I’m not easily shocked, but this chart shocked me. I didn’t realize we had this epidemic going on in the United States. Keep the numbers listed under the chart handy. You can be someone’s lifeline.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, English — (800)273-8255
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Spanish — (888)628-9454
For deaf/hard-of-hearing — (800)799-4899
Veterans Crisis line — (800) 273-8255
Are you over age 70? If so, are you among the half whose feet hurt? Or over 24 and among the 24% in that age group with foot pain? Yes, you can go to the doctor (a good idea). But it helps to know the causes and ways to prevent, lessen, or get rid of it. The AARP article How You Can Fix Those Aching Feet offers some good insight to this.
Instead of a quote, today’s Thursday Thought is one reason why Suicide Prevention Week (this week) and Month (September) are so important.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how much bullying is going on. Maybe it’s the political climate, or maybe it’s because it’s National Bullying Prevention month. In any event, we see it on the playground, coming through cyberspace, even at our workplace. It deeply hurts both children and adults. Today I’d like to address those of you experiencing it at your work.
Does someone at work love to make people around him miserable? If you feel that way, most likely you aren’t alone. The Workplace Bully never heard of, nor does he care about, the dignity all workers are entitled to. Confront him, not with a solid punch to the jaw but with a calm request for him to be more reasonable. Tell him plainly that he makes you feel uncomfortable or humiliated; explain why specific demands he makes on you are excessive. If you do this in front of others, you minimize the chance of verbal warfare and, at the same time, embolden co-workers who have been suffering silently. Join with them, in a sort of support group, one that doesn’t feed each other’s anger but keeps you from feeling isolated and helps you find ways to counteract the bully’s actions that don’t turn you into a bully. Soon your lagging self-respect will return. Together you’ll make your job site the fulfilling, safe environment you deserve to work in.
Pets are part of 63% of American families. We love and protect them. But what about all of the other animals around us? The U.S. has not only 480 million stray dogs and cats but also 60 million farm animals living a poor existence. Then there is the thriving worldwide black market ($10 billion a year) in which wildlife is being inhumanely treated and their parts sold illegally. Do something during April, Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month. Adopt an unwanted dog or cat and have it spayed or neutered. Insist on laws that ensure healthy living conditions for farm animals. “Adopt” an Arctic Fox at www.worldwildlife.org. Learn about trapping, the circus, zoos, wildlife trade, and related issues by going to www.bornfreeusa.org. Learn about the Multinational Species Conservation Fund’s Semipostal Stamp Act, which raises money for endangered species. Work to ensure wildlife habitats are preserved—and create one in your own back yard. Call the SPCA or search online for “wildlife protection” for other ways to become involved. Americans are animal-lovers. We must also be their guardians.
Possible measles outbreak at UC Berkeley? Or even further? Unbelievable but true. Because a Berkeley student who didn’t know he’d been infected (probably while traveling overseas) rode public transportation (BART) around Contra Costa County and interacted with strangers, friends, family, and other students.
Measles is easily spread and is very serious, often causing pneumonia, brain damage, seizures, or death. We don’t see it too often anymore in the U.S., though, because so many Americans have been immunized. But not this young man.
Why not? There are nine other diseases, besides measles, that are preventable: chickenpox, lockjaw (tetanus), whooping cough, polio, mumps, German measles,hepatitis B, and type B flu. All it takes is preventative vaccinations, which everyone should have.
But that interferes with my Constitutional rights, my freedom of choice, some will say. My answer to them is this: protect yourself, and therefore the rest of us, or become a hermit and live somewhere totally away from us. Now, THAT’S your choice.