on a Saturday afternoon while many people were relaxing for the weekend a
people were relaxing for the weekend a
people were relaxing for the weekend a man who faced what seemed like an
man who faced what seemed like an
man who faced what seemed like an insurmountable obstacle went down to his
insurmountable obstacle went down to his
insurmountable obstacle went down to his local bridge and thought about ending
local bridge and thought about ending
local bridge and thought about ending his life hurt people hurt people as the
his life hurt people hurt people as the
his life hurt people hurt people as the old saying goes I believe this is true I
old saying goes I believe this is true I
old saying goes I believe this is true I also believe helped people help people
also believe helped people help people
also believe helped people help people and even when we’re wounded we can help
and even when we’re wounded we can help
and even when we’re wounded we can help others help us I’m going to illustrate
others help us I’m going to illustrate
others help us I’m going to illustrate these truths using one of the most
these truths using one of the most
these truths using one of the most extreme stigmatized and relevant topics
extreme stigmatized and relevant topics
extreme stigmatized and relevant topics I know
I know
I know suicide how will the story end for the
suicide how will the story end for the
suicide how will the story end for the man on the bridge is there any hope for
man on the bridge is there any hope for
man on the bridge is there any hope for him I promise to tell you by the end of
him I promise to tell you by the end of
him I promise to tell you by the end of my talk but not just yet first I’d like
my talk but not just yet first I’d like
my talk but not just yet first I’d like to ask you all to stand
I’m going to ask you a question so
I’m going to ask you a question so please listen very carefully if you know
please listen very carefully if you know
please listen very carefully if you know someone who is died by suicide or if you
someone who is died by suicide or if you
someone who is died by suicide or if you or someone you know has attempted
or someone you know has attempted
or someone you know has attempted suicide or had thoughts of suicide
suicide or had thoughts of suicide
suicide or had thoughts of suicide please continue to stand everyone else
please continue to stand everyone else
please continue to stand everyone else can sit down take a moment to look
can sit down take a moment to look
can sit down take a moment to look around at how many lives just in this
around at how many lives just in this
around at how many lives just in this random sampling which is almost a
random sampling which is almost a
random sampling which is almost a hundred percent of the people in this
hundred percent of the people in this
hundred percent of the people in this room have been touched by suicide in
room have been touched by suicide in
room have been touched by suicide in some way and when I’ve asked this
some way and when I’ve asked this
some way and when I’ve asked this question at other events the numbers
question at other events the numbers
question at other events the numbers have been anywhere from seventy to
have been anywhere from seventy to
have been anywhere from seventy to ninety nine percent you are anything but
ninety nine percent you are anything but
ninety nine percent you are anything but alone thank you you can take your seats
alone thank you you can take your seats
alone thank you you can take your seats someone once said to me when a person is
someone once said to me when a person is
someone once said to me when a person is thinking of suicide it’s not that they
thinking of suicide it’s not that they
thinking of suicide it’s not that they want to die it’s that they don’t know
want to die it’s that they don’t know
want to die it’s that they don’t know how to live not knowing how to live is
how to live not knowing how to live is
how to live not knowing how to live is like facing a mountain having no idea
like facing a mountain having no idea
like facing a mountain having no idea how to get to the other side unlike real
how to get to the other side unlike real
how to get to the other side unlike real mountains sometimes we think we need to
mountains sometimes we think we need to
mountains sometimes we think we need to bound over our problems in a single leap
bound over our problems in a single leap
bound over our problems in a single leap no doubt that feels impossible and if
no doubt that feels impossible and if
no doubt that feels impossible and if that’s what living looks like impossible
that’s what living looks like impossible
that’s what living looks like impossible then one may start to focus on what they
then one may start to focus on what they
then one may start to focus on what they think is the only other option dying if
think is the only other option dying if
think is the only other option dying if you were thinking of dying who would you
you were thinking of dying who would you
you were thinking of dying who would you tell as a certified suicide intervention
tell as a certified suicide intervention
tell as a certified suicide intervention trainer I always ask this question in my
trainer I always ask this question in my
trainer I always ask this question in my workshops and the top responses are
workshops and the top responses are
workshops and the top responses are consistently a friend a family member or
consistently a friend a family member or
consistently a friend a family member or a caring person if you are the caring
a caring person if you are the caring
a caring person if you are the caring person someone else would tell how
person someone else would tell how
person someone else would tell how prepared do you feel to help save a life
prepared do you feel to help save a life
prepared do you feel to help save a life at risk of suicide ten years ago I met
at risk of suicide ten years ago I met
at risk of suicide ten years ago I met and married my first husband after we
