please take care

[Zoe Girl]

I am in shock, and my concern is for all my friends who feel a level of fear and uncertainty right now. Please be there for each other if this affects you deeply, there are people in our LGBQT community, people of color, women, who may be feeling a large level of distress right now. Knowing the kids that I work with at the youth drop in center I am concerned about the suicide rate increasing.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline:
1-800-273-8255
Colorado Crisis Line:
844-493-8255
Trans Lifeline:
877-565-8860
NAMI crisis text line:
Text NAMI to 741-741

[lac]

Thanks for sharing. The world could be in a dangerous place for the upcoming months/years. Let's hope for the best and give the haters the benefit of the doubt that they won't act out with the soon to be Chief Racist and his VP Bigot

[frugalone]

Between the election and a situation in my personal life, believe me, suicide has crossed my mind. But I won't do it. Thanks for the support.

[bae]

I responded to a suicide a few weeks ago.

I wish the person had talked to someone.

They left a partner, several children, and an extended family all grieving.

And they killed themselves in a way that while they must have thought was simple and considerate, in fact required half a dozen of us spending most of the day collecting the rather messy evidence, and then moving the body a considerable distance with technical rescue gear. And then having a couple of after-the-event discussion sessions to calm our nerves.

I'm sure in their state of mind they weren't thinking about other people, but suicide has a huge cost on a community.

[Teacher Terry]

My BIL killed himself while living with my stepson who was only about 22 at the time. It was horrible. He didn't realize he was dead so pulled him off bed and tried to do CPR. People just don't realize the pain that their loved ones suffer.

[nswef]

Thanks ZoeGirl, I posted it on my Facebook. It's a grieving time. We were at a funeral today and I feel the grief was as much for our country as for the woman who died. I keep thinking of when JFK, Bobby Kennedy, MLK, Malcom X, the Freedom Riders, the Kent State protesters were murdered. I feel the same...and it is 50 years or more later! When will we ever learn?

[Ultralight]

People just don't realize the pain that their loved ones suffer.

This sentiment goes both directions.

[Zoe Girl]

Thank you for reading and sharing. My young trans friend posted this, I think that if you have trans people in your life they will need special care right now.

[messengerhot]

I am in shock, and my concern is for all my friends who feel a level of fear and uncertainty right now. Please be there for each other if this affects you deeply, there are people in our LGBQT community, people of color, women, who may be feeling a large level of distress right now. Knowing the kids that I work with at the youth drop in center I am concerned about the suicide rate increasing. Whenever someone feels hopeless, encourage Him with the Word of God. That's the best thing to do :)

[Ultralight]

Whenever someone feels hopeless, encourage Him with the Word of God. That's the best thing to do :)

Which god? Which words?

[Zoe Girl]

Whenever someone feels hopeless, encourage Him with the Word of God. That's the best thing to do :)

that_is_fine_for_some_people,,it_would_really_not_ help_me,especially_if_you_are_talking_christian(sp acebarisnotworking!_

[LDAHL]

Which god? Which words?

It varies, but in general religious people are less likely to kill themselves than non-religious people.

It may be that belief in something greater than yourself encourages more long-term thinking, concern for who might be affected by your death, or psychological resilience. It may also be that religious people tend to have a more robust support system through intact families or church communities. If you view your life as a gift, you may be less inclined to throw it away. Especially over something as transient as an election.

[Zoe Girl]

I have read more on addiction and other mental health issues and community seems to be a huge protective factor. With our generation and younger being less religious then we face a challenge of creating new communities that are robust and supportive. I love hearing how much community UA has with the athiests.

I do think this election has been very different, despite my best effort to treat it as just one I lost I get reports of some bad stuff happening at least weekly. A survey of school teachers showed that 90% have seen a definite serious change and impact at schools since the election. Also reports of vandalism around Denver are different than what I have heard in many years. I honestly think we would be getting some of this no matter who won because we opened a big wound this year, but it is good to be aware of what is happening if you don't work in an environment where you have the same experience.

