Todd Lucas, M.Ed’s Post

TW: Suicide There's been a lot of really poignant posts for #worldsuicidepreventionday and it prompted me to make a little appeal. My relationship with suicide ideation and suicide attempts is a 33 year one - the longest relationship I'll ever manage albeit the least healthy. Being neurodivergent and gender non-conforming in a world not built for inclusivity has been a constant battle, and the C-PTSD that's resulted and periods of severe mental illness has only really compounded it. I've been hospitalised through self harm and suicide attempts more times than I care to remember, and have had periods in psychiatric units. Things have been a lot better for me since I transitioned, but I mark survival through my worst periods, ideation and attempts by getting tattooed. (Funnily enough, I don't tell my tattooists that especially since my current tattooist has become my best friend) How have I been lately? Well, let's just say I've had 5 tattoos in the last 4 weeks. The cloud has lifted a little in the last week or two and I'm excited about work and life again, and making the most of that. Suicide is really difficult to talk about; and it's a very lonely place to be: you need a certain level of trust and relationship to be able to talk about it with people, and if you have too strong a relationship I often find the reaction from those who care about you often stems from a place of fear manifested in anger, and you only end up feeling like you've hurt someone who loves you. I'd urge anyone to consider enquiring about mental health first aid and suicide first aid courses and roles in the workplace. You might just find you can save the life of someone who appears like they should have people they can talk to, who appears to have a good support network of family and friends around them, but might not be able to bring themselves to open up to those closest to them.

🚨 Let's confront a crisis that's tearing at the heart of our society: Male Suicide in the UK. 🚨 📊 Statistic 1: Each day, approximately 12 men in the UK take their own lives. That's a staggering number – 12 individuals, 12 families, and countless friends left grappling with the pain of loss. To put it in perspective, that's one man every two hours. 📊 Statistic 2: Men, often saddled with an immense weight of responsibility, are less likely to reach out to friends or professionals when they're struggling. Studies indicate that over 70% of men in the UK say they find it difficult to open up about their mental health concerns. Loneliness is a silent killer that affects many. 📊 Statistic 3: Astonishingly, research shows that men often have fewer close friends compared to women. A 2019 survey reported that one in five men have no close friends — twice the proportion for women. And things are getting worse: 2021 research by the mental health charity Movember suggests that nearly a third of men feel as though they do not have any close friends. On average, men have fewer confidants to turn to during difficult times. This isolation can lead to a sense of profound loneliness. 📊 Statistic 4: It's essential to recognize that many men tend to prioritize their families above all else, dedicating themselves to their roles as fathers, husbands, and providers. While this is admirable, it leads to isolation from their friends and a neglect of their own emotional well-being. 💔 These numbers aren't just statistics; they represent lives lost, families shattered, and futures cut short. It's a crisis that demands our urgent attention and collective response. But there's hope, and it begins with us. We can break the silence and make those numbers decrease. Reach out to your male friends, check in on their well-being, and let them know they're not alone. Share resources, listen without judgment, and create a safe space where they can open up. I have lost many friends to suicide over the years all which have been male so lets shatter the stigma surrounding male mental health, demand better mental health services, and foster a more understanding, empathetic, and supportive environment. Together, we can make a profound difference and save lives. 💪 #MentalHealthMatters #SupportMen #EndMaleSuicide

Resharing on #WorldMentalHealthDay A very powerful and personal story from the co-founder of BakerHestia - with a call to action. Remember - it may be a colleague or employer who makes the difference! If you can afford Employee Assistance Programmes etc, please look at these. If not, training Mental Health First Aiders is a great first step. Managers, you only have to do two things: 1) provide clarity, direction and timescales (get things done) and 2) genuinely care about the people you lead. SIMULTANEOUSLY. It isn’t easy, but it can be done. It’s learnable. For your own mental health and that of those around you - learn! “The Leader’s Handbook” by Peter Scholtes is a good pragmatic place to start :)

