Research shows that elderly depression is a common, widespread problem. Adults over age 60 are five times more likely to be depressed or suicidal than younger people. Men are more likely to commit suicide than women. Depression isn’t a normal part of getting old. Symptoms can be confused with what is part of the normal…

It’s official! We’ve entered a new age of evolution. Called the Anthropocene Epoch by scientists to reflect humanity’s deep impact on our planet, it is an age where we can no longer distinguish what is man-made from what is natural. The word “Anthropocene” means “new human era.” The idea that humanity had entered a new…

In my article, “Suicide Prevention – A Mother Speaks Out About The Un-Speakable”(Oct. 2014) I talked about Barbara Swanston being a suicide awareness advocate. Like Barbara, most people become a suicide awareness advocate after a loved ones dies by suicide. The stigma encountered, the silencing of a loved one’s memory – these are but two…

I was at the CDRIN training program in Calgary, Alberta when I first met Barbara Swanston. We were sitting at our tables, politely introducing ourselves. When it was Barbara’s turn she stood up and, without being afraid of what we might think, simply said, “I’m here because my son, Terry, died by suicide.” Putting the…

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