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Canadian throat singer Shina Novalinga opens up about suicide attempt: ‘Mental illness is real’Yahoo! Style
December 2, 2022
Inuk throat singer and activist Shina Novalinga, who has 2 million followers on Instagram, opened up about her recent suicide attempt in a post. “On November 1st of this year, I’ve attempted to end my life. I have been and I am still suffering with my mental illness, want to share my story with you because I know deep down I’m not alone… in reality, I am battling with depression. Mental illness is real,” says Novalinga. “I am grateful to be given another chance. I am grateful for my family and my friends. I know I can get better, I know we can get out of this. Time off is needed. Thank you for being by my side.” Novalinga says she’s going to try “look past” the discriminatory comments she faces on social media and “focus on the positive – the love and support.” She adds that she’d like to focus on creating safe spaces for Indigenous communities to feel valued and respected, “It’s fundamental that people know that they’re capable of reaching any goal they set for themselves, and this starts with feeling included and cared for by society.”

Wheat Kings talk distressed man off bridge Brandon Sun
December 2, 2022
**Method warning** Brandon Wheat King’s teammates Calder Anderson, Nolan Ritchie, Jake Chiasson and Ben Thornton, noticed a man in distress while out for a drive in Brandon, Manitoba. The group stopped to speak with the man. Anderson says, “I got out of the car and asked him if he was OK.He informed me that things weren’t great for him and he was having some pretty bad thoughts, so I asked him if we could get some help and he agreed. I think the biggest thing in that situation is just to ask the person if they need help, and as soon as I asked, you could see the relief on his face knowing he had someone to care for him.” They then called the police, who say the man is safe and has sought out treatment.

Domestic abuse is important risk factor for suicideBritish Medical Journal Editorials
December 1, 2022
**Method warning** A UK woman’s recent suicide death has been linked directly to the intimate partner violence she experienced, noting that, “The coroner recommended greater recognition of the link between domestic abuse and suicide among first responders and improved coordination between agencies to prevent future death.” This editorial describes what can be done to help those experiencing intimate partner violence and other challenges. The authors note, “Interactions between poverty, abuse, and suicidal ideation mean that improving data collection, training responders, establishing referral pathways, co-producing interventions, and making healthcare services trauma informed cannot wait.”

Teen Suicide Prevention: Parents Can Play an Important RolePsychology Today
November 30, 2022
This article includes information about teen suicide, including how to speak with young people about suicide, how to recognize warning signs, and factors that increase suicide risk, such as bullying, bias against LGBTQ youth, and sudden loss. The author, psychologist Suzanne B. Phillips, says, “Too often, the teen’s provocative behavior results in cycles of fighting and animosity that create distance between parent and teen. When you see warning signs, move in closer with concern rather than criticism. The important thing is being authentic and connecting with love and concern.”

Grief Is a Forever Thing New York Times
November 27, 2022
Jill Bialosky ,who lost her sister to suicide in 1990, shares her experience with grief, which is ongoing, and argues that prolonged grief isn’t pathological – despite having just recently been identified by the DSM-5 as a mental disorder. Bialosky says, “Calling prolonged grief a disorder is useful for insurance purposes, which may be a good thing for those who need treatment. But this paradigm has unintended consequences, suggesting that it is abnormal not to be able to return to daily life after suffering from loss. I consider grief a forever thing. It returns in different waves of intensity, but it never fully goes away. In the initial years after my sister died, I suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder because of the shock of her act and the distress that ensued. As I’ve come to know more about the suicidal mind, and no longer carry the shame that results from the stigma of suicide and the sense of failure from not having somehow intervened, the grief has become integrated into my mind and body.”

‘Power Rangers’ Alum Amy Jo Johnson Breaks Down in Tears as She Mourns Death of Jason David FrankPeople
November 21, 2022
Jason David Frank, 49, died by suicide in November. Frank is known for his role on the Power Rangers. On Instagram Live, Frank’s co-star Amy Jo Johnson said of Frank, “He was such a force and such a bright, bright, crazy, wild, funny light…  He was always just like constantly calling and texting me how proud he is of me… (I’m) going to miss him a lot…” Johnson adds, “Anybody who is out there who is feeling depressed and like there’s no hope, just know that that’s not the way and there is help and you do have a community here. Just reach out. Reach out for help if you are feeling like that.”

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