New Partnership Between Facebook, SAMHSA and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

13 DECEMBER 2011

Cross-posted from Facebook Safety

Dr. Regina Benjamin is the 18th Surgeon General of the United States. As America’s Doctor, she provides the public with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and the health of the nation.

For anyone who has lost a loved one due to suicide, it is one of the most painful issues they will ever face; sometimes leaving an overwhelming sense of doubt, guilt, and silence enfolding the circle of friends and family like no other experience can. In the wake of this tragedy, we are painfully forced to question- What could I have done? Could I have made a difference? Why didn’t I know?

We don’t have a life to lose in this world. We must confront suicide and suicidal thoughts openly and honestly, and use every opportunity to make a difference by breaking the silence and suffering. Ten years ago the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention was launched. Its objectives galvanized the country around a common goal.  As a result, we have advanced the science and support for suicide prevention programs nationwide. New suicide prevention work has emerged across the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services and others. One notable achievement is the establishment of the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a number that can be dialed anywhere in the United States to connect the caller with confidential and expert help.

To accelerate the action needed to prevent suicide, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius launched the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention with the charge to advance and update the National Strategy. The Action Alliance brings together public, private and nonprofit partners to engage every sector of society with a vision of ending the tragic experience of suicide in America.

Facebook is an important part of that partnership, and I’m excited about the new initiative to augment its response to potentially suicidal members by offering the opportunity for a private chat with a trained crisis representative from the Suicide Prevention Lifeline in addition to providing the Lifeline’s phone number. This service will be available to people who use Facebook in the United States and Canada. The new service enables Facebook users to report a suicidal comment they see posted by a friend to Facebook using either the Report Suicidal Content link or the report links found throughout the site.  The person who posted the suicidal comment will then immediately receive an e-mail from Facebook encouraging them to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or to click on a link to begin a confidential chat session with a crisis worker.

Preventing suicide is everyone’s business. Nearly 100 Americans die by suicide every day, and in the past year, more than eight million Americans 18 or older had thought seriously about suicide. As members of a family, a school, business, neighborhood, faith communities, friends, and our government, we all need to work together to solve this problem.  We simply can no longer allow those we live, work and play with to ever believe that suicide is an acceptable solution even in the worst of times.  I ask everyone to help by learning about the symptoms of mental illnesses and substance abuse, the warning signs of suicide, how to stand with and support someone who is in crisis, and how to get someone you care about the help they need.  Most of all, we need to be open to talking about these issues in our communities.  Once we begin to support those in need, and whenever possible treat their mental and substance use disorders with the same urgency as any other health condition, we will reduce the rates of suicide, advance health and improve the use of limited health care dollars.

Full story at; Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Suicide Helplines

Australia; Beyondblue depression help line Phone: 1300 22 4636. Website; Beyondblue

Britain; Samaritans. Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair. Phone: 08457 90 90 90 (24-hour helpline) Website: www.samaritans.org.uk

USA; National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255), Website; National Suicide Prevention

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Lord, make me a channel of thy peace,
that where there is hatred, I may bring love;
that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
that where there is error, I may bring truth;
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
that where there is despair, I may bring hope;
that where there are shadows, I may bring light;
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort
than to be comforted;
to understand, than to be understood;
to love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.

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This amazing introduction to Google search tips has helped me find some interesting items.

I am generally self taught when it comes to computers and the Internet that’s why I am always interested in items such as this showing various hacks that can be used in Google.

Created by: HackCollege

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As it turns out, you really can overdose on candy—or, more precisely, black licorice.

Days before the biggest candy eating holiday of the year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encourages moderation if you enjoy snacking on the old fashioned favorite.

So, if you’re getting your stash ready for Halloween, here’s some advice from FDA:

If you’re 40 or older, eating 2 ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks could land you in the hospital with an irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmia.

FDA experts say black licorice contains the compound glycyrrhizin, which is the sweetening compound derived from licorice root. Glycyrrhizin can cause potassium levels in the body to fall. When that happens, some people experience abnormal heart rhythms, as well as high blood pressure, edema (swelling), lethargy, and congestive heart failure.

FDA’s Linda Katz, M.D., says last year the agency received a report of a black licorice aficionado who had a problem after eating the candy. And several medical journals have linked black licorice to health problems in people over 40, some of whom had a history of heart disease and/or high blood pressure.

Katz says potassium levels are usually restored with no permanent health problems when consumption of black licorice stops.

