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[Applause] imagine this you’re alone all alone in a
imagine this you’re alone all alone in a
imagine this you’re alone all alone in a dark cold room the air is stagnant and
dark cold room the air is stagnant and
dark cold room the air is stagnant and smells foul the only sound you can hear
smells foul the only sound you can hear
smells foul the only sound you can hear how the voice is echoing in your head
and that bitter taste in your mouth
and that bitter taste in your mouth tastes like scorched coffee there are no
tastes like scorched coffee there are no
tastes like scorched coffee there are no doors there are no windows there’s no
doors there are no windows there’s no
doors there are no windows there’s no way out this is where it often feels
way out this is where it often feels
way out this is where it often feels like when people are in the throes of
like when people are in the throes of
like when people are in the throes of depression or suicidal despair on
depression or suicidal despair on
depression or suicidal despair on December 7th I was going to a party I
December 7th I was going to a party I
December 7th I was going to a party I had been on maternity leave for a number
had been on maternity leave for a number
had been on maternity leave for a number of months and that night I was going to
of months and that night I was going to
of months and that night I was going to go to a party with my students at Regis
go to a party with my students at Regis
go to a party with my students at Regis University and I was really looking
University and I was really looking
University and I was really looking forward to it and I had the Poinsettia
forward to it and I had the Poinsettia
forward to it and I had the Poinsettia on the front seat I was bringing the ham
on the front seat I was bringing the ham
on the front seat I was bringing the ham so the whole car smelled like clothes
so the whole car smelled like clothes
so the whole car smelled like clothes and I even remember what I was wearing a
and I even remember what I was wearing a
and I even remember what I was wearing a god-awful eighties Christmas sweater and
god-awful eighties Christmas sweater and
god-awful eighties Christmas sweater and some gingerbread earrings because I am a
some gingerbread earrings because I am a
some gingerbread earrings because I am a child of the eighties and I even
child of the eighties and I even
child of the eighties and I even remember what I was thinking in my
remember what I was thinking in my
remember what I was thinking in my boredom being at home I had alphabetized
boredom being at home I had alphabetized
boredom being at home I had alphabetized my spice rack and I thought I have
my spice rack and I thought I have
my spice rack and I thought I have become my mother
become my mother
become my mother and I was totally okay with that and
and I was totally okay with that and
and I was totally okay with that and then my mother called hey mom what’s up
then my mother called hey mom what’s up
then my mother called hey mom what’s up and she said Sally pull over
and she said Sally pull over
and she said Sally pull over and it was probably just a matter of
and it was probably just a matter of
and it was probably just a matter of moments but it felt like an eternity
moments but it felt like an eternity
moments but it felt like an eternity I found the the side of the road and
I found the the side of the road and
I found the the side of the road and they pulled over and I said mom you’re
they pulled over and I said mom you’re
they pulled over and I said mom you’re killing me what is it
killing me what is it
killing me what is it and she said our worst fears have been
and she said our worst fears have been
and she said our worst fears have been confirmed your brother has died of
confirmed your brother has died of
confirmed your brother has died of suicide no no no not not Carson not my
suicide no no no not not Carson not my
suicide no no no not not Carson not my my only sibling all of these memories
my only sibling all of these memories
my only sibling all of these memories and emotions flood in he was my first
and emotions flood in he was my first
and emotions flood in he was my first memory he was born Christmas Eve when
memory he was born Christmas Eve when
memory he was born Christmas Eve when they when they caught him home they told
they when they caught him home they told
they when they caught him home they told me he was my Christmas present I I
me he was my Christmas present I I
me he was my Christmas present I I really took that seriously not not
really took that seriously not not
really took that seriously not not Carson we had danced together at my
Carson we had danced together at my
Carson we had danced together at my wedding to Whitney Houston’s I will
wedding to Whitney Houston’s I will
wedding to Whitney Houston’s I will always love you
always love you
always love you no not Carson not Carson four days
no not Carson not Carson four days
no not Carson not Carson four days before my brother and I had sat down to
before my brother and I had sat down to
before my brother and I had sat down to have a chat myself and several of his
have a chat myself and several of his
have a chat myself and several of his friends and family members we all read
friends and family members we all read