and married my first husband after we
and married my first husband after we married we learned he lived with a
married we learned he lived with a
married we learned he lived with a mental illness called psychotic
mental illness called psychotic
mental illness called psychotic depression that meant when he would get
depression that meant when he would get
depression that meant when he would get depressed he would get paranoid every
depressed he would get paranoid every
depressed he would get paranoid every time he did he accumulated new fears
time he did he accumulated new fears
time he did he accumulated new fears this was one of the Malkin’s he faced
this was one of the Malkin’s he faced
this was one of the Malkin’s he faced after eight months of marriage he fell
after eight months of marriage he fell
after eight months of marriage he fell into a deep psychotic depression and he
into a deep psychotic depression and he
into a deep psychotic depression and he attempted to take his own life
attempted to take his own life
attempted to take his own life he survived that attempt
he survived that attempt
he survived that attempt and he slowly learned to cope with the
and he slowly learned to cope with the
and he slowly learned to cope with the mental illness he lived with although he
mental illness he lived with although he
mental illness he lived with although he was so skilled at being who he thought
was so skilled at being who he thought
was so skilled at being who he thought he needed to be on the outside while his
he needed to be on the outside while his
he needed to be on the outside while his world was falling apart on the inside he
world was falling apart on the inside he
world was falling apart on the inside he came to understand that his best defense
came to understand that his best defense
came to understand that his best defense for survival was through vulnerability
for survival was through vulnerability
for survival was through vulnerability as much as it terrified him it was his
as much as it terrified him it was his
as much as it terrified him it was his vulnerability that helped others help
vulnerability that helped others help
vulnerability that helped others help him over the next three and a half years
him over the next three and a half years
him over the next three and a half years he became a father was an incredibly
he became a father was an incredibly
he became a father was an incredibly successful salesperson and he helped a
successful salesperson and he helped a
successful salesperson and he helped a homeless couple get off the streets then
homeless couple get off the streets then
homeless couple get off the streets then one morning I couldn’t get a hold of him
one morning I couldn’t get a hold of him
one morning I couldn’t get a hold of him I remember clutching my hands together
I remember clutching my hands together
I remember clutching my hands together as though I was gripping his when we’ll
as though I was gripping his when we’ll
as though I was gripping his when we’ll seated in my office at work the police
seated in my office at work the police
seated in my office at work the police told me my husband had died my heart
told me my husband had died my heart
told me my husband had died my heart sank my body tensed and shock melted
sank my body tensed and shock melted
sank my body tensed and shock melted into tears he was 33 years old and it
into tears he was 33 years old and it
into tears he was 33 years old and it was the eve of her daughter’s second
was the eve of her daughter’s second
was the eve of her daughter’s second birthday leading up to that fateful day
birthday leading up to that fateful day
birthday leading up to that fateful day I had been struggling with my own
I had been struggling with my own
I had been struggling with my own suicidal ideation from living with
suicidal ideation from living with
suicidal ideation from living with post-traumatic stress disorder I refer
post-traumatic stress disorder I refer
post-traumatic stress disorder I refer to this traumatic onslaught as being
to this traumatic onslaught as being
to this traumatic onslaught as being what I called trauma triggered and when
what I called trauma triggered and when
what I called trauma triggered and when I was trauma triggered my mind would go
I was trauma triggered my mind would go
I was trauma triggered my mind would go into a panic like the commands on a
into a panic like the commands on a
into a panic like the commands on a keyboard used to restart a stuck
keyboard used to restart a stuck
keyboard used to restart a stuck computer all I could think about was
computer all I could think about was
computer all I could think about was control-alt-delete annoying my first
control-alt-delete annoying my first
control-alt-delete annoying my first husband was high risk at the time and
husband was high risk at the time and
husband was high risk at the time and understanding we were both fighting for
understanding we were both fighting for
understanding we were both fighting for our lives I reached out to some trusted
our lives I reached out to some trusted
our lives I reached out to some trusted friends and asked them to try to help
friends and asked them to try to help
friends and asked them to try to help him like me they did the best they could
him like me they did the best they could
him like me they did the best they could with what they had and what they knew at
with what they had and what they knew at
with what they had and what they knew at the time but it wasn’t enough to save
the time but it wasn’t enough to save
the time but it wasn’t enough to save him I want you to imagine for a moment
him I want you to imagine for a moment
him I want you to imagine for a moment that you’re spending time with someone
that you’re spending time with someone
that you’re spending time with someone you love suddenly they can’t breathe
you love suddenly they can’t breathe
you love suddenly they can’t breathe maybe they’re choking or drowning or
maybe they’re choking or drowning or
