel alive and I can think in a positive way. After that I start thinking about how this simple step changed my life, and how it can change people’s lives too. In the first week I felt better and had a clean mind. If you want to learn more about this, go read about the keto diet.

Photo By: Pixabay

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Cracking Under Pressure Mental Health In College Athletes Makenzie Musgrove Madison Holleran seemed to be living the perfect life. She attended an Ivy League University, ran cross-country and track collegiately, had a close group of friends, and a supportive family. However, she secretly struggled with her mental health and eventually committed suicide because of it. As it turns out, many college athletes struggle with their mental health. According to Kate Fagan, 28 percent of female student athletes and 21 percent of male athletes reported being depressed, while 48 percent of female student-athletes and 31 percent of males reported feeling anxious. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among college athletes, after accidents and heart problems. But why is this? Causes that contribute to the pressures that college athletes face are: pressure to perform, busy schedule, GPA requirements, and time management demands. These factors can be a lot to handle for a young adult aged 18-22. College athletes are often looked at as idols to many, and are expected to compete at the level of a professional athlete, without being treated like one.

Another possible cause is Competitive Trait Anxiety (CTA). CTA is defined as the tendency or predisposition to perceive competition as threatening. This perceived threat is viewed as an imbalance between what an athlete perceives is required for success and his or her response capability. Athletes feel the need

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Photo By: Makenzie Musgrove to prove themselves as worthy by overcoming competition. It is thought that athletes that compare themselves to competition and worry about the outcome and other’s opinions have higher chances of developing CTA. Athletes are also taught from a young age to not show any weakness. Unfortunately, mental health is viewed negatively in society. This leads many athletes to not ask for help or let others know that they are hurting. Madison Holleran suffered in silence instead of asking for help. If society changes the way we think about mental illness will more athletes seek help? I believe the answer is yes.

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Mind, Body, Sports: Anxiety Athletes and Anxiety Brittany Freeman

Whether discussing performance anxiety or anxiety disorder, the emotions are very similar. For athletes and non-athletes, the thoughts and feelings that cause anxiety tend to be about the future.

Anxiety has cognitive and physiological elements.

Physiological symptoms may include muscle tension, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, increased heart rate and difficulty breathing.Because the demands on athletes are somewhat unique, any fear or problems must be handled with in a different matter. The functioning of an athlete when dealing with anxiety may present differently than the functioning of a non-athlete. Personal failure adds to account for the loss of a major championship for athletes, however difficult, may not meet the criteria for anxiety disorder. Athletes may be functioning well below their personal appearance but may not meet the standard criteria for an anxiety disorder. For some athletes, their anxiety disorder may be grounded in the sport experience, and it may be useful to treat it within the framework of sport performance. One of the primary concerns regarding the mental illness among student-athletes is that it may affect not only their success in academics and athletics but also their general well-being. Stressful situations can also add to the state of mind for

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collegiate athletes. By dealing with stress in any factor it can cause performance ability to decrease and allow the body to break down. Talking with softball player Makenzie Musgrove at Avila University she stated, “My junior year of high school I started experiencing performance anxiety in relation to softball. At first it was only with softball, but as time went on it spread to general life and I was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder. I believe being an athlete started this anxiety and caused it to spread to other areas of my life.� She is one example among many that deal with day to day situations that individuals have to overcome while performing to the best of their abilities.

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SUICIDE IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS

Emotional Cycle of Deployment Lives of Military Spouses and Soldiers Brittany Freeman

Depression is a common psychological concern that can affect anyone, anywhere, at any time.

This is true whether or not you serve in uniform.

Depression is not just a passing feeling of “being sad” and you can’t just “snap out of it.” It’s a medical condition that can and should be treated. For military spouses, coping with deployment is a different experience for every individual. Spouses will find themselves in an emotional cycle, ranging from pre-deployment to the return of family. During this time, a spouse is required to learn how to handle a wide variety of circumstances and feelings. Knowing what to expect can help ease the pain of separation and give you the power to pull through to the end of the deployment.