friends and family members we all read this book the unquiet mind by Kay
this book the unquiet mind by Kay
this book the unquiet mind by Kay Redfield Jamison when she shared this
Redfield Jamison when she shared this
Redfield Jamison when she shared this her own story about living through
her own story about living through
her own story about living through bipolar condition and I said Carson look
bipolar condition and I said Carson look
bipolar condition and I said Carson look here’s this other really accomplished
here’s this other really accomplished
here’s this other really accomplished public person who has found her way to
public person who has found her way to
public person who has found her way to recovery like we’re gonna figure this
recovery like we’re gonna figure this
recovery like we’re gonna figure this out together
out together
out together then he said but Sally it’s madness and
then he said but Sally it’s madness and
then he said but Sally it’s madness and four days later he was gone now he’s not
four days later he was gone now he’s not
four days later he was gone now he’s not here for me to ask him what he meant by
here for me to ask him what he meant by
here for me to ask him what he meant by that comment but I have a pretty good
that comment but I have a pretty good
that comment but I have a pretty good idea my brother was a very determined
idea my brother was a very determined
idea my brother was a very determined and persevering man and so I believe in
and persevering man and so I believe in
and persevering man and so I believe in my heart of hearts that he would have
my heart of hearts that he would have
my heart of hearts that he would have persisted to find something to help him
persisted to find something to help him
persisted to find something to help him through this long dark night of the soul
through this long dark night of the soul
through this long dark night of the soul of this fight against his bipolar
of this fight against his bipolar
of this fight against his bipolar condition I don’t believe my brother
condition I don’t believe my brother
condition I don’t believe my brother lost hope that he couldn’t get well
lost hope that he couldn’t get well
lost hope that he couldn’t get well again I believe my brother lost hope
again I believe my brother lost hope
again I believe my brother lost hope that he couldn’t get his life back again
that he couldn’t get his life back again
that he couldn’t get his life back again but his business partners wouldn’t trust
but his business partners wouldn’t trust
but his business partners wouldn’t trust him anymore
him anymore
him anymore his friends wouldn’t look at him funny
his friends wouldn’t look at him funny
his friends wouldn’t look at him funny and that’s the part of the story that
and that’s the part of the story that
and that’s the part of the story that makes me so angry
makes me so angry
makes me so angry makes me angry the people who are
makes me angry the people who are
makes me angry the people who are fighting for their lives with these
fighting for their lives with these
fighting for their lives with these treatable health conditions have also
treatable health conditions have also
treatable health conditions have also got to deal with all kinds of
got to deal with all kinds of
got to deal with all kinds of discrimination and Prejudice
discrimination and Prejudice
discrimination and Prejudice misinformation and myths I also didn’t
misinformation and myths I also didn’t
misinformation and myths I also didn’t fully appreciate what he meant by the
fully appreciate what he meant by the
fully appreciate what he meant by the experience of feeling like you were
experience of feeling like you were
experience of feeling like you were losing your mind it was several years
losing your mind it was several years
losing your mind it was several years later when I had a perfect storm of life
later when I had a perfect storm of life
later when I had a perfect storm of life experiences that descended upon me and I
experiences that descended upon me and I
experiences that descended upon me and I found my mental health circle in the
found my mental health circle in the
found my mental health circle in the toilet bowl I couldn’t eat I couldn’t
toilet bowl I couldn’t eat I couldn’t
toilet bowl I couldn’t eat I couldn’t sleep I had overwhelming sense of
sleep I had overwhelming sense of
sleep I had overwhelming sense of anxiety I couldn’t taste food
anxiety I couldn’t taste food
anxiety I couldn’t taste food I couldn’t hear birds chirp and in the
I couldn’t hear birds chirp and in the
I couldn’t hear birds chirp and in the throes of that all I could do to think
throes of that all I could do to think
throes of that all I could do to think to get through it was just work harder
to get through it was just work harder
to get through it was just work harder now I’m a psychologist I should have
now I’m a psychologist I should have
now I’m a psychologist I should have known better
known better
known better I knew facts I knew theory I knew
I knew facts I knew theory I knew
I knew facts I knew theory I knew treatment but when I was in the darkness
treatment but when I was in the darkness
treatment but when I was in the darkness of my own depression I didn’t know how
of my own depression I didn’t know how
of my own depression I didn’t know how to climb out of it it wasn’t until my
to climb out of it it wasn’t until my