maybe they’re choking or drowning or clutching at their chest as they respond
clutching at their chest as they respond
clutching at their chest as they respond to being in cardiac arrest there
to being in cardiac arrest there
to being in cardiac arrest there right in front of you and you have no
right in front of you and you have no
right in front of you and you have no idea how to help them that was what it
idea how to help them that was what it
idea how to help them that was what it was like for us like watching a horrific
was like for us like watching a horrific
was like for us like watching a horrific accident and feeling helpless to stop it
accident and feeling helpless to stop it
accident and feeling helpless to stop it if you like me have lost a loved one to
if you like me have lost a loved one to
if you like me have lost a loved one to suicide we both have the opportunity to
suicide we both have the opportunity to
suicide we both have the opportunity to either live in the loss or live in the
either live in the loss or live in the
either live in the loss or live in the learning I’ve chosen to live in the
learning I’ve chosen to live in the
learning I’ve chosen to live in the learning and carry forward the lessons
learning and carry forward the lessons
learning and carry forward the lessons I’ve gleaned here’s one thing I’ve
I’ve gleaned here’s one thing I’ve
I’ve gleaned here’s one thing I’ve learned suicide is preventable through
learned suicide is preventable through
learned suicide is preventable through training and compassion please raise
training and compassion please raise
training and compassion please raise your hands if you’ve been trained in CPR
your hands if you’ve been trained in CPR
your hands if you’ve been trained in CPR or forc’d again almost everyone here
or forc’d again almost everyone here
or forc’d again almost everyone here perhaps some of that training even came
perhaps some of that training even came
perhaps some of that training even came to the forefront of your mind when I
to the forefront of your mind when I
to the forefront of your mind when I asked you to imagine yourself in a
asked you to imagine yourself in a
asked you to imagine yourself in a physical first-aid situation it would
physical first-aid situation it would
physical first-aid situation it would seem likely that since many of you
seem likely that since many of you
seem likely that since many of you raised your hands you probably
raised your hands you probably
raised your hands you probably understood at some point that by taking
understood at some point that by taking
understood at some point that by taking this training it could equip you to help
this training it could equip you to help
this training it could equip you to help save a life
save a life
save a life the number one reason you’d have the
the number one reason you’d have the
the number one reason you’d have the opportunity to use physical first-aid
opportunity to use physical first-aid
opportunity to use physical first-aid training in the u.s. is on a person
training in the u.s. is on a person
training in the u.s. is on a person who’s having an out-of-hospital cardiac
who’s having an out-of-hospital cardiac
who’s having an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest it might surprise you to learn
arrest it might surprise you to learn
arrest it might surprise you to learn that it’s actually four times more
that it’s actually four times more
that it’s actually four times more likely that you’ll meet someone who will
likely that you’ll meet someone who will
likely that you’ll meet someone who will attempt suicide and 26 times more likely
attempt suicide and 26 times more likely
attempt suicide and 26 times more likely but you’ll talk with someone who has had
but you’ll talk with someone who has had
but you’ll talk with someone who has had thoughts of suicide if you could have
thoughts of suicide if you could have
thoughts of suicide if you could have suicide first-aid training to learn how
suicide first-aid training to learn how
suicide first-aid training to learn how to help save one of these lives would
to help save one of these lives would
to help save one of these lives would you take it safe talk is like CPR
you take it safe talk is like CPR
you take it safe talk is like CPR training for those who want to learn how
training for those who want to learn how
training for those who want to learn how to help a person at risk designed by a
to help a person at risk designed by a
to help a person at risk designed by a Canadian organization called living
Canadian organization called living
Canadian organization called living works safe talk is a half-day
works safe talk is a half-day
works safe talk is a half-day evidence-based workshop that teaches
evidence-based workshop that teaches
evidence-based workshop that teaches people how to ask about suicide keep the
people how to ask about suicide keep the
people how to ask about suicide keep the person at risk safe and then connect
person at risk safe and then connect
person at risk safe and then connect that person with someone who can
that person with someone who can
that person with someone who can intervene in a more serious way in other
intervene in a more serious way in other
intervene in a more serious way in other words it helps people learn how to
words it helps people learn how to
words it helps people learn how to become first responders to help a person
become first responders to help a person
become first responders to help a person at
at
at breathe at a time when they feel that
breathe at a time when they feel that
breathe at a time when they feel that circumstance has taken their breath away
circumstance has taken their breath away
circumstance has taken their breath away I often wonder if I and others in my
I often wonder if I and others in my
I often wonder if I and others in my community had this training sooner is it
community had this training sooner is it
community had this training sooner is it possible that my first husband would
possible that my first husband would