When deployed, many soldiers have elevated feelings of anxiety, numbness, insomnia and sleep deprivation and may feel psychologically alone. Departure is a long time apart from family and tends to be emotionally and physically exhausting for an individual. Family is everything to a man. He is the man of the house and the head of the family. Not being able to be with a spouse and children starts to the beginning of depression. Not only do you have to be away from family for long periods of time but you are fighting for your country and your life daily. Your ability to overcome challenges, cope with crises and make important decisions can provide a stronger sense of control. For most, things start to improve after the first couple of months. This may not mean you feel back to normal, but you feel that you have hit a point of healing.

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Dancer Dies by Suicide Jack Saunders’ Death Gerson Sterling

Jack Saunders, a young man that was just 25 year old, was a dancer for the troupe Green Force Five. Saunders decided to take his life in the early hours of Sunday morning March 17. He was in a competition with his dance team, and they made it to the semi-finals. But that wasn’t enough reason for him to keep living. A lot of people ask themselves why this happened especially family members.

His mother says, “Can’t believe Jack is gone,” followed by the words, “I want people to know this can happen to any family.” In this suicide problem there isn’t stereotype. He was the support for a lot of people, known to have the most kind soul that you can see in a person, put others before himself, he was the shoulder that a lot of his close people cried on. His sister added, “Suicide awareness is getting better but is still a bit of stigma.” Saunders had seemed to have a successful life in 2012; he performed at the London Olympics opening ceremony, when he was just 18. This also made him one of the youngest paid dancers to perform. There is a lot of stories like this one. We all can help people that are going through really hard problems. Let’s learn from these kind of stories and reach out to people who are going through these hard times, because it could happen to anyone. It doesn’t matter who it is, when it hits, it hits hard. The message that I want to share about Jack’s death is how important it is to talk to people and let them know how great they are, we as humans need it. Let’s be prepared to help those in crisis.

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Truth Behind Suicide What Leads to Suicide?

Turk Jaloud

Suicide is a major public health problem and a leading cause of death in the United States. The effects of suicide go beyond the person who acts to take his or her life: it can have a lasting effect on family, friends, and communities. While there are many factors which can influence a person’s decision to commit suicide, the most common one is that the person has severe depression. A person is feeling great emotional pain but isn’t able to see any way to relieve that pain other than ending her/his own life. Hopelessness, either in the short term or as a longer-lasting trait, has been found in many studies to contribute to the decision to commit suicide. The person may be facing a social or physical challenge and see no way the situation can improve. When a person feels that she/he has lost all hope and she/he doesn’t feel able to change that, it can overshadow all of the good things in her/his life, making suicide seem like a viable option. While it might seem obvious to an outside observer that things will get better, a person with depression may not be able to see this due to the pessimism and despair that go along with this illness You may never know why a person committed suicide. While it might have appeared that someone had everything to live for, it probably didn’t feel that way to her/his. If you or a friend are at risk of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available for online chat or call 1-800-273-8255.

Photo By: Turk Jaloud

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Agendas and Stigmas Grief and Tragic Story of Sydney Aiello Connor Wytko

Guns and gun violence have been a very hot topic of conversation throughout the media. There are many times that the gun conversation became politicized and loses the feelings behind the actions and those touched by it. In February of 2018, Nikolas Cruz decided to bring a gun into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and murdered 17 students and faculty. This topic became a big target of politicization and instead of looking into how it touched people’s lives, the media cared more about the gun than the victims. Sydney Aiello is a perfect example of where the system failed to meet her needs. Aiello, 19, was a senior during the time of the shooting. Aiello was very lucky to escape but it was not without personal damage. Aiello had to deal with the loss of her best friend as well as classmates. It was these reasons why on March 22nd Sydney Aiello took her own life while in college. Experts say the cause was her ‘survivor’s guilt’ but it calls to question what more could people in her life have done? Death and suicide are very serious topics. By changing the public perception of grief and depression maybe the community can do a better job of really caring about the victims and their wellbeing as opposed to pushing agendas. In the end the people being affected are human beings and those human beings react to traumatic situations in

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very different ways. By acknowledging their different ways of grieving, letting them know that they are not alone, and having resources available to them. By understanding the victims, the community can effectively back them up so that they do not feel like suicide is an option.