to climb out of it it wasn’t until my father reached out and said sweetheart
father reached out and said sweetheart
father reached out and said sweetheart why don’t you take some of your own
why don’t you take some of your own
why don’t you take some of your own advice and go get some help and then I
advice and go get some help and then I
advice and go get some help and then I showed up at my national conference
showed up at my national conference
showed up at my national conference where I had all these professional roles
where I had all these professional roles
where I had all these professional roles and all of my colleagues that I disclose
and all of my colleagues that I disclose
and all of my colleagues that I disclose to came to me and said Sally you matter
to came to me and said Sally you matter
to came to me and said Sally you matter just as you are you don’t need to do all
just as you are you don’t need to do all
just as you are you don’t need to do all this in some way I found my way through
this in some way I found my way through
this in some way I found my way through now my family is not alone in this about
now my family is not alone in this about
now my family is not alone in this about 44,000 people die of suicide each year
44,000 people die of suicide each year
44,000 people die of suicide each year that’s enough to fill up Wrigley Stadium
that’s enough to fill up Wrigley Stadium
that’s enough to fill up Wrigley Stadium with another 2,000 people on the outside
with another 2,000 people on the outside
with another 2,000 people on the outside in a line to get in about a fifth of our
in a line to get in about a fifth of our
in a line to get in about a fifth of our of those people are veterans it’s the
of those people are veterans it’s the
of those people are veterans it’s the second leading cause of death for our
second leading cause of death for our
second leading cause of death for our youth and young adults from 10 to 39
youth and young adults from 10 to 39
youth and young adults from 10 to 39 second leading cause of death
second leading cause of death
second leading cause of death for every person who dies of suicide
for every person who dies of suicide
for every person who dies of suicide let’s just say this guy there are at
let’s just say this guy there are at
let’s just say this guy there are at least on average about a hundred and
least on average about a hundred and
least on average about a hundred and fifteen people exposed to that suicide
fifteen people exposed to that suicide
fifteen people exposed to that suicide and 25 of them will have major life
and 25 of them will have major life
and 25 of them will have major life disruptions after that suicide death
disruptions after that suicide death
disruptions after that suicide death divorce losing a job getting kicked out
divorce losing a job getting kicked out
divorce losing a job getting kicked out of school financial ruin
of school financial ruin
of school financial ruin for every suicide death there are 25
for every suicide death there are 25
for every suicide death there are 25 people that survived 25 people who live
people that survived 25 people who live
people that survived 25 people who live through their attempts they hold the
through their attempts they hold the
through their attempts they hold the black box
black box
black box they hold the answers of what it feels
they hold the answers of what it feels
they hold the answers of what it feels like to experience that level of
like to experience that level of
like to experience that level of suicidal despair and more importantly
suicidal despair and more importantly
suicidal despair and more importantly how to get through it
how to get through it
how to get through it many of these people go on to the full
many of these people go on to the full
many of these people go on to the full lives full of invigorating and
lives full of invigorating and
lives full of invigorating and interesting things and often that’s a
interesting things and often that’s a
interesting things and often that’s a suicide crisis that’s the turning point
suicide crisis that’s the turning point
suicide crisis that’s the turning point to help them get back into life so why
to help them get back into life so why
to help them get back into life so why don’t we know about this about each
don’t we know about this about each
don’t we know about this about each other because most families keep these
other because most families keep these
other because most families keep these stories in the closet full of shame and
stories in the closet full of shame and
stories in the closet full of shame and anger and guilt and because we don’t
anger and guilt and because we don’t
anger and guilt and because we don’t share our stories we don’t have that
share our stories we don’t have that
share our stories we don’t have that fire in the belly that political will to
fire in the belly that political will to
fire in the belly that political will to say something is wrong here
say something is wrong here
say something is wrong here I believe that suicide prevention and
I believe that suicide prevention and
I believe that suicide prevention and mental health promotion are some of the
mental health promotion are some of the
mental health promotion are some of the most unaddressed cross-cultural
most unaddressed cross-cultural
most unaddressed cross-cultural multi-generational social justice issues