possible that my first husband would still be alive I think the answer is yes
still be alive I think the answer is yes
still be alive I think the answer is yes Kevin Briggs was a highway patrol
Kevin Briggs was a highway patrol
Kevin Briggs was a highway patrol officer in San Francisco including
officer in San Francisco including
officer in San Francisco including patrolling the Golden Gate Bridge one of
patrolling the Golden Gate Bridge one of
patrolling the Golden Gate Bridge one of the most frequented spots in the world
the most frequented spots in the world
the most frequented spots in the world where people go to end their life he has
where people go to end their life he has
where people go to end their life he has done hundreds of suicide interventions
done hundreds of suicide interventions
done hundreds of suicide interventions and he has helped walk hundreds of
and he has helped walk hundreds of
and he has helped walk hundreds of people away from death and back towards
people away from death and back towards
people away from death and back towards life what if you could have suicide
life what if you could have suicide
life what if you could have suicide intervention skills like the ones Briggs
intervention skills like the ones Briggs
intervention skills like the ones Briggs had the good news is you can
had the good news is you can
had the good news is you can after taking safe talk I learned about
after taking safe talk I learned about
after taking safe talk I learned about another program called assist assist
another program called assist assist
another program called assist assist stands for applied suicide intervention
stands for applied suicide intervention
stands for applied suicide intervention skills training also designed by living
skills training also designed by living
skills training also designed by living works in the assist program people learn
works in the assist program people learn
works in the assist program people learn how to ask about suicide listen to
how to ask about suicide listen to
how to ask about suicide listen to stories of pain and loss identify hope
stories of pain and loss identify hope
stories of pain and loss identify hope and then work with the person at risk to
and then work with the person at risk to
and then work with the person at risk to help build a safe plan it’s kind of like
help build a safe plan it’s kind of like
help build a safe plan it’s kind of like resuscitation of the spirit a heartbeat
resuscitation of the spirit a heartbeat
resuscitation of the spirit a heartbeat of hope for the hurting like the Red
of hope for the hurting like the Red
of hope for the hurting like the Red Cross living works programs are being
Cross living works programs are being
Cross living works programs are being deployed throughout the world in 2015
deployed throughout the world in 2015
deployed throughout the world in 2015 Ottawa became the first large city to
Ottawa became the first large city to
Ottawa became the first large city to approve safe talk training free of
approve safe talk training free of
approve safe talk training free of charge to all 17,000 public employees
charge to all 17,000 public employees
charge to all 17,000 public employees indigenous groups throughout Canada the
indigenous groups throughout Canada the
indigenous groups throughout Canada the US Australia and New Zealand are making
US Australia and New Zealand are making
US Australia and New Zealand are making use of programs like assist to try to
use of programs like assist to try to
use of programs like assist to try to help build suicide safer communities in
help build suicide safer communities in
help build suicide safer communities in Kilkenny Ireland there’s a taxicab
Kilkenny Ireland there’s a taxicab
Kilkenny Ireland there’s a taxicab driver named Eric Devoy and he
driver named Eric Devoy and he
driver named Eric Devoy and he recognized that he was driving home a
recognized that he was driving home a
recognized that he was driving home a surprisingly large number of at-risk
surprisingly large number of at-risk
surprisingly large number of at-risk individuals to their destination he took
individuals to their destination he took
individuals to their destination he took safe talks so he can learn how to help
safe talks so he can learn how to help
safe talks so he can learn how to help keep his passengers safe too
keep his passengers safe too
keep his passengers safe too day almost all taxicab drivers in Cook
day almost all taxicab drivers in Cook
day almost all taxicab drivers in Cook County have been trained in safe talk
County have been trained in safe talk
County have been trained in safe talk just imagine if bus drivers bartenders
just imagine if bus drivers bartenders
just imagine if bus drivers bartenders parents and school teachers everywhere
parents and school teachers everywhere
parents and school teachers everywhere we’re trained in leads programs here’s
we’re trained in leads programs here’s
we’re trained in leads programs here’s another thought what if suicide first
another thought what if suicide first
another thought what if suicide first aid became part of the mandatory
aid became part of the mandatory
aid became part of the mandatory requirements of every Health and Safety
requirements of every Health and Safety
requirements of every Health and Safety Committee training in the workplace how
Committee training in the workplace how
Committee training in the workplace how many lives would be saved by having
many lives would be saved by having
many lives would be saved by having early identifiers ease at work
early identifiers ease at work
early identifiers ease at work corporations concerned with their bottom
corporations concerned with their bottom
corporations concerned with their bottom lines may appreciate knowing whether
lines may appreciate knowing whether
lines may appreciate knowing whether this makes financial as well as safety
this makes financial as well as safety
this makes financial as well as safety cents a ramp study done in the u.s.