As always, an inspirational and moving piece from my colleague and dear friend, Cass Potter FRSA. #TWSuicide It can be a bit difficult being in business with a business partner with recurrent periods of severe mental illness. However, because this is true of both of us, Cass and I understand each other well and know we will always find our way through. Sometimes she shoulders my burden; sometimes I hers. Together we can do it. Alone, I think not. Being in business with each other can be hard.. but nothing like as hard as NOT being in business together. Approximately 80% of Ausitic people are not in meaningful employment. I delight every day that the work we do creates more meaning for EVERYONE we work with. Our level of openness and honesty can be challenging. But, then, would you really rather engage closed and dishonest people to help your business? We challenge - because we’ve lived it. We care - because we are it. And we continue - because there is no other option. One foot in front of the other. #courage #inclusion #WorldSuicidePreventionDay #Autism #ADHD #CPTSD #AuDHD #LGBTQ+ #NoLGBwithoutT #Survivors #SME #Pride

It’s sad we need a national suicide prevention day. But we do. NOT just to talk about hotlines and claim to care about #mentalhealth. Instead we need to explore the root of the SEVERAL problems causing, contributing to, and exacerbating these mental health challenges. How and why have so many people reached a point where ending it all seems preferable to repairing the damage? If people struggled with the same mental health challenges since birth, perhaps brochures, hotlines, and confidential conversations could combat this insurmountable issue. It’s definitely great people have them as an option. But people weren’t born worried about if they’d ever find employment, if they’d ever afford a home, if they can even establish a career sufficient enough to think about a family, I could keep going for ages… But take a look around. Those examples have definitely made the challenges we face with mental health even worse. And all the hotlines, brochures, therapists, and “I’m here if you ever need to talk” crowd can’t magically fix it. If we really want to prevent people from feeling like life isn’t worth living, we need to find ways to establish livelihoods that make them want to live. This isn’t the typical conversation people have about this subject matter, but I’m telling you the truth and I hope it’s #upyouraly.

New research published yesterday estimates the economic cost of suicides in the USA as US$510 billion. Yes, half a trillion dollars. This sounded unrealistic, but looking through the methodology, it makes sense when considering the cumulative amount of people not with us each year. In the USA, this number is now up to 50,000 people lost yearly. It’s sad that we convert that loss into financial numbers, but is this what we need to bring about change in how we approach mental health and wellness? What more of a clear case do we need to invest more in prevention? Applying the same rough calculation to Australia, our loss is around AU$50 billion each year. Australia’s suicide rates aren’t improving. It's clear we need to make a change. This is what we aim to shift through programs like Resilience First Aid and High Adversity Resilience Training – let’s build connected resilience proactively so we can protect people from ever considering this, rather than just respond at the moment of crisis. I’ve recently joined Suicide Prevention Australia’s NSW Committee. With their help and that of industry partners, I’m aiming to make a clear case for why prevention is the future of mental health. It should be obvious, and hopefully building more evidence helps to get things moving faster. Read the new research here - https://lnkd.in/gFvnpENr Need help? Australia: 131114, USA: 988

In the quiet moments after the sirens fade and the adrenaline subsides, our heroes—the police officers and firefighters—face a battle that often goes unnoticed. It’s a battle within themselves, one that can be more perilous than any call they respond to. These brave souls are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty, a stark reality that demands our attention and compassion. Research reveals a troubling trend: despite national suicide rates decreasing, first responders continue to grapple with mental health challenges. A study by the Ruderman Family Foundation found that police officers and firefighters are at higher risk of dying by suicide than while on duty. The reasons are multifaceted: unaddressed shame, stigma surrounding suicide, and the relentless stress they endure. Enter Second Responder Inc.—a beacon of hope for those who serve. Founded with unwavering dedication to those who serve, this nonprofit organization connects ordinary people to opportunities that meet the financial, physical, and psychological needs of first responders and veterans. You can meet a need over at http://besecond.org. Trauma leaves scars, but it need not be a life sentence. Second Responder Inc offers coping strategies tailored to first responders. From mindfulness techniques to counseling resources, they empower our heroes to build resilience. Acknowledging the impact of their experiences and providing practical tools can make all the difference. The silence needs to be broken surrounding mental health. By openly discussing suicide, you can dismantle the stigma that has plagued first responders for years. Education, awareness, and empathy are their weapons against despair. Let’s join them in this critical mission. Our police officers and firefighters deserve more than our gratitude—they deserve our unwavering support. Second Responder Inc stands as a lifeline, guiding them toward hope, healing, and resilience. Together, let’s ensure that our heroes find solace in the midst of their battles. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. #FirstResponders #MentalHealth #HopeForHeroes