multi-generational social justice issues
multi-generational social justice issues of our times what do I mean by social
of our times what do I mean by social
of our times what do I mean by social justice I’m talking about fundamental
justice I’m talking about fundamental
justice I’m talking about fundamental human rights the right to have a job the
human rights the right to have a job the
human rights the right to have a job the right to have homes and relationships
right to have homes and relationships
right to have homes and relationships and be a parent and it’s about our
and be a parent and it’s about our
and be a parent and it’s about our personal responsibility in community for
personal responsibility in community for
personal responsibility in community for the common good
the common good
the common good well what am I talking about social
well what am I talking about social
well what am I talking about social justice with suicide prevention and
justice with suicide prevention and
justice with suicide prevention and mental health we must as my friend
mental health we must as my friend
mental health we must as my friend Eduardo Vega says demand dignity now we
Eduardo Vega says demand dignity now we
Eduardo Vega says demand dignity now we must stop with the quick fixes of just
must stop with the quick fixes of just
must stop with the quick fixes of just pill-popping and forced treatment and
pill-popping and forced treatment and
pill-popping and forced treatment and short hospital stays and treatment that
short hospital stays and treatment that
short hospital stays and treatment that often feels more like punishment than
often feels more like punishment than
often feels more like punishment than something really helpful and instead
something really helpful and instead
something really helpful and instead what if we saw people instead of
what if we saw people instead of
what if we saw people instead of diagnosis what if we met people with
diagnosis what if we met people with
diagnosis what if we met people with compassion during their worst days what
compassion during their worst days what
compassion during their worst days what if we put more research
if we put more research
if we put more research to the so called alternative therapies
to the so called alternative therapies
to the so called alternative therapies like peer support animal assisted
like peer support animal assisted
like peer support animal assisted therapy spiritual practices and so long
therapy spiritual practices and so long
therapy spiritual practices and so long we can do better so how are we gonna do
we can do better so how are we gonna do
we can do better so how are we gonna do this stories at the heart of all social
this stories at the heart of all social
this stories at the heart of all social movements are stories stories that go
movements are stories stories that go
movements are stories stories that go something like this
something like this
something like this this is me this is how my life and other
this is me this is how my life and other
this is me this is how my life and other people like mine have been
people like mine have been
people like mine have been systematically destroyed and this is how
systematically destroyed and this is how
systematically destroyed and this is how I see that change is possible stories
I see that change is possible stories
I see that change is possible stories are good for the storyteller narrative
are good for the storyteller narrative
are good for the storyteller narrative psychologists would tell us that when we
psychologists would tell us that when we
psychologists would tell us that when we place the structure of story over the
place the structure of story over the
place the structure of story over the chaos of our lives we start to make
chaos of our lives we start to make
chaos of our lives we start to make meaning about it we start to feel we
meaning about it we start to feel we
meaning about it we start to feel we have ownership and empowerment over
have ownership and empowerment over
have ownership and empowerment over what’s been happening to us and when we
what’s been happening to us and when we
what’s been happening to us and when we share our stories and community we
share our stories and community we
share our stories and community we gather people around us because people
gather people around us because people
gather people around us because people start to lean in and say meet you so
start to lean in and say meet you so
start to lean in and say meet you so it’s not just good for the storyteller
it’s not just good for the storyteller
it’s not just good for the storyteller it’s also good for the listener the
it’s also good for the listener the
it’s also good for the listener the listener who feels all kinds of emotions
listener who feels all kinds of emotions
listener who feels all kinds of emotions and connection will let be much more
and connection will let be much more
and connection will let be much more likely to remember information and were
likely to remember information and were
likely to remember information and were much more likely to change attitudes and
much more likely to change attitudes and
much more likely to change attitudes and behaviors because of it now business
behaviors because of it now business
behaviors because of it now business leaders and politicians have known for a
