As a born a bred New Yorker, this day is a hard one for me to swallow.  It was the day the face of my home was forever changed, the day life as we knew it in this country forever changed, and it ushered in a time of fear, worry and resilience.   I was not in NY on 9/11 but that doesn’t mean like so many others in our country and around the world we were not affected. I know I was.

I remember thinking how sorry I felt for the pilot who was not able to miss a 110 story tall building.  How naïve I was, but then the second plane crashed, and the third, and the fourth…. I was at work watching my world forever change not knowing what I was witnessing. But 17 years later as I watch the opening of the remembrance ceremony at ground zero my eyes well with tears as my throat closes and I want to weep for all of those who were lost 17 years ago today.  I also grieve for the way of life that was take from us on that fateful day. ...

September 10, 2018 is National Suicide Prevention Day 

The National Alliance on Mental Health states that, “each year more than 34,000 individuals take their own life, leaving behind thousands of friends and family members to navigate the tragedy of their loss. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among adults in the U.S. and the 3rd leading cause of death among adolescents” (NAMI).

A few ways we can partake in National Suicide Prevention Day are by being aware of possible warning signs and risks, what resources are available, and by engaging in activities to raise awareness about suicide.

Potential Warning Signs in Behavior:

• Withdrawal from social settings or gatherings  
• Increased use of substances (drugs, alcohol)
• Reckless or unusual behavior Read more

  Posted in:

  • National Suicide Prevention Day

  Tags:

  • anxiety
  • counseling
  • depression
  • mental health
  • psychotherapy
  • self-care
  • self-care
  • self-care
  • self-care
  • stress
  • stress
  • substance abuse
  • suicide

#TransformationTuesday #WaybackWednesday #ThrowbackThursday #FacetoFaceFriday

By Iliana Bianca Torres, MS, LMHC at Agape Therapy Institute

It’s funny with the advent of social media that we have these named days of the week.  My personal favorite is #TacoTuesday, but it got me thinking.   Do we need a specific day of the week to make certain topics a focus?  I think not. But taking from the named days of the week I want to focus on #TransformationTuesday.

It means different things to different people.  Some have pulled themselves up from their boot straps and made their lives completely different, others learned to take control of their lives and learn to live better, while others make physical, relational, or emotional transformations.