[LDAHL]

I can understand a certain degree of upset over the prospect of a Trump presidency. I myself regard him as a Democrat in wolf's clothing. But self-slaughter over it strikes me as proving the cliche about permanent solutions to temporary problems.

[JaneV2.0]

I can understand a certain degree of upset over the prospect of a Trump presidency. I myself regard him as a Democrat in wolf's clothing. But self-slaughter over it strikes me as proving the cliche about permanent solutions to temporary problems.

If he's a Democrat, he's sure being stealthy about it--what with his recalcitrant cabinet and all. I would agree that he isn't a classic Republican--those have gone the way of the Tasmanian tiger. I'd say he's a dangerous megalomaniac with the temperament of a two-year-old and his little tiny finger poised over the launch button. I do hope we all survive him and his henchmen.

[ApatheticNoMore]

If he's a Democrat, he's sure being stealthy about it--what with his recalcitrant cabinet and all.

if he's a Democrat then Hillary Clinton is a Republican. It's the exact same reasoning, so why not? In the past and this is decades ago Trump has supported Democratic politicians (but does he strike you as particularly ideological on most things? Nah me either, although possibly easily influenced by whomever he is around). And in the past and this is even more decades ago Hillary supported Goldwater. So goose gander and so on.

You could argue Clinton policies are Republican as well, but then in most cases you are really going back to what Bill Clinton's policies were (say ending welfare as we know it etc.).

[iris lilies]

if he's a Democrat then Hillary Clinton is a Republican. It's the exact same reasoning, so why not? In the past and this is decades ago Trump has supported Democratic politicians (but does he strike you as particularly ideological on most things? Nah me either, although possibly easily influenced by whomever he is around). And in the past and this is even more decades ago Hillary supported Goldwater. So goose gander and so on.

You could argue Clinton policies are Republican as well, but then in most cases you are really going back to what Bill Clinton's policies were (say ending welfare as we know it etc.).
I agree that Bill Clinton can claim that "ending welfare as we know it" happened on his watch so sure, we can give him credit.

But it was part of Newt Gingrich's Contract with America, this welfare reform was crafted by the Republicans in response to what Americans wanted.

[LDAHL]

if he's a Democrat then Hillary Clinton is a Republican. It's the exact same reasoning, so why not? In the past and this is decades ago Trump has supported Democratic politicians (but does he strike you as particularly ideological on most things? Nah me either.

There is an interesting piece on just that topic in National Review.

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/443221/donald-trump-pragmatist-aligned-obama-ideas-not-conservatism

Obama liked to pretend that he was a pragmatist with little interest in ideology, but Trump may be the real thing. Of course, if by "ideology" we mean "core principles", that could be problematic.

Going by the "if it quacks like a duck" rule, Trump sounds like a Democrat to me. He's comfortable with government intervention in the economy. He believes he can "save jobs" through trade protectionism. He loudly claims he will preserve entitlement programs without providing much detail on how he will go about doing that. He does not shrink from practicing identity politics. He seems to favor big, top-down government solutions over problem-solving at the local level. He seems to regard the courts as another legislative body to be judged based on outcomes rather than interpreters of the law.

[Teacher Terry]

Another reason that religious people commit suicide less is because they believe that it is a mortal sin and they won't go to heaven.

[Tybee]

Well, no doubt some do, but the Church has changed the teaching on that, so they are no longer learning that at church.
I think people who have spiritual support, which may or may not come from church, are happier in general, and probably more connected to others, which lessens the chance for suicide.

[Teacher Terry]

Some churches had changed their teachings but not all. Many factors play into suicide including isolation, etc. I agree the more support you have the better you are able to deal with life.

[Tybee]

Good point, some churches probably do still teach that! Very true about social isolation.

[Tammy]

http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/3928675

[Tybee]

http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/3928675


Fascinating, the exact opposite of what previous studies have shown! To me, this was the weirdest point in the article:

"Professor Michael King sums up all the research to date by concluding maximum psychiatric vulnerability seems to stem from spirituality not tied to religion."

[Teacher Terry]

That was really interesting. The opposite of what you would think.