leaders and politicians have known for a
leaders and politicians have known for a long time that stories are super
long time that stories are super
long time that stories are super powerful to change attitudes and
powerful to change attitudes and
powerful to change attitudes and behavior but instead of winning our
behavior but instead of winning our
behavior but instead of winning our dollars and our votes we’re gonna win
dollars and our votes we’re gonna win
dollars and our votes we’re gonna win culture and we’re going to shift the
culture and we’re going to shift the
culture and we’re going to shift the culture from the bias and discrimination
culture from the bias and discrimination
culture from the bias and discrimination we currently have to one of empowerment
we currently have to one of empowerment
we currently have to one of empowerment and dignity one story at a time there’s
and dignity one story at a time there’s
and dignity one story at a time there’s also research behind us dr. Patrick
also research behind us dr. Patrick
also research behind us dr. Patrick Corrigan who studies stigma in mental
Corrigan who studies stigma in mental
Corrigan who studies stigma in mental health found that it wasn’t just good
health found that it wasn’t just good
health found that it wasn’t just good enough to raise awareness by talking
enough to raise awareness by talking
enough to raise awareness by talking about stigma or even talking about
about stigma or even talking about
about stigma or even talking about mental health conditions what really
mental health conditions what really
mental health conditions what really shifted stigma was what he called the
shifted stigma was what he called the
shifted stigma was what he called the contact experience when we had personal
contact experience when we had personal
contact experience when we had personal relationships with people who are living
relationships with people who are living
relationships with people who are living with mental health conditions we were
with mental health conditions we were
with mental health conditions we were far more likely to see the humanity and
far more likely to see the humanity and
far more likely to see the humanity and the similarities than the differences
the similarities than the differences
the similarities than the differences and that is how we change culture so I
and that is how we change culture so I
and that is how we change culture so I invite you all because we are all
invite you all because we are all
invite you all because we are all touched by this in some way or another
touched by this in some way or another
touched by this in some way or another to join me on a social justice journey
to join me on a social justice journey
to join me on a social justice journey to use your stories to leverage your
to use your stories to leverage your
to use your stories to leverage your stories for systems and cultural change
stories for systems and cultural change
stories for systems and cultural change this is daunting work so we got a pack a
this is daunting work so we got a pack a
this is daunting work so we got a pack a backpack and in that backpack we need to
backpack and in that backpack we need to
backpack and in that backpack we need to prepare ourselves for this journey we
prepare ourselves for this journey we
prepare ourselves for this journey we have to ask ourselves am I really ready
have to ask ourselves am I really ready
have to ask ourselves am I really ready is this the right time
is this the right time
is this the right time am i solid enough in my healing have I
am i solid enough in my healing have I
am i solid enough in my healing have I come through my own suicide grief
come through my own suicide grief
come through my own suicide grief despair and if I have have I told my
despair and if I have have I told my
despair and if I have have I told my therapist my sponsor my peers that I’m
therapist my sponsor my peers that I’m
therapist my sponsor my peers that I’m doing this about to engage in this
doing this about to engage in this
doing this about to engage in this really hard work of cultivating my story
really hard work of cultivating my story
really hard work of cultivating my story am I prepared for potential backlash
am I prepared for potential backlash
am I prepared for potential backlash maybe some discrimination of prejudice
maybe some discrimination of prejudice
maybe some discrimination of prejudice am I prepared to weigh the balance of
am I prepared to weigh the balance of
am I prepared to weigh the balance of facing back hardship versus paving the
facing back hardship versus paving the
facing back hardship versus paving the way for others behind me so they don’t
way for others behind me so they don’t
way for others behind me so they don’t have to feel it so bad and if there are
have to feel it so bad and if there are
have to feel it so bad and if there are other people in my story am I prepared
other people in my story am I prepared
other people in my story am I prepared for their reactions do I know the safe
for their reactions do I know the safe
for their reactions do I know the safe and effective ways to tell these stories
and effective ways to tell these stories
and effective ways to tell these stories and with suicide prevention there are
and with suicide prevention there are
and with suicide prevention there are some very specific guidelines because we
