September 2018

More documents

Recommendations

Info

MEDICAL HEALTH From Heartache to ‘Psychache’: An Overwhelming Burden by Larry Schwingel Thirty-one years ago, a rabbi came to the front door of Jackie Rosen. Without him saying a word she knew her son, Mitchell, only 24, would never come home again. A victim of suicide, his body was found in a nearby field where he once played. Mitchell’s story, like thousands of others, is about a life unfulfilled. His mother, the executive director of Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention (FISP), has made it her lifelong commitment to help others in crisis. Over the years, she’s trained staffs of organizations, schoolteachers, first responders, police, and provided crisis intervention. FISP also offers support groups for suicide loss survivors, and the Broward and Miami-Dade school districts have each approved her organization’s HOPE Sunshine Club initiative that offers an engaging curriculum for middle school, high school, and college students. National Suicide Prevention Week is Sept. 9-15, and everyone needs to be aware that this illness doesn’t age discriminate, and knows no ethnic boundaries. Even though choosing death over life is a heartbreaking trade-off, nearly 45,000 people take their lives in the U.S. each year. In Florida, the suicide rate is the 10th leading cause of death, but the second leading cause among those 25-34, and third among those 15-24. From 1999 to 2016, the suicide rate in Florida increased to double digits, and during that time, only one state (Nevada) decreased. Eleven states increased between 38 and 58 percent. Following her son’s death, Rosen organized a support group to help her and others cope with the grieving process. Grief, sadness, shock, and hurt were all parts of the process, but Rosen said her biggest challenge was to understand how Mitchell had gotten to such a dark place. “We knew he was in danger and my husband and I were with him all the time,” she said. “One night he slipped out when we were sleeping and he never came back.” Many that die by suicide are victims of “psychache” — a term coined by Edwin Shneidman, a noted clinical psychologist and suicidologist. “The psychological pain they feel is overwhelming,” Rosen said. “For example, imagine that 80 percent of your body was burned and the doctor told you there was no pain medication — that is psychache. Understanding that concept helped me gain a better awareness of the disease and a person’s state of mind.” According to Rosen, thinking suicide is “a coward’s way out” is archaic. “It’s a disease that’s psychologically overwhelming and people that die by suicide feel they are easing someone else’s burden,” she said. She is steadfast to never use the word “committed” in relationship to suicide. “It’s a disease, and it should be treated that way. You wouldn’t say that someone committed cancer. That old mindset has to change.” Depression and anxiety among the young has risen, and Rosen attributes it to social media. “Kids have a need to keep up, and if they don’t have as many friends on Twitter or Snapchat they don’t feel a sense of worth, and that’s a major problem.” She says a lack of common decency, namecalling, and bullying also factor into stress and that is how our country is today, one she termed “radically different.” A family member, a friend, neighbor, or coworker may seem fine, but masked behind the smile are issues that can’t be seen. Depression is the top visible warning sign, but other signals include changes in behavior, eating, or sleeping habits, difficulty making decisions, the inability to interact with others, apathy, losing interest in hobbies, changing one’s physical appearance, giving away prized possessions, visiting friends more than usual, and extended grief over losing a loved one. “Suicidal tendencies do run in families and the DNA brain disorder can be passed generation to generation,” Rosen said. “It becomes an acceptable thing to do and those people are at a very high risk.” At the core of the illness are issues such as bad relationships, substance abuse, health problems, job losses, and financial burdens. Interestingly, half the people that die by suicide do not have a known mental condition at the time of death. FISP does not have a hotline, but the staff does provide advice and support to all callers. The organization also sends packets of information, provides referrals, and suggests 102 SEPTEMBER 2018
