The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: "If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States." Dial 988
September 10th is WorldSuicide Prevention Day
...In the past,
I struggled with suicidal thoughts. So, you are not alone.
Therefore, if you feel like you are suicidal,
please get help, so that—someday—you too can tell someone who might be suicidal:
"In the past, I struggled with suicidal thoughts..."
-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Small All White in the Forest)
"I am no barrier to its sun; the light and I are as one!"
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My Writing About Psychological Healing Through Professional Therapy (One Paragraph): As a self-designated 'Poet, Artist and Philosopher,' I feel an obligation to explain what I believe to be true about psychological healing through professional therapy. You see, in my lifetime I have dealt with many psychological (mental health) issues, including generalized anxiety disorder, and/or clinical depression, for which I have sought treatment through professional therapy on multiple occasions. Therefore, during those times in my life when I felt like I needed therapy, I would kind of "put my life on hold," so to speak, until I had dealt with whatever issue that was making me feel "stuck" in my life. That way, I could totally heal that particular issue—for however long that it took to heal that particular issue—and, then, I could finally get on with my life... Thankfully, I was raised in a family in which going to see a therapist was perfectly acceptable—if necessary—just like going see a medical doctor was perfectly acceptable, if necessary. Thus, our culture's beliefs regarding medical treatment of physiological (physical) issues goes something like the following: If you have the kind of injury that you can treat with a Band-Aid and some Neosporin, or if you have the kind of illness that you can treat with NyQuil and/or DayQuil, by all means do so! If, however, you have a much more severe injury—and/or if you have a much more severe illness—you go see a medical doctor, or you go to an urgent care clinic, or you go to the emergency room, so that you can heal! And our culture's beliefs regarding therapeutic (therapy) treatment of psychological (mental health) issues should basically be the same kind of thinking: So, if you are just feeling "a little down in the dumps," so to speak, you can simply talk to a family member, or a friend, or chat online with someone on a social networking site, and that takes care of the issue! If, however, you have much more severe psychological issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or much more severe psychological illnesses, such as clinical depression, or suicidal thoughts, you go see a licensed therapist—like a Licensed Professional Counselor, or a Psychologist (which is a licensed therapist with a graduate degree in psychology), or a Psychiatrist (which is a licensed therapist with a graduate degree in psychology who is also a medical doctor)—or you call a crisis helpline, such as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (dial 988 on your telephone), so that you can heal! –Paul Whiting (written September 10th, 2022, revised October 22nd, 2023 and revised June 15th, 2024)
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My Writing About Psychological Healing Through Professional Therapy (Multiple Paragraphs): As a self-designated 'Poet, Artist and Philosopher,' I feel an obligation to explain what I believe to be true about psychological healing through professional therapy.
You see, in my lifetime I have dealt with many psychological (mental health) issues, including generalized anxiety disorder, and/or clinical depression, for which I have sought treatment through professional therapy on multiple occasions. Therefore, during those times in my life when I felt like I needed therapy, I would kind of "put my life on hold," so to speak, until I had dealt with whatever issue that was making me feel "stuck" in my life. That way, I could totally heal that particular issue—for however long that it took to heal that particular issue—and, then, I could finally get on with my life... Thankfully, I was raised in a family in which going to see a therapist was perfectly acceptable—if necessary—just like going see a medical doctor was perfectly acceptable, if necessary.
Thus, our culture's beliefs regarding medical treatment of physiological (physical) issues goes something like the following: If you have the kind of injury that you can treat with a Band-Aid and some Neosporin, or if you have the kind of illness that you can treat with NyQuil and/or DayQuil, by all means do so! If, however, you have a much more severe injury—and/or if you have a much more severe illness—you go see a medical doctor, or you go to an urgent care clinic, or you go to the emergency room, so that you can heal!
And our culture's beliefs regarding therapeutic (therapy) treatment of psychological (mental health) issues should basically be the same kind of thinking: So, if you are just feeling "a little down in the dumps," so to speak, you can simply talk to a family member, or a friend, or chat online with someone on a social networking site, and that takes care of the issue! If, however, you have much more severe psychological issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or much more severe psychological illnesses, such as clinical depression, or suicidal thoughts, you go see a licensed therapist—like a Licensed Professional Counselor, or a Psychologist (which is a licensed therapist with a graduate degree in psychology), or a Psychiatrist (which is a licensed therapist with a graduate degree in psychology who is also a medical doctor)—or you call a crisis helpline, such as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (dial 988 on your telephone), so that you can heal! –Paul Whiting (written September 10th, 2022, revised October 22nd, 2023 and revised June 15th, 2024)
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My Poetic Notes:
The reason that I wrote this prose can be summed up with the following statement: "...In the past,
I have struggled with suicidal thoughts. So, you are not alone. Therefore, if you feel like you are suicidal,
please get help. So that—someday—you, too, can tell someone who might be suicidal,
"In the past, I have struggled with suicidal thoughts..."
Also, beginning in January 2013, I tried to create a post for virtually every holiday and special occasion of which I was aware, but I realized by September 2014 that I did not have enough time and energy to continue posting for every holiday and special occasion. And I decided to keep the poems in that series which were the most relevant to this blog, of which this is one.
And this prose was also published on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this prose applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer."
This prose was written in Portland, Oregon.
-Paulee
https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com
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International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP):
Welcome!
The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) is dedicated to: preventing suicidal behaviour, alleviating its effects, and providing a forum for academics, mental health professionals, crisis workers, volunteers and suicide survivors.
Founded by the late Professor Erwin Ringel and Dr. Norman Farberow in 1960, IASP now includes professionals and volunteers from more than fifty different countries. IASP is a Non-Governmental Organization in official relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO) concerned with suicide prevention.
