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In commemoration of Suicide Prevention Awareness M

In commemoration of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, this Saturday the 4th the Annual Music for Mental Health Benefit Concert, presented by the Brett Thomas Doussan (BTD) Foundation is going down! 🎶💙⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This benefit concert is lead by singer-songwriter @kathrynrosewood, an OC87 Recovery Diaries alum (past contributor) grew up in PA as one of 10 children. She lost her younger brother Preston to suicide. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Read her MH story on our site (link in bio)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Learn about the virtual benefit concert via @btdfoundation⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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All proceeds will be distributed back to the mental health partners at @NAMI @namineworleans - New Orleans, @no_musicians_clinic, @afspnational Louisiana, and more. #buststigma #suicideawarenessmonth #suicideprevention⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Photo credit: @nolanews

"I've noticed..."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If yo

"I've noticed..."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you're concerned about someone in your life, and you want to ask "the suicide question" but aren't sure what to say or how to start; start there.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
With what you've noticed.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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"I've noticed you seem depressed/stressed/angry/irritable lately."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
"I've noticed you don't return my calls or texts like usual."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
"I've noticed you posting some pretty dark stuff on social."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
"I've noticed you don't seem like yourself."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Then, once you've talked a little bit about what you've noticed, you may feel more comfortable moving into asking if the person is thinking about killing him or herself.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I like starting out this way for two reasons:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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1.) It isn't confrontational or accusatory ("You've been acting different"), it's just commenting on what you've noticed. And⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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2.) It lets the other person that you've noticed them. That you notice enough to care; to say something. And sometimes people who are considering suicide feel distinctly un-noticed.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And that's where suicide prevention starts; with noticing; people, patterns, changes, moods, energy, rhythms, signs. That's where it all begins. #buststigma ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
CREDIT: @lovebugtrumpshate

If you haven't had a chance to read James' #mental

If you haven't had a chance to read James' #mentalhealth post surrounding addiction, PTSD, and past trauma head to our site now! #yournotalone⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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"I stood at the sink filling the plastic cup with water as my mouth and tongue burned from the psychotropic medication. My throat burned and I swallowed quickly to try and find some relief. As an eight-year-old living with problems in my mind; this was a typical morning. The doctors in my small Florida hometown said I had some real issues going on in the psychological aspects of my mind. The chemistry and psychological aspects of my mind. They weren’t sure I would ever be better.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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When I was three, I was in a severe car accident and that caused brain damage to a degree. I was very hyper and that caused me lots of problems, in school and elsewhere. I talked much and I was constantly moving. Doctors tried out different medicines and they settled for a long period on one psychotropic. I suffered from its many side-effects and I didn’t want to take it, but I was forced to by my parents. The diagnosis was hyperactivity with signs of schizophrenia. It was torture living in my mind as a young boy." #buststigma #mentalhealthisimportant

Reckless kindness.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Stud

Reckless kindness.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Studies have shown that doing random acts of kindness can improve mental health by improving mood and reducing stress and anxiety.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Our friends at @nami_southern_arizona shared this one!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#nami #namisa #namisouthernaz⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#mentalillness #loveyourself #mentalhealthawareness #notalone #buststigma #staypositive

What if someone told you: you won’t live to be t

What if someone told you: you won’t live to be twenty-five because of mental and social issues?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This week's mental health author is strong and recovering from his past. Double-tap to help us welcome James Howard, our newest author. #BustStigma⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Read his powerful, perhaps relatable MH story now (link in bio).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
James did live and thrive past 25 years old. #keepgoing

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