cents a ramp study done in the u.s.
cents a ramp study done in the u.s. found that for every dollar invested in
found that for every dollar invested in
found that for every dollar invested in assist there was a return of $1,100 for
assist there was a return of $1,100 for
assist there was a return of $1,100 for individuals and families and a $50
individuals and families and a $50
individuals and families and a $50 return to the state government that
return to the state government that
return to the state government that doesn’t include potential reduce sick
doesn’t include potential reduce sick
doesn’t include potential reduce sick days or turnover a central resource to
days or turnover a central resource to
days or turnover a central resource to find these trainings is through living
find these trainings is through living
find these trainings is through living works dotnet if you can’t find a
works dotnet if you can’t find a
works dotnet if you can’t find a training your area then you can search
training your area then you can search
training your area then you can search for trainers to explore making one
for trainers to explore making one
for trainers to explore making one happen even if you live remotely it’s
happen even if you live remotely it’s
happen even if you live remotely it’s worth exploring just this past month I
worth exploring just this past month I
worth exploring just this past month I had the privilege of travelling on three
had the privilege of travelling on three
had the privilege of travelling on three planes to the far north so far north
planes to the far north so far north
planes to the far north so far north they call our area of the south and I
they call our area of the south and I
they call our area of the south and I did this in order to deliver to assist
did this in order to deliver to assist
did this in order to deliver to assist and a safe talk in order to build
and a safe talk in order to build
and a safe talk in order to build suicide safer communities we need to
suicide safer communities we need to
suicide safer communities we need to raise awareness that these programs
raise awareness that these programs
raise awareness that these programs exist and now that you’re informed that
exist and now that you’re informed that
exist and now that you’re informed that also means that you’re equipped to help
also means that you’re equipped to help
also means that you’re equipped to help spread the word to your friends family
spread the word to your friends family
spread the word to your friends family human resource departments and school
human resource departments and school
human resource departments and school administration and we should because
administration and we should because
administration and we should because suicide first aid is effective it makes
suicide first aid is effective it makes
suicide first aid is effective it makes financial sense and best of all it can
financial sense and best of all it can
financial sense and best of all it can save lives I’m so glad I don’t have to
save lives I’m so glad I don’t have to
save lives I’m so glad I don’t have to imagine a world where regular people
imagine a world where regular people
imagine a world where regular people don’t have access to physical first aid
don’t have access to physical first aid
don’t have access to physical first aid skills like CPR and I’m hopeful that
skills like CPR and I’m hopeful that
skills like CPR and I’m hopeful that Miami
Miami
Miami tunings of a world where suicide first
tunings of a world where suicide first
tunings of a world where suicide first aid skills are common will soon become a
aid skills are common will soon become a
aid skills are common will soon become a reality I want to talk for a moment
reality I want to talk for a moment
reality I want to talk for a moment about coping skills one effective
about coping skills one effective
about coping skills one effective strategy to deal with life when it feels
strategy to deal with life when it feels
strategy to deal with life when it feels unbearable is to break it down small
unbearable is to break it down small
unbearable is to break it down small don’t walk away from life walk away from
don’t walk away from life walk away from
don’t walk away from life walk away from trying to figure it out one month at a
trying to figure it out one month at a
trying to figure it out one month at a time to one day or even one minute
time to one day or even one minute
time to one day or even one minute whatever is manageable for you at the
whatever is manageable for you at the
whatever is manageable for you at the time when the mountain in front of you
time when the mountain in front of you
time when the mountain in front of you seems too steep to climb forget about
seems too steep to climb forget about
seems too steep to climb forget about the impossible leap to the other side
the impossible leap to the other side
the impossible leap to the other side instead look at the ground at the tips
instead look at the ground at the tips
instead look at the ground at the tips of your toes and take one step forward
of your toes and take one step forward
of your toes and take one step forward when the platform under your feet that
when the platform under your feet that
when the platform under your feet that you thought was solid ground starts
you thought was solid ground starts