If you are feeling suicidal or know of someone who needs help, browse Help (
https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/) to find a crisis center anywhere in the world.
https://www.iasp.info
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The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (please see the hyperlink below for the website):
988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. While some areas may be currently able to connect to the Lifeline by dialing 988, this dialing code will be available to everyone across the United States starting on July 16, 2022.
Talk To Someone Now
If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.
What Happens When I Call The Lifeline?
First, you’ll hear a message telling you that you’ve reached the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
We’ll play you a little hold music while we connect you.
A skilled, trained crisis worker who works at the Lifeline network crisis center closest to you will answer the phone.
This person will listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and share any resources that may be helpful.
Remember, your call is confidential and free.
Should I Call The Lifeline?
No matter what problems you’re dealing with, whether or not you’re thinking about suicide, if you need someone to lean on for emotional support, call the Lifeline.
People call to talk about lots of things: substance abuse, economic worries, relationships, sexual identity, getting over abuse, depression, mental and physical illness, and loneliness, to name a few.
https://988lifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now
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July 16th, 2022 Update, Written On July 17th, 2022: I watched a YouTube video titled, "Access to mental health help now just three digits away" today, July 17th, 2022, which explained the rollout—yesterday, July 16th, 2022—of "the new 988 simplified national health crisis and suicide prevention lifeline."
Therefore, here is a summary for the new "988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline" from their website (please see the hyperlink below for the website):
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. While some areas may be currently able to connect to the Lifeline by dialing 988, this dialing code will be available to everyone across the United States starting on July 16, 2022.
Talk To Someone Now
If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.
What Happens When I Call The Lifeline?
First, you’ll hear a message telling you that you’ve reached the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
We’ll play you a little hold music while we connect you.
A skilled, trained crisis worker who works at the Lifeline network crisis center closest to you will answer the phone.
This person will listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and share any resources that may be helpful.
Remember, your call is confidential and free.
Should I Call The Lifeline?
No matter what problems you’re dealing with, whether or not you’re thinking about suicide, if you need someone to lean on for emotional support, call the Lifeline.
People call to talk about lots of things: substance abuse, economic worries, relationships, sexual identity, getting over abuse, depression, mental and physical illness, and loneliness, to name a few.
https://988lifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now
And below, please find the prose that I wrote from a blog post that I originally published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog, and which I am planning to republish for a blog post on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog, with regard to World Suicide Prevention Day, which is September 10th each year:
...In the past, I struggled with suicidal thoughts. So, you are not alone.
Therefore, if you feel like you are suicidal, please get help, so that—someday—you too can tell someone who might be suicidal:
"In the past, I struggled with suicidal thoughts..."
Thus, I decided to write this update about the new "988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline" name and phone number. So, if you feel like you are in crisis—or if you feel like you are suicidal—please dial "988" to get help!
–Paul Whiting (written July 17th, 2022, revised July 21st, 2022, revised December 19th, 2022, revised March 27th, 2023, revised April 11th, 2023, revised June 17th, 2023 and revised September 10th, 2024)
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: "If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States." Dial 988
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October 24th, 2023 Update No. 7 [My Writing About How I Have Changed The Way That I Label My Blog Posts 'Updates' For Any Additional 'Updates' That I Write, After The First 'Update,' By Using A Simple Numbering System, Which Starts With The First 'Update' (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog)]:
I have changed the way I label the blog post 'updates' that I write because I oftentimes write more than one 'update' per day!
And in the past, I have labeled the second, third, fourth and fifth 'update' with the following extensions—on the days that I write more than 'update'—to differentiate any additional 'updates' from the first one, as follows:
[1st] Month Day, Year Update
[2nd] Month Day, Year Update—Continued
[3rd] Month Day, Year Update—Continued Further
[4th] Month Day, Year Update—Continued Further Some More
[5th] Month Day, Year Update—Continued Further Some More Than Before
However today, October 24th, 2023, I actually had more than five 'updates' to write, so I decided to change how I differentiate any additional 'updates,' from the first 'update,' by using a simple numbering system, which actually starts with the first 'update' that I write, as follows:
Month Day, Year Update No. 1
Month Day, Year Update No. 2
Month Day, Year Update No. 3
Month Day, Year Update No. 4
Month Day, Year Update No. 5
Month Day, Year Update No. 6
Month Day, Year Update No. 7
Therefore, that is why this 'update' is the seventh one for today! –Paul Whiting (written October 24th, 2023 and revised October 28th, 2023)
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September 10th, 2024 Update No. 1: World Suicide Prevention Day is today September 10th, 2024, since World Suicide Prevention Day is yearly (annually) on September 10th.
And I saved a video titled, "The 988 Hotline Is Changing Crisis Response in the U.S." on my YouTube 'Watch Later' Playlist that I watched today, which is a testament to the incredible help the new "988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline" — that was rolled out on July 16th, 2022 — is providing. (Please see my 'July 16th, 2022 Update, Written On July 17th, 2022,' which can be found above.) Here is the description from that video (with a hyperlink to the video below):
The 988 Hotline Is Changing Crisis Response in the U.S.
NowThis Impact
If you or someone you know is struggling, 988 is the number to call for help — these people share how reaching out to the anonymous crisis hotline changed their lives (warning: distressing)
https://youtu.be/A7_V879pcLg?si=s5uBd8QlaJcKJkP6
And after I watched the video—which I had specifically saved on my YouTube 'Watch Later' Playlist to watch on World Suicide Prevention Day—I decided to write this 'update' so that I could encourage you, my readers, to consider watching the video too. –Paul Whiting (September 10th, 2024)
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: "If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States." Dial 988
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The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: "If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States." Dial 988
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This "Small All White in the Forest" Post No. 183 was edited on September 10th, 2024.
"Prose is using all of the words that are necessary in order to describe all that is necessary to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]