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The Ripples Can Still Be Felt Dad of a Child from Sandy Hook Takes His Life Austen Cummins

The tragic events of December 14, 2012 are still being felt throughout the U.S. to this day. The small town of Newton, Connecticut would change forever when a shooter entered Sandy Hook Elementary and took the lives of 26 innocent people. Among these people were 6 teachers and 20 students ages 6 and 7. One of these children was Avielle Richman.

Years after these events transpired, the ripple effects can still be felt today. On March 25, 2019, Avielle’s father couldn’t handle the grief anymore and tragically took his life by suicide. Jeremy Richman was a strong voice in the fight for preventing violence and often put himself in the spotlight to help shed light on the terrible events at Sandy Hook. After Avielle’s murder, Jeremy quit his job as a researcher at pharmaceutical company in order to dedicate himself to the Avielle Foundation. The Avielle Foundation was built around “preventing violence and building compassion through brain research, community engagement, and education.” The foundation believes that focusing on 2 areas when it comes to preventing violence. The first area is supporting the breakthroughs of neuroscience

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research and behavioral science. The second area of focus is on community engagement and the education of our youth about the importance of brain health.

The news of Jeremy Richman death comes just days after the apparent suicide of two Parkland, Florida teenagers. It’s clear that the pain of the survivors can be felt for months and even years after their traumatic experience. It’s important that we focus on what steps can be taken to prevent violence and the deaths of innocent parents and children.

Photo By: Austen Cummins

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Masked Emotions Helping Someone in Need Jonathyn Lopez

Sometimes you feel your blood pulse to the tips of your fingers and every inhale is diaphragm deep. Other times you have to put a hand on your chest to confirm a heartbeat. An appearance is shallow, but can be the sign of something with multiple layers. Emotions are fleeting and temporary. Most of us, when we feel deep despair with a cloud of depression we at least know it will be over soon. What if you didn’t know though? What if for the last few days, months, years it’s been your normal? Take a second to understand the pain felt when you live in a world without love felt and without a possibility of joy on the corner.

Kansas State University released that at their university alone this is how roughly 14 out of 100 students feel day in and day out until there is no tomorrow for them because of suicide. KSU, which is only 127 miles from Avila University, also said that at least seven of those students have formulated a suicide plan. With college being such a diverse place all around America, I am willing to assume that the statistic is roughly accurate in regards to Avila’s student body. I spoke to an anonymous student who attends Avila and on the surface it appears to be a fun-loving and positive person. Underneath they felt like, “Ev-

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Photo by: Pixabay eryone can hear my heartbeat and whenever anyone talked to me I assumed they have an ulterior motive.”

They went on to say that, “Sometimes when I would come back to my room and felt such a deep sadness I’d look in the mirror and realize they were smiling and proving how permanent my mask was stuck to my face.” If someone considers you a friend then with all attentiveness look them in the eyes and say, “I care about you. How are you doing. Seriously.” Plan to be a light in your friends life even if you can’t imagine them being in such despair. Make a due date to give attentiveness and care to the people who consider you a friend. Be a good friend. Be someone they can be real with. Don’t miss the due date to be there for someone because their suicide plans due date may be already in the world.