some very specific guidelines because we
some very specific guidelines because we don’t want to increase vulnerability for
don’t want to increase vulnerability for
don’t want to increase vulnerability for people to think about suicide and and do
people to think about suicide and and do
people to think about suicide and and do the copycat thing there’s some evidence
the copycat thing there’s some evidence
the copycat thing there’s some evidence that shows what we copycat when we share
that shows what we copycat when we share
that shows what we copycat when we share information that’s unsafe then we
information that’s unsafe then we
information that’s unsafe then we increase that vulnerability so if you’re
increase that vulnerability so if you’re
increase that vulnerability so if you’re unfamiliar with the safe guidelines on
unfamiliar with the safe guidelines on
unfamiliar with the safe guidelines on how to talk about suicide I encourage
how to talk about suicide I encourage
how to talk about suicide I encourage you to read things like reporting on
you to read things like reporting on
you to read things like reporting on suicide org or the framework by the
suicide org or the framework by the
suicide org or the framework by the National Action Alliance for suicide
National Action Alliance for suicide
National Action Alliance for suicide prevention or visit the webinars and
prevention or visit the webinars and
prevention or visit the webinars and courses by the United suicide survivors
courses by the United suicide survivors
courses by the United suicide survivors international so if you’re ready let’s
international so if you’re ready let’s
international so if you’re ready let’s go let’s leverage our stories for
go let’s leverage our stories for
go let’s leverage our stories for cultural and systems change there’s many
cultural and systems change there’s many
cultural and systems change there’s many things that we can do number one we can
things that we can do number one we can
things that we can do number one we can engage the media we can meet with our
engage the media we can meet with our
engage the media we can meet with our journalists and we can say there are
journalists and we can say there are
journalists and we can say there are better ways to tell this story you can
better ways to tell this story you can
better ways to tell this story you can do it through an op-ed piece or even a
do it through an op-ed piece or even a
do it through an op-ed piece or even a blog you can engage
blog you can engage
blog you can engage state and federal legislators they want
state and federal legislators they want
state and federal legislators they want to serve their communities they need to
to serve their communities they need to
to serve their communities they need to hear from you that this isn’t important
hear from you that this isn’t important
hear from you that this isn’t important this is a massively important public
this is a massively important public
this is a massively important public health issue so meet with them talk with
health issue so meet with them talk with
health issue so meet with them talk with them and when they have bill that need
them and when they have bill that need
them and when they have bill that need to be passed get up there and testify
to be passed get up there and testify
to be passed get up there and testify and then you can also influence other
and then you can also influence other
and then you can also influence other influencers I’m talking about business
influencers I’m talking about business
influencers I’m talking about business leaders faith leaders community leaders
leaders faith leaders community leaders
leaders faith leaders community leaders you can get their up there at the rotary
you can get their up there at the rotary
you can get their up there at the rotary meetings in the Chamber of Commerce
meetings in the Chamber of Commerce
meetings in the Chamber of Commerce meeting in the school board meetings and
meeting in the school board meetings and
meeting in the school board meetings and with that shaking mic in your hands you
with that shaking mic in your hands you
with that shaking mic in your hands you can say this is me this is how my life
can say this is me this is how my life
can say this is me this is how my life and other people’s like mine has been
and other people’s like mine has been
and other people’s like mine has been systematically destroyed and this is how
systematically destroyed and this is how
systematically destroyed and this is how I see change is possible now there are
I see change is possible now there are
I see change is possible now there are many heroes on this journey in fact a
many heroes on this journey in fact a
many heroes on this journey in fact a few years ago I found myself at a Breast
few years ago I found myself at a Breast
few years ago I found myself at a Breast Cancer Walk it was a three-day 60 mile
Cancer Walk it was a three-day 60 mile
Cancer Walk it was a three-day 60 mile walk and I signed up for it
walk and I signed up for it
walk and I signed up for it so that I would get fit I had just had a
so that I would get fit I had just had a
so that I would get fit I had just had a child and I wanted to get in this walk
child and I wanted to get in this walk
child and I wanted to get in this walk to work out regularly I had no
to work out regularly I had no