you thought was solid ground starts crumbling all around you and you’re left
crumbling all around you and you’re left
crumbling all around you and you’re left standing on one pillar not sure where to
standing on one pillar not sure where to
standing on one pillar not sure where to go from there focus on that pillar and
go from there focus on that pillar and
go from there focus on that pillar and start the rebuild there these are
start the rebuild there these are
start the rebuild there these are strategies that provide options beyond
strategies that provide options beyond
strategies that provide options beyond life or death as assists teaches there
life or death as assists teaches there
life or death as assists teaches there is a third option
is a third option
is a third option staying safe for now Ronde mcfarland is
staying safe for now Ronde mcfarland is
staying safe for now Ronde mcfarland is a lady in our community a mother of
a lady in our community a mother of
a lady in our community a mother of three who has attempted suicide a number
three who has attempted suicide a number
three who has attempted suicide a number of times one year she spent more days in
of times one year she spent more days in
of times one year she spent more days in the mental word than she did out of it
the mental word than she did out of it
the mental word than she did out of it she then entered a program that taught
she then entered a program that taught
she then entered a program that taught her coping skills for life skills like
her coping skills for life skills like
her coping skills for life skills like how to set healthy boundaries and how to
how to set healthy boundaries and how to
how to set healthy boundaries and how to stay safe for now she has not attempted
stay safe for now she has not attempted
stay safe for now she has not attempted suicide since in fact Ronde now works
suicide since in fact Ronde now works
suicide since in fact Ronde now works for the organization that helped her and
for the organization that helped her and
for the organization that helped her and she now gets to help countless others
she now gets to help countless others
she now gets to help countless others learn life skills this is one of the
learn life skills this is one of the
learn life skills this is one of the ways that we can foster resiliency her
ways that we can foster resiliency her
ways that we can foster resiliency her life let’s look at another how about our
life let’s look at another how about our
life let’s look at another how about our language are the words we’re using
language are the words we’re using
language are the words we’re using inviting the person at risk to a safe
inviting the person at risk to a safe
inviting the person at risk to a safe place where they can dialogue about the
place where they can dialogue about the
place where they can dialogue about the thoughts that are threatening to kill
thoughts that are threatening to kill
thoughts that are threatening to kill them
them
them our primary language
our primary language
our primary language must be compassion but our word choice
must be compassion but our word choice
must be compassion but our word choice matters two terms like committed suicide
matters two terms like committed suicide
matters two terms like committed suicide completed suicide and failed suicide
completed suicide and failed suicide
completed suicide and failed suicide attempt
attempt
attempt send detrimental messages to those at
send detrimental messages to those at
send detrimental messages to those at risk and those briefed by suicide when
risk and those briefed by suicide when
risk and those briefed by suicide when someone first challenged me to think
someone first challenged me to think
someone first challenged me to think about my words I realize language
about my words I realize language
about my words I realize language determines perception so it’s important
determines perception so it’s important
determines perception so it’s important I say what I mean have you ever found
I say what I mean have you ever found
I say what I mean have you ever found yourself sane committed suicide it’s
yourself sane committed suicide it’s
yourself sane committed suicide it’s part of our common language and yet
part of our common language and yet
part of our common language and yet where else do we commonly hear the word
where else do we commonly hear the word
where else do we commonly hear the word committed how about when someone has
committed how about when someone has
committed how about when someone has committed a crime yet those who suicide
committed a crime yet those who suicide
committed a crime yet those who suicide are not criminals they’re individuals in
are not criminals they’re individuals in
are not criminals they’re individuals in such tremendous pain who have made one
such tremendous pain who have made one
such tremendous pain who have made one decision at the hardest moment in their
decision at the hardest moment in their
decision at the hardest moment in their lives suicide prevention Council now
lives suicide prevention Council now
lives suicide prevention Council now strongly urge people to say died by
strongly urge people to say died by
strongly urge people to say died by suicide instead here’s another one
suicide instead here’s another one
suicide instead here’s another one completed suicide when you’ve completed