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SUICIDE IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS

The Loss of a Family Member Emme Moorehouse

When I was in the fifth grade, my cousin committed suicide. She was one of the most genuine people I have ever came into contact with. She was looked up to by all the younger girls in our family. With her bright smile and wit, she easily attained everyone’s attention. She had a strong love for Tom Petty and all things classic rock. She was a mother, artist, sister, and an amazing friend. Her overall presence was spellbinding. Unfortunately, through the smile there was darker feelings hidden within. She struggled with addiction and multiple mental illnesses. She struggled so hard that those struggles became overwhelming truths. Leading her to feelings of despair and no hope, she took her own life. She has been gone for over 10 years, but our family has not healed from her loss. As an adult I now understand those similar emotions she felt. It is easy to be consumed by dark thoughts and find yourself longing for something more. When you’re feeling this way, speak up and look for resources. If you see someone dealing with these same issues, be a voice for them. I sometimes wonder if my cousin just needed someone to take action for her even if she didn’t want to herself. If we would have dug deeper and pushed through the fake smile, she may still be here. Mental illness is a reality and we need to fight together to combat it.

888-640-5174 DEPRESSION HOTLINE

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Life is Precious, Be Your Neighbor’s Keeper Always Look for the Signs Mohammed Albader

During my first year in this institution, I met an American young man that I thought had it all.

He looked healthy, spoke well, had a proud stature, and drove the newest Mercedes AMG in the market.

Besides, the young man had a house that featured more of an estate. This flashy life made it impossible to realize how much trouble the young man was going through. As one of his close friends, I admired how much traveled the man was but did not get to know much about his personal life. His circle of friends did not have the slightest idea that the young man whom they all envied was going to be another youth’s tragic statistic of the 21st century.The actual story behind the young man’s psychological health was his father’s passing. At 22, he was expected to man up and take care of his family right from where his father had left.

The mother had no source of income since she had always been a housewife and the father was the sole breadwinner. The young man assumed the father’s roles which led him straight to medication to ease off the pressure. The lack of guidance led him into a depression that sunk in so quick for people around him to notice. What followed was the loss of a young man’s life after he shot himself with his father’s gun on his bed. The revelation of his death was horrifying and tragic for his friends and me. We later came to an understanding of what was going on in the young

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1-800-273-8255 SUICIDE HOTLINE

man’s personal life. This made me think of how much we could have tried to notice the little signs to help him out of his situation.

However, it was too late for that. I believe that such stories of young men losing their lives to suicide should trigger us to notice what we have and appreciate it. Besides, we should learn to listen to others, observe, and act accordingly when something feels wrong regarding their mental condition to determine the possibility of suicidal thoughts. Lessons from the young lives gone by suicide suggest the need to notice the tragic signs whenever possible. The courage to reach out may be a remedy for keeping us away from future anguish. The suicide issue is an epidemic that we should all face together and avoid judging each other in the brief moments seen. Let us recognize the little things that establish the need for help and provide it to those in need to save a life from being another youth tragic statistic on suicide.

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The Loss of a Friend Trey Heinrich

Suicide is a very sensitive subject and it is not one that is easy to talk about, especially when someone close to you decides to take their own life. In 2015, my best friends younger brother Joshua committed suicide out of nowhere.

He was in 8th grade. It was a situation that caught everyone by surprise. I found out the news because of an email that the school sent out. When I read it, I immediately burst into tears and started crying uncontrollably. My mom came rushing into the living room and asked me what was wrong. After showing her the email, she started crying with me. Since me and my best friend were neighbors, I was always over at my friends house. Right when school got out me and my friend ran to his house and would hang out there all night until I got called home for dinner. Joshua was an amazing athlete who still to this day holds the school record for 8th grade high jump, got first place in league wrestling, and would win the Punt, Pass, and Kick competition every year. The day after his death, I was at their house all day reminiscing and telling stories. The most emotional part of the entire day however was when his mom asked us what clothes we thought he would want to be buried in. This was the moment that it set in how very real suicide is and how someone who you have become so close with can be gone so soon. Unfortunately only a year later, his best friend also committed suicide. And although he didn’t leave a note, his friends and family believed it was because he couldn’t deal with the loss of his best friend. This just goes to further show how important it is to take suicide very seriously because these were two young men’s lives that we can never get back.