Licorice, or liquorice, is a low-growing shrub mostly grown for commercial use in Greece, Turkey, and Asia. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says the plant’s root has a long history of use as a folk or traditional remedy in both Eastern and Western medicine. It has been used as a treatment for heartburn, stomach ulcers, bronchitis, sore throat, cough and some infections caused by viruses, such as hepatitis; however, NIH says there are insufficient data available to determine if licorice is effective in treating any medical condition.

Licorice is also used as a flavoring in food. Many “licorice” or “licorice flavor” products manufactured in the United States do not contain any licorice. Instead, they contain anise oil, which has the same smell and taste. Licorice root that is sold as a dietary supplement can be found with the glycyrrhizin removed, resulting in a product known as deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL, NIH says.

If you have a fondness for black licorice, FDA is offering this advice:

• No matter what your age, don’t eat large amounts of black licorice at one time.
• If you have been eating a lot of black licorice and have an irregular heart rhythm or muscle weakness, stop eating it immediately and contact your healthcare provider.
• Black licorice can interact with some medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Consult a health care professional if you have questions about possible interactions with a drug or supplement you take.

This article appears on FDA’s Consumer Updates page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.

Oct. 25, 2011

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A bit of humour mixed with spirituality

Everything I need to know about life, I learned from Noah and his Ark

1. Don’t miss the boat.
2. Remember that we are all in the same boat.
3. Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark.
4. Stay fit. When you’re 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
5. Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
6. Build your future on high ground.
7. For safety’s sake, travel in pairs.
8. Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
9. When you’re stressed, float a while.
10. Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
11. No matter the storm, when you are with the Higher Power, there’s always a rainbow waiting…

Oh, and be careful of Woodpeckers.

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Professional gamblers make their living by gambling and thus consider it a profession. They are skilled in the games they choose to play and are able to control both the amount of money and time spent gambling. Thus, professional gamblers are not addicted to gambling. They patiently wait for the best bet and then try to win as much as they can.

In contrast to professional gamblers, antisocial or personality gamblers use gambling as a way to get money by illegal means. They are likely to be involved in fixing horse or dog races, or playing with loaded dice or marked cards. They may attempt to use a compulsive gambling diagnosis as a legal defense.

Casual social gamblers gamble for recreation, sociability and entertainment. For them, gambling may be a distraction or a form of relaxation. Gambling does not interfere with family, social or vocational obligations. Examples of such betting are the occasional poker game, Super Bowl bets, a yearly trip to Las Vegas and casual involvement in the lottery.

In contrast, serious social gamblers invest more of their time in gambling. Gambling is a major source of relaxation and entertainment, yet these individuals place gambling second in importance to family and vocation. This type of gambler could be compared to a "golf nut," whose source of relaxation comes from playing golf. Serious social gamblers still maintain control over their gambling activities.

The fifth type, relief and escape gamblers, gamble to find relief from feelings of anxiety, depression, anger, boredom or loneliness. They use gambling to escape from crisis or difficulties. Gambling provides an analgesic effect rather than a euphoric response. Relief and escape gamblers are not compulsive gamblers. They are identical to relief and escape drinkers.

Compulsive gamblers have lost control over their gambling. For them, gambling is the most important thing in their lives. Compulsive gambling is a progressive addiction that harms every aspect of the gambler’s life. As they continue to gamble, their families, friends and employers are negatively affected. In addition, compulsive gamblers may engage in activities ­ such as stealing, lying or embezzling ­ which go against their moral standards. Compulsive gamblers cannot stop gambling, no matter how much they want to or how hard they try.

By Robert L. Custer, M.D.

See also;

• Are You Living With A Compulsive Gambler?
• Gamblers Anonymous
• Don’t stop loving them
• Problem Gambling?

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Several recent large-scale research reviews have provided the best evidence yet that chocolate, derived from the seeds of the cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao), is good for your heart.

In one review, in the British journal BMJ in August, researchers analyzed data from seven observational studies, which included more than 100,000 people. Those who ate the most chocolate had a 37 percent lower risk of heart disease, compared to those eating the least, after controlling for weight, physical activity, education and other dietary factors that could influence the results. They were also 29 percent less likely to have a stroke.

In a second review, in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in August, Harvard researchers looked at 10 clinical studies from the last decade, with a total of 320 people. Consuming dark chocolate or cocoa products for 2 to 12 weeks modestly lowered cholesterol. And another review of clinical trials, in BMC Medicine, found that cocoa-rich products had a small blood-pressure-lowering effect in people with hypertension and prehypertension.

Behind the benefits

Chocolate’s health benefits are largely attributed to polyphenol compounds called flavonoids—the same family of substances that are in tea, red wine, grape juice and other plant foods—which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting properties. In particular, flavonoids increase production of nitric oxide, which helps relax and dilate blood vessels, and this may help lower blood pressure and have other cardiovascular effects. Cocoa flavonoids may also inhibit cholesterol absorption as well as oxidation of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, making it less harmful.