completed suicide when you’ve completed
completed suicide when you’ve completed something how do you feel accomplished
something how do you feel accomplished
something how do you feel accomplished relieved so do we really want people to
relieved so do we really want people to
relieved so do we really want people to complete suicide successful suicide
complete suicide successful suicide
complete suicide successful suicide attempt is along the same lines and yet
attempt is along the same lines and yet
attempt is along the same lines and yet success would have meant that the person
success would have meant that the person
success would have meant that the person lived instead we can use the verb
lived instead we can use the verb
lived instead we can use the verb suicided here’s one last one when you’ve
suicided here’s one last one when you’ve
suicided here’s one last one when you’ve failed something how does that sit with
failed something how does that sit with
failed something how does that sit with you do you feel unworthy not good enough
you do you feel unworthy not good enough
you do you feel unworthy not good enough and yet we use the phrase failed suicide
and yet we use the phrase failed suicide
and yet we use the phrase failed suicide attempt as though that were a bad thing
attempt as though that were a bad thing
attempt as though that were a bad thing instead we can simply say suicide
instead we can simply say suicide
instead we can simply say suicide attempt because it is never a failure to
attempt because it is never a failure to
attempt because it is never a failure to find one’s way back to life again no
find one’s way back to life again no
find one’s way back to life again no matter how broken vulnerable or
matter how broken vulnerable or
matter how broken vulnerable or embarrassed one feels shifting our
embarrassed one feels shifting our
embarrassed one feels shifting our language and signing up for trainings
language and signing up for trainings
language and signing up for trainings are two of the quickest ways we can make
are two of the quickest ways we can make
are two of the quickest ways we can make a difference in our communities starting
a difference in our communities starting
a difference in our communities starting today I began the story
today I began the story
today I began the story talking about a man who is on a bridge
talking about a man who is on a bridge
talking about a man who is on a bridge thinking about ending his life and now
thinking about ending his life and now
thinking about ending his life and now I’ll end my story by finishing that talk
I’ll end my story by finishing that talk
I’ll end my story by finishing that talk this man stood on that bridge in
this man stood on that bridge in
this man stood on that bridge in agonizing pain he thought about the
agonizing pain he thought about the
agonizing pain he thought about the mountains in his life and he thought I
mountains in his life and he thought I
mountains in his life and he thought I have no idea how to do that and then he
have no idea how to do that and then he
have no idea how to do that and then he thought about ending his life and he
thought about ending his life and he
thought about ending his life and he thought I don’t want to die but I see no
thought I don’t want to die but I see no
thought I don’t want to die but I see no other way then he realized a third
other way then he realized a third
other way then he realized a third option he reached out to me we talked
option he reached out to me we talked
option he reached out to me we talked for hours I listened a lot and together
for hours I listened a lot and together
for hours I listened a lot and together we found ways to break his day into
we found ways to break his day into
we found ways to break his day into manageable minutes his mountains into
manageable minutes his mountains into
manageable minutes his mountains into mole hills I know I can’t change my
mole hills I know I can’t change my
mole hills I know I can’t change my first husband’s story but I have seen
first husband’s story but I have seen
first husband’s story but I have seen how sharing it with others talking
how sharing it with others talking
how sharing it with others talking directly and openly about suicide and
directly and openly about suicide and
directly and openly about suicide and equipping myself with suicide first-aid
equipping myself with suicide first-aid
equipping myself with suicide first-aid training have saved other people’s lives
training have saved other people’s lives
training have saved other people’s lives we can all be a part of someone’s life
we can all be a part of someone’s life
we can all be a part of someone’s life legacy even our own suicide is
legacy even our own suicide is
legacy even our own suicide is preventable through training and
preventable through training and
preventable through training and compassion these are tools that can help
compassion these are tools that can help
compassion these are tools that can help transform hurt into help help into
transform hurt into help help into
transform hurt into help help into healing and healing into hope of another
healing and healing into hope of another
healing and healing into hope of another life saved thank you
life saved thank you
life saved thank you [Applause]
”
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