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Preventing Suicide Reach out for help Gerson Sterling

The most leading factor of suicide is from being depressed. Sometimes, when depression is so hard on us it feels unbearable. For some people in this world, when their depression gets so bad, they get to the point where they think living is not worth it anymore. Suicidal thoughts are not unusual, that should be signs that it’s time to talk to someone. Many people think that suicide is treatable, and never decide to ask for help or get support from someone.

But sometimes people that we trust or at least think that we trust are not helpful.There is a story that involves a boyfriend and a girlfriend (Conrad Ray III and Michelle Carter). The boyfriend was talking about taking his life, and he has been talking about it for months to his girlfriend, but she never gave him the help he was asking for. She pushed him to commit suicide by sending texts from her phone. People

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usually relate suicide to problems in their relationships, physical health problems, and other life stressors. If anyone reading this might be considering suicide, don’t wait until it is too late. Talk to a professional about it; they are not going to judge you or make fun of you.

Or if you know anybody that is having suicidal thoughts, talk to them about it, ask them any questions about it. If they are having suicidal thoughts, isn’t that going to increase the risk for them to act on it? If they do, you are not responsible for their actions. Let’s help prevent suicide by asking the tough questions, keeping them safe, being there and listening, and helping them connect to a support system, and following up with them in the process.

There is help, there is hope, and you are not alone. People are available 24/7 to listen, help, and get you the support you need.

Athletes and Addiction Pros Face Addiction More Than You Think Makenzie Musgrove

Addiction does not discriminate. Professional athletes are portrayed as mentally and physically strong individuals.

However, they are just as likely, if not more, to develop substance abuse. Addiction in athletes usually starts with a real prescription from a doctor but develops into the athlete taking that prescription beyond the time when their injury healed.

One reason this happens is because athletes have been known to underreport their pain level in order to get back to the field or court. In order to deal with the pain the athlete is experiencing, the athlete depends on the prescription painkillers so they can perform to the best of their ability. Athletes are willing to risk their health with substance abuse in order to play their sport. Other commonly abused drugs among professional athletes are stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin.

Athletes have been known to fake symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

(ADHD) in order to obtain a prescription from a doctor. Even though these drugs are banned in professional sports, it is hard to enforce because some of the prescriptions are legitimate, while others are not. These types of drugs also cannot be completely banned because some athletes actually need them. Erik Ainge is a former backup quarterback for the New York Jets and sat out the entire 2010 season to overcome his addiction with prescription painkillers. This addiction started after an injury. Sam Rayborn is a former defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles and also got into trouble with prescription painkillers. Rayborn was taken into police custody for committing fraud or forgery to illegally obtain prescription painkillers. It was then discovered that at his worst he was taking 100 Percocets a day. Even though professional athletes might seem like they have it all, they are just as fragile as the rest of the general population.

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We Want You Alive Suicide Prevention Justin Starks

Suicide is a very touchy topic for a lot of reasons and also for a lot of people. Me personally I have never had suicide thoughts, but I have gone through a slight depression before. I was low. I had no self-esteem and no self-confidence. I didn’t know what to do in life. I was just going through the motions honestly not doing anything to help myself but lucky for me, I had a friend seeing what I was going through. She talked to me and gave me some great advice. She said, “I know what you’re going through and I know it’s tough but you have to find a way to pick yourself up. You have to find a reason to get up in the morning and go conquer the world. But you have to do it for you. Not anyone else, just for you.”What she said lit a spark inside of me. A spark to overcome what I’m going through, pick myself and to love myself again.

For others, I know it’s not that simple. What I went through was mild compared to a lot of people out in the world. Suicide usually starts with depression and increases from there. But for whoever is reading this and maybe going through some hard times.

Just know, you matter. You’re loved. And also, that you are a good person and you are strong. There is help out there for you. You have to be the one willing

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to receive the help as well but you can do it. Here in KC there are many suicide prevention centers out the re.

One I choose was Suicide Awareness Survivor Support. They are open 24 hours a day, so no matter what time it is they are always available.

They have a wonderful staff who know exactly what to do to cater your needs at your lowest moments.

Please seek the help. You matter and we need You here on this earth.

Photo From: active.com

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