But before you reach for a chocolate bar, there are some caveats. First, not all studies have had positive results. And many—including all of those in the recent BMJ analysis—are observational studies, meaning that they don’t prove cause and effect (that chocolate, rather than something else about chocolate eaters, is responsible for the benefits seen).

Moreover, no one knows what type or amount of chocolate is optimal. Studies have used different formulations (with widely varying flavonoid levels) and intakes (from tiny daily amounts to impractically large quantities); some have not distinguished between milk and dark chocolate. Chocolate may affect people differently, too, depending on a variety of factors.

Keep in mind also that the chocolate confections that Americans love most are loaded with sugar, fat and calories (235 in a typical 1.5-ounce bar). Many have caramel, nougat and other unhealthy fillings and ingredients. Eat too much of any kind of chocolate and you can gain weight, which would likely cancel out the heart benefits.

Chocolate morsels

• Not all chocolate is created equal. Processing of cocoa beans into commercial chocolate candy greatly reduces flavonoid levels. In fact, a main manufacturing objective is to remove these compounds because they have a bitter taste. Some companies use—or claim to use—methods that better preserve the heart-healthy compounds.

• Dark chocolate generally has more flavonoids than milk chocolate, but it’s hard to know how much a particular bar has. The percent cocoa (or cacao) listed on a label is not a reliable indicator of flavonoid content, and a bar that is, say, 70 percent cocoa from one manufacturer is not necessarily better than one that is 60 percent from another manufacturer. In addition to processing, the type of cocoa beans used and the manufacturer’s “recipe” also play a significant role in determining final flavonoid content. At the very least, the darker the chocolate, as indicated by a higher percent of cocoa solids, the less room there is for sugar.

• Though chocolate is high in saturated fat (from cocoa butter), this is mostly stearic acid, which has a neutral effect on blood cholesterol. On the other hand, milk chocolate has added fats that are not good for your heart, as well as more added sugar than dark chocolate. Milk chocolate has twice as much sugar as the darkest chocolate.

• Cocoa powder is highest in cocoa solids and has the most flavonoids—though “Dutch” (or alkali) processing destroys them. If you use cocoa powder, look for unsweetened natural versions. Next highest in flavonoids is unsweetened baking chocolate.

• Chocolate contains small amounts of caffeine—about 20 milligrams in an ounce of dark chocolate, and 6 milligrams in milk chocolate (compared to about 100 to 150 milligrams in a cup of coffee).

• It’s not clear whether adding milk to cocoa interferes with the absorption of flavonoids. A 2009 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, for instance, found reduced flavonoid absorption when people drank cocoa made with milk compared to cocoa made with water. Still, other studies have found no effect of milk on cocoa flavonoids and no difference in blood antioxidant levels. It’s possible that milk interferes with some, but not all, cocoa flavonoids. Some studies that found no milk interactions used cocoa with much higher flavonoid levels than those in commercial cocoa, which could make any flavonoid-reducing effect of the milk less apparent.

Chocoholic advice

Chocolate may provide some heart-health benefits, especially if you eat it in place of other snacks or desserts that are high in calories and saturated fat. Choose the darkest chocolate that you like. Cocoa beans or some variation, such as cacao, chocolate liquor or cocoa mass, should be the first ingredient, not sugar. But even if it’s rich in flavonoids, think of chocolate as a treat, not a health food, because of its hefty calories. Fruits and vegetables are a better source of flavonoids on a daily basis—they have fewer calories and an abundance of vitamins and minerals, along with other healthy plant compounds and fiber.

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The relationship within our ‘self’ of body, mind and emotions shapes our ability to relate to other people, and to the spiritual power in the universe.

Depression, addictions, compulsive behaviour and low self-esteem are but symptoms, signs of a broken relationship within our ‘self’. They are symptoms of a ‘wounded spirituality’.

When this connection between our body, mind and emotions is broken, our ability, our ‘response-ability’, to respond healthily to life’s circumstances is limited.

In recovery our task is to identify and undo the broken parts of ourselves and learn to respond positively and creatively – to say YES to life in a way which enables serenity to grow and be maintained.