Since May is Mental Health awareness month, I can't think of a more fitting pledge to take than the Make It OK pledge ♡. Make It OK, is a non-for profit organization working to raise awareness about Mental Health illnesses, the damaging stigmas that often accompany them, and the importance of encouraging conversations in an effort to create change, and save lives ♡. Mental Health illnesses don't discriminate, each and every human, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity / pronouns, financial situation, profession, and more, can experience Mental Health illness. Sadly, more often than not, those that have lost their lives to suicide, have done so not because there wasn't support for them, but because they didn't feel safe or comfortable to ask for it, and seek the help they deserved. In order to flip the narrative around Mental Health, and lower the staggering suicide rates within our world, we have to first be willing to raise our voice, advocate, and each do our small part. Pledges such as Make It OK, remind each and every human they're not alone, they don't have to suffer in silence, and there truly can be power in numbers ♡. If we all are willing to do our part, to take the pledge, and be one more human in support of ending the stigma, we just might be able to be the change we wish to see in the world, and save a life, one signature at a time ♡. Follow the link below, to learn more, and take the pledge today! ⬇️ Please also feel free to share and repost so Make It OK can have further reach 🫶🏼. https://lnkd.in/dEVaxZZa #makeitok #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthillnesses #stigma #flipthenarrative #support #pledge #doyourpart

Social experiment---can you repost this? These two guys lost a brother to suicide nine years before this picture was taken. That's me on the right and my younger brother Matthew on the left, and we never talked about what happened. Really, never, and we should have. The picture was taken in 1992 at our cousin's wedding, and our brother Mark should be in it, but depression got the best of him.   Don't ever say it cannot get worse, because it can. One year after this picture was taken, we lost Matthew to suicide. F' me. I am not going to lie, I've been a mess ever since. I lost a couple of good jobs, had a marriage fail, and just never fully recovered from all of this. (but do you ever?) Add in my ADHD, and it's been rough. But it's rough for everybody.   Fast forward to 2011, and I agreed to talk about my brothers for the first time publicly. It was an Out of the Darkness Walk for the good folks at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and on that day I found my purpose. We need to talk about this stuff, and now my misery was my mission!   The first couple of talks were horrible, but I found my voice, and now I want to help your organization find its voice when it comes to talking about mental health in the workplace. I use my story as the backdrop, but the talk is really about mental health and how we can help each other, and for some damn reason, I am really good at this talk.   Give me an audience that does not want to be there, and I am in my element. Make it mandatory, and everyone walks in all hot and bothered, and I am energized. Give me 45–60 minutes, and we will all benefit.   I operate under this premise: A shared joy is a double joy; a shared sorrow is half a sorrow. You help me cut my sorrow in half, and I will help improve your corporate culture when it comes to mental health. It sounds like a fair deal. Book me here: https://lnkd.in/g_kkXn3u #suicideprevention #mentalhealth Richard Branson

🌎🤝 On World Suicide Prevention Day, Let's Talk Unemployment and Mental Health 🤝🌎 Today, on World Suicide Prevention Day, we shine a spotlight on a critical issue affecting countless lives: the intersection of unemployment and mental health. 💔 🧠 Mental Health Matters: The impact of unemployment on mental health is profound. The stress, uncertainty, and feelings of inadequacy can take a toll on one's well-being. Let's remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. 🤗 Reach Out: If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out for support. Sometimes, a simple conversation can make a world of difference. Let's create an environment where talking about mental health is normalized and stigma-free. 🤝 Support Systems: As a community, we can make a difference. Reach out to friends, family, and colleagues who might be going through a tough time due to unemployment. Offer a listening ear, encouragement, or even resources that can assist them. 💼 Navigating Unemployment: Losing a job can be a heavy burden to bear. If you're facing unemployment, remember that this setback doesn't define you. Seek professional guidance, explore new opportunities, and remember that brighter days lie ahead. 🌱 Planting Seeds of Hope: Let's collectively work towards creating a society that prioritizes mental health support and job opportunities. By fostering an environment that values everyone's well-being, we can sow the seeds of hope for a better future. 💙 You're Not Alone: To those battling the challenges of unemployment, remember that you're not alone. Many have faced similar struggles and have emerged stronger. Reach out to organizations, hotlines, or professionals who are there to help. On this World Suicide Prevention Day, let's come together to raise awareness about the impact of unemployment on mental health. #WSPD #SuicidePrevention #MentalHealthMatters #SupportMatters #HeadsQuest