support groups. The organization is located at 13798 NW 4th Street, Sunrise. For information, call 954-384-0344. If you are in crisis call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), any time of the day, seven days a week. All calls are strictly confidential. For more information, visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. P WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY, September 10th To be an active participant on World Suicide Prevention Day, the foremost priorities are education and involvement. Listed below are ideas that will be helpful as you plan your activities: • Check resources available on the IASP (International Association for Suicide Prevention) Web Resource Directory: (www.iasp.info/resources/ World_Suicide_Prevention_Day/2018/) • Download the WSPD Press Preparation Package that offers media guides to plan events or activities The Semicolon Tattoo These tattoos represent the Semicolon Project, a non-profit dedicated to supporting people dealing with depression, anxiety, self-harm, and other forms of mental illness. A semicolon represents a sentence the author could have ended, but chose not to. That author is you and the sentence is your life. It is a symbol of hope and continuation. • Download WSPD Toolkit containing links to resources and related Web pages • Plan conferences, educational seminars, public lectures, and panels • Place information on your website and use the IASP WSPD Web banner, promoting suicide prevention • Organize memorial services and candlelight ceremonies to remember those that have died by suicide • Hold depression awareness events in public places; offer screenings for depression, and organize cultural or spiritual events, fairs, or exhibitions • Organize walks to political or public places to highlight suicide prevention John Denver wrote “Sunshine on My Shoulder Makes Me Happy,” but for Rosen, it’s a butterfly on her shoulder that makes her happy. My son would come home and rub my shoulders and always ask me how my day was,” she said. “I loved butterflies growing up, and the butterfly pin I wear on my shoulder is a constant reminder that he’s always with me.” • Organize concerts, BBQs, breakfasts, luncheons, contests, fairs in public places • Light a candle in a window at 8pm on WSPD Prevention Day to honor the memory of lost loved ones. the PARKLANDER 103
Page 1 and 2:
the Parklander THE FAMILY FRIENDLY
Page 3 and 4:
Kathy Schroeder 954 235-8671 www.Co
Page 5 and 6:
LUXURY INTRACOASTAL HOME|Lighthouse
Page 7 and 8:
GUARANTEED Pest Control & Fertiliza
Page 9 and 10:
40 years! DuPreeTeam.com 954-752-19
Page 11 and 12:
CORAL SPRINGS MAYOR SKIP CAMPBELL W
Page 13 and 14:
the PARKLANDER 11
Page 15 and 16:
ANNOUNCEMENTS Fond farewell At the
Page 17 and 18:
Your fulltime, hands-on, results or
Page 19 and 20:
the folks we lost never be forgotte
Page 21 and 22:
REDUCED! CYPRESSHEAD • PARKLAND W
Page 23 and 24:
Photos by Sheila Johnson of Treehou
Page 25 and 26:
VISIT OUR SHOWROOM 1565 North Park
Page 27 and 28:
COME OVER TO THE EAST SIDE! $3,798,
Page 29 and 30:
RECEIVE YOUR FREE QUOTE IN 24 HOURS
Page 31 and 32:
the PARKLANDER 29
Page 33 and 34:
PARKLAND’S PREMIER PILATES/FITNES
Page 35 and 36:
South Florida is known for it’s b
Page 37 and 38:
COLDWELL BANKER COR AL SPRINGS/PARK
Page 39 and 40:
the PARKLANDER 37
Page 41 and 42:
Bentley Brothers Ru and Scoundrel M
Page 43 and 44:
• CUSTOM LANDSCAPING • DESIGN &
Page 45 and 46:
E x p e r i e n c e s c r e e n s t
Page 47 and 48:
the PARKLANDER 45
Page 49 and 50:
KITCHEN | BATH | COUNTER TOPS No. 1
Page 51 and 52:
Renovations by Pools N More Waterfa
Page 53 and 54: Now Open on Saturdays! 18 MONTHS NO
Page 55 and 56: WHITE KITCHEN • BATH • HOME OUT
Page 57 and 58: HYDE’S Screening Specialists www.
Page 59 and 60: the PARKLANDER 57
Page 61 and 62: t THE WAY WE DESIGN: Simple clean l
Page 67 and 68: Boutique & Alterations Established
Page 69 and 70: ADVISORS ADVISORS ADVISORS ADVISORS
Page 71 and 72: Experience • Savor • Enjoy Come
Page 73 and 74: The following museum activities and
Page 77 and 78: It is worth every step. As you stan
Page 79 and 80: 5 th ANNUAL BOCA PHOTO “Double T
Page 81 and 82: the general public.” A variety of
Page 83 and 84: of Hitler — and the moral strengt
Page 87 and 88: School Thank you to all of the admi
Page 91 and 92: Register Online at www.cityofParkla
Page 93 and 94: Take Music Lessons in the comfort o
Page 95 and 96: of an ongoing project by Anthony. H
Page 97 and 98: intend to leave your sister out, an
Page 99 and 100: “Having My Hip Replaced Was a Pie
Page 101 and 102: ADVERTORIAL Broward County Reside
Page 103: SINGER ORTHODONTICS 1) You will rec
Page 107 and 108: Your Heart In Our Hands Specializin
Page 109 and 110: FULL SERVICE GENERAL & COSMETIC DEN
Page 111 and 112: Renato Berger, M.D., F.A.A.P. Diana
Page 113 and 114: High-Definition Never Meant This Mu
Page 115 and 116: As a result of the addition, the ho
Page 117 and 118: Abacus Animal Hospital Abacus Anima
Page 119 and 120: PET TALK The tale of two rooms by G
Page 121 and 122: TAKE ACTION PERSONAL SAFETY AND SEL
Page 123 and 124: ROVI SMILE CENTER | DR. DANIEL A. R
show all

September 2018

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?