Some of these symptoms are;

• Alcoholism / drug addiction / compulsive gambling
• Eating disorders (overeating, bulimia, anorexia)
• Perfectionism and overachieving
• Workaholism
• Co-dependency
• Depression / shame / guilt / blaming others / denial / self-centredness / grandiosity / sensitivity / immaturity / low self-esteem / inhibitions
• Religious addiction
• Sex addiction
• Relapse, switched addictions, multiple addictions
• Controlism
• Moneyism

In order to heal our spirituality, it is helpful to discover what we believe; what we think about the Higher Power, the self, other people, the world and life or even what we do about these issues without thinking about them – reactions. Then we need to find how those beliefs may have contributed to the breakdown of the mental-emotional-physical relationship within ourselves. Where did we learn these spiritually dysfunctional ideas?

SOURCES OF WOUNDED SPIRITUALITY

If the above behaviours and states of mind are some of the signs of a wounded spirituality, just where and how did we get wounded?

We should remember that our new spirituality excludes blaming. These sources of wounding are only used to help us identify our dysfunctional beliefs. Some of the sources of injury are;

• Dysfunctional families
• Addictive/alcoholic families
• Overprotective, underprotective or interrupted parenting
• Unhealthy messages and beliefs about God and religion
• Negative, shaming messages about expressions of feelings
• Taboos about sex; negative messages about sex, sexuality or the body
• Lack of freedom to ask questions, evaluate information
• Lack of freedom to be ourselves, or an inner conflict about what we think that we should be doing and what is ‘expected’ of us
• Invasions of privacy
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Religious terrorism

Of course, practicing the symptoms of a wounded spirituality (alcoholism, addiction, low self-esteem & etc) can enable the spirit to be damaged even more. I am sure most alcoholics & addicts know how their own behaviour became worse over the years, as the drinking or drugging got worse.

Thus, once started and if not ‘arrested’ by recovering a healthy spirit, we may walk into the gates of “insanity or death.” We may have arrived at a state of “pitiful and incomprehensible demoralisation.”

See also;

• Our Wounded Spirits
• Alcoholic Family Roles

Problem gambling is gambling to the extent that it causes emotional, family, legal, financial or other problems for the gambler and the people around the gambler. Problem gambling can get worse over time, and gambling problems can range from mild to severe.

“What are some signs of problem gambling?”

When people have a problem with gambling, many times they feel like they need to

• bet more money more frequently,
• feel irritated when they try to stop, and
• think that they can “chase” their losses to recover money.

This can lead to more gambling, despite financial loss and the trust of friends and loved ones. In general, people with gambling problems usually spend a large portion of their income on gambling.

“Do a lot of people have problems with gambling?”

If gambling is becoming a problem for you, you are not alone. Research shows that 1.1% of the adult population in the U.S., Australia and Canada has had severe problems with gambling in the past year. Also, another 2.2% of that same population has had at least some problems with gambling in the past year.

Self-assessment

Understanding how gambling works and the dangers that are associated with gambling is an important step in your journey. This part of the guide will help you to understand your gambling patterns. Complete the questions below to see if you should examine your gambling patterns more closely:

• Have you ever tried to cut down on your gambling? How often? Did it work?
• Are others annoyed by your gambling? Partner, colleagues, friends or family?
• Do you ever gamble alone? When? Where? Does it make any difference?
• Do you ever feel guilty about your gambling? Even when you won?
• Do you ever gamble to feel better? Comfort gambling?

If you answered “yes” to one or more questions, then you may want to consider looking at your gambling more closely. Many people are not aware of all the ways that gambling can affect their lives. The exercise on the following page will help you to identify difficulties you may be facing. Answering these questions can alert you to problems that you might not have thought about before.

Money Problems

One may also consider the financial impact it has on you. Many problem gamblers experience various kinds of money problems. For example, some problem gamblers are always short of cash despite adequate income, and others will borrow, pawn, or even steal to get some quick cash to gamble.

Another way to understand ones gambling is to look at the classification of gamblers. Gamblers can generally be classified as;

Recreational Gamblers

Recreational gamblers gamble on social occasions with friends or colleagues. They have pre-determined acceptable losses and by and large their gambling activities cause little harm and their behaviour is associated with minimal guilt. They simply require information and education on gambling behaviour in order to make sensible decisions.

Problem Gamblers

Problem gamblers spend too much time and money gambling. Their behaviour causes harm both to themselves and others and is associated with much guilt. Most NRGP patients requiring treatment fall into this group and they very often respond positively to the intervention.

Compulsive Gamblers

Compulsive and pathological gamblers have a psychiatric disorder diagnosable by strict clinical criteria. It is regarded as a disorder of impulse control and has a very poor prognosis. Such gamblers have an inability to control their gambling, with consequent significant damage to themselves and others. They are often very difficult to treat.

See also;

• Gamblers Anonymous
• Are You Living With A Compulsive Gambler?

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