Dear Friend's and Client’s,
There are many ways that we can
contribute to suicide prevention, because after all is said and done every ones
knows that Suicide Is Preventable.sm.
In the event you are now or have
been in the past been suicidal, please don't hurt yourself or attempt to
kill yourself or others. It is also important to understand that suicidal ideas
are merely symptoms like a fever is to an infection.
There are underlying reasons for these symptoms and they can be successfully
treated much like antibiotics for infections. There are some specialized
counseling and psychotherapies that research has shown can reduce the symptoms
of depression and suicide.
I will endeavor to listen and attempt to understand your special situation and
thereafter based upon my extensive experience over the course of time, I
will either recommend a placement with one of our licensed mental health
professionals for counseling and/or psychotherapy or make an appropriate referral
outside of our organization.
Many of you with depression and other related symptoms have been discouraged
because you have attempted counseling, psychotherapy and medications in the
past without significant success.
I am aware of these and many other problems that exist in receiving and
benefiting from mental health services and suicide prevention hotlines.
In the interim, you may be
interested to learn more about our plans to expand our outreach for suicide
prevention. I have identified a vital flaw in the delivery of counseling
services for severely depressed and/or suicidal persons that I would like to
share with you.
In general, the first
responders to a suicide crisis situation are typically suicide hotlines. Those
crisis hotlines are staffed by generally very well meaning individuals who
volunteer their time to counsel those suicidal patients in crisis.
However, as volunteers they generally do not possess either a degree in
psychology nor are they licensed to practice counseling and psychotherapy. This
is a serious problem because these patients are generally severely
depressed and suicidal or may be at high risk for suicide intent. These
patients require professional responders because they are severely mentally disturbed
or have clinically acute symptoms that may represent a significant risk factor
to life and limb for themselves and at times for others.
On the other hand, our organization is committed to building an infrastructure
of professional and licensed responders to suicide emergencies.
In the past, as founder and chairman
of Humanistic Mental Health Foundation,I had many other professional and
financial resources available including a grants and benefits program to
supplement income and related expenditures in facilitating intensive treatment
in hospital settings.
Today I am attempting to reconstruct and improve upon those programs, so as to
enable many others who simply cannot afford to pay for professional services or
proper medications in a crisis. This is the one of the reasons why I am
reaching out to others who have been blessed with abundance or simply want to
support those life saving causes.
We all have the tendency for self destructive behaviors in one form or other
and struggle for survival and prosperity. In the abundance of our own strengths,
we can and should help others along the way...
You may contact me by whatever
manner you are comfortable to share your thoughts, ideas, lend time,
resources or otherwise make a contribution for the prevention of
suicide.
Perhaps you and/or your family
will CARE TO SHAREsm.
Best Wishes,
Stephen
Simon,
Director/Founder
National Suicide Prevention
Suicide Is Preventable.sm.
866-SUICIDE(866-784-2433)