to work out regularly I had no connection to breast cancer zero but I
connection to breast cancer zero but I
connection to breast cancer zero but I showed up for that walk that morning and
showed up for that walk that morning and
showed up for that walk that morning and there were thousands of other people
there were thousands of other people
there were thousands of other people around me
around me
around me many women wearing handkerchiefs to
many women wearing handkerchiefs to
many women wearing handkerchiefs to cover their hair from loss of chemo I
cover their hair from loss of chemo I
cover their hair from loss of chemo I had people walking with balloons of
had people walking with balloons of
had people walking with balloons of stars and butterflies honoring those
stars and butterflies honoring those
stars and butterflies honoring those people that have been lost and when I
people that have been lost and when I
people that have been lost and when I looked back at those experiences I
looked back at those experiences I
looked back at those experiences I thought the breast cancer movement has a
thought the breast cancer movement has a
thought the breast cancer movement has a lot to teach us in the suicide
lot to teach us in the suicide
lot to teach us in the suicide prevention and mental health movement we
prevention and mental health movement we
prevention and mental health movement we can walk shoulder-to-shoulder with
can walk shoulder-to-shoulder with
can walk shoulder-to-shoulder with people who are fighting for their lives
people who are fighting for their lives
people who are fighting for their lives and we can honor those that we have lost
and we can honor those that we have lost
and we can honor those that we have lost with dignity here are a few of my heroes
with dignity here are a few of my heroes
with dignity here are a few of my heroes this is Kevin Hines Kevin Hines survived
this is Kevin Hines Kevin Hines survived
this is Kevin Hines Kevin Hines survived a jump from the Golden Gate Bridge he
a jump from the Golden Gate Bridge he
a jump from the Golden Gate Bridge he has gone on to rut write a number of
has gone on to rut write a number of
has gone on to rut write a number of books and his BuzzFeed video has upwards
books and his BuzzFeed video has upwards
books and his BuzzFeed video has upwards of a hundred million views this is
of a hundred million views this is
of a hundred million views this is Desiree stage she’s also a suicide
Desiree stage she’s also a suicide
Desiree stage she’s also a suicide attempt survivor and a photographer who
attempt survivor and a photographer who
attempt survivor and a photographer who takes portraits of other suicide attempt
takes portraits of other suicide attempt
takes portraits of other suicide attempt survivors and she has them
survivors and she has them
survivors and she has them look directly into the lens of her
look directly into the lens of her
look directly into the lens of her camera because she wants the viewer to
camera because she wants the viewer to
camera because she wants the viewer to see into the humanity into the soul into
see into the humanity into the soul into
see into the humanity into the soul into the resilience of these survivors this
the resilience of these survivors this
the resilience of these survivors this is lisa kline a two-time loss survivor
is lisa kline a two-time loss survivor
is lisa kline a two-time loss survivor who was an award-winning documentary
who was an award-winning documentary
who was an award-winning documentary filmmaker she’s made films on bipolar
filmmaker she’s made films on bipolar
filmmaker she’s made films on bipolar condition and her latest film the S word
condition and her latest film the S word
condition and her latest film the S word just started screening in September and
just started screening in September and
just started screening in September and it’s about opening that closet and
it’s about opening that closet and
it’s about opening that closet and sharing stories about suicide attempt
sharing stories about suicide attempt
sharing stories about suicide attempt recovery and healing through suicide
recovery and healing through suicide
recovery and healing through suicide grief and these three are not the only
grief and these three are not the only
grief and these three are not the only my heroes there are many many many more
my heroes there are many many many more
my heroes there are many many many more now to close up this amazing event I
now to close up this amazing event I
now to close up this amazing event I want you to do something with me would
want you to do something with me would
want you to do something with me would everybody pull out their phones for me
everybody pull out their phones for me
everybody pull out their phones for me hold them in your hand and when i cue
hold them in your hand and when i cue
hold them in your hand and when i cue you with the question I want you to
you with the question I want you to
you with the question I want you to raise your phones up high okay here we
raise your phones up high okay here we
raise your phones up high okay here we go if you have lost a loved one to
go if you have lost a loved one to
go if you have lost a loved one to suicide go ahead and light your lights
suicide go ahead and light your lights
suicide go ahead and light your lights and raise them high you are shining
and raise them high you are shining
and raise them high you are shining lights of hope in the darkness keep them
lights of hope in the darkness keep them
lights of hope in the darkness keep them up because when everything goes on and
up because when everything goes on and
up because when everything goes on and everybody forgets about this issue you
everybody forgets about this issue you
everybody forgets about this issue you stand there and you hold the flag and
stand there and you hold the flag and
stand there and you hold the flag and you says my loved ones life mattered my
you says my loved ones life mattered my
you says my loved ones life mattered my loved one didn’t die in vain I will
loved one didn’t die in vain I will
loved one didn’t die in vain I will continue this fight thank you put your
continue this fight thank you put your
continue this fight thank you put your phones down if you have ever walked
phones down if you have ever walked
phones down if you have ever walked through the long dark night of the soul
through the long dark night of the soul
through the long dark night of the soul yourself go ahead and raise your lights
yourself go ahead and raise your lights
yourself go ahead and raise your lights and hold them high I’m talking about
and hold them high I’m talking about
and hold them high I’m talking about depression anxiety eating disorders
depression anxiety eating disorders
depression anxiety eating disorders overwhelming stress OCD weighs your
overwhelming stress OCD weighs your
overwhelming stress OCD weighs your height I hold them up you are shining
height I hold them up you are shining
height I hold them up you are shining lights of hope in the darkness because
lights of hope in the darkness because
lights of hope in the darkness because when other people are struggling you can
when other people are struggling you can
when other people are struggling you can say I don’t know exactly what she’s been
say I don’t know exactly what she’s been
say I don’t know exactly what she’s been going through but I may have gone
going through but I may have gone
going through but I may have gone through something similar and I am here
through something similar and I am here
through something similar and I am here to walk with you put your lights down if
to walk with you put your lights down if
to walk with you put your lights down if you support suicide prevention and
you support suicide prevention and
you support suicide prevention and mental health promotion of one of the
mental health promotion of one of the
mental health promotion of one of the most important social justice issues of
most important social justice issues of
most important social justice issues of our day you can fight for this cause
our day you can fight for this cause
our day you can fight for this cause raise your lights and hold them high
raise your lights and hold them high
raise your lights and hold them high everybody’s like should be up at this
everybody’s like should be up at this
everybody’s like should be up at this point there you go now look around right
point there you go now look around right
point there you go now look around right and now hold them up because this is a
and now hold them up because this is a
and now hold them up because this is a beautiful thing and imagine that you are
beautiful thing and imagine that you are
beautiful thing and imagine that you are that person in the darkness and you look
that person in the darkness and you look
that person in the darkness and you look up and you see a light hey I’m here for
up and you see a light hey I’m here for
up and you see a light hey I’m here for you and then you look up when you see an
you and then you look up when you see an
you and then you look up when you see an eye for light hey I have some ideas I’ll
eye for light hey I have some ideas I’ll
eye for light hey I have some ideas I’ll walk with you
here’s my call to action to you be the
here’s my call to action to you be the beacon for people who are struggling and
beacon for people who are struggling and
beacon for people who are struggling and bring other people into this movement we
bring other people into this movement we
bring other people into this movement we need everybody here illuminate the way
need everybody here illuminate the way
need everybody here illuminate the way for those whose ideas of mental health
for those whose ideas of mental health
for those whose ideas of mental health and suicide prevention are in the dark
and suicide prevention are in the dark
and suicide prevention are in the dark ages and if you are struggling dig into
ages and if you are struggling dig into
ages and if you are struggling dig into yourself and radiate that resilience and
yourself and radiate that resilience and
yourself and radiate that resilience and if you cannot find that resilience in
if you cannot find that resilience in
if you cannot find that resilience in yourself
yourself
yourself let your lights be held by someone else
let your lights be held by someone else
let your lights be held by someone else until you can be claiming so be the
until you can be claiming so be the
until you can be claiming so be the light or hold the light because light is
light or hold the light because light is
light or hold the light because light is life
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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