Host Debrief for Suicide: Ripple Effect

Last night I hosted a screening of the film Suicide: The Ripple Effect. It was intense, eye-opening, and shocking. What follows is the email I am sending the people who attended the screening.

Good Morning,

This is Lauren Hope, movie captain for last night’s showing of the Ripple Effect. I want to thank each and every one of you who came out last night. Special thanks to Christy Letsom, board member with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and The Sarah Michelle Peterson Foundation for being there with support and information.

I also wanted to check-in this morning. Like you all I watched the movie for the first time last night. As a suicide attempt survivor it was an intense film for me. It brought up a lot of feelings for me; a roller coaster of feelings in fact. If anything in this film made you sad, depressed, increased suicidal ideation or triggered something in you I strongly encourage you to share that with a trust friend, counselor , or family member.  One of the biggest take aways I recieved from the film and my own advocacy is the importance of connection, letting people know when we are struggling, and being available to listen.

With that in mind I want to remind everyone the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is open 24 hours a day 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-273-TALK . Their website is also an incredible source of information suicidepreventionlifeline.org

I am a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and a HUGE supporter of American Foundationf for Suicide Prevention. Check them out also www.nami.org or AFSP.org

I also hope last night sparked a desire in you to learn more about suicide and how to prevent it. The Sarah Michelle Peterson Foundation gives training on how to recognize signs and how to start the conversation. I hope you consider taking a further step in prevention and consider taking one of those trainings. Www.sarahmpetersonfoundation.org

I also heard a lot of people talk to be about getting suicide prevention knowledge to kids. I would love to let you all know about an amazing regional event called ‘Shatter the Silence’ created for kids middle school and up that address suicide, prevention, and mental health. Follow me on my business page Good Girl Chronicles LLC or email me at teamgoodgirl84@gmail.com and I can get you registered for the event and give information.

Thanks again. Time is a precious gift and I am thankful you choose to spend that time together with us last night.

Sincerely,

Lauren Hope
Good Girl Chronicles LLC

My Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month 

Sharing your story sets you free, and shows others they are not alone. I see this everyday
 through my blogs, tweets, posts, and talks. That is why I am overjoyed at all the opportunities 
I had to share my mental health journey during Mental Health Awareness Month (May).

Bedford Hike for Hope

    May 12 I traveled back to beautiful Bedford County to give a talk on suicide prevention.

Bedford has a special place in my heart, because I covered that region at my first television gig 

from 2009 to 2012. During my reporting days, the residents of Bedford County showed me the

 power of coming together as a community through so many stories I covered.

The Bedford Hike for Hope is a fundraiser for the American Foundation on Suicide Prevention, an

organization dedicated to reducing suicide through research, fundraising walks, and advocacy.

I was struck at how many families have been touched by suicide in Bedford County.
 My heart still aches for the families who lost loved ones to suicide. I felt for a few moments 
during my talk that we were all connected, comforting, and finding release in our shared experiences.
 It was amazing. Thank you for inviting me to such a powerful event Bedford County. I hope to return
 next year.

Mother Earth Production/ What’s Your Story

    It is so true that everyone has a story. Sharing our stories is one of the best ways we connect with 
others. I shared my story with my church group and I was connected to Malikah Harris, an actor, 
published author, singer, and owner of a production company called Mother Earth Productions. 
One of her many talents is sharing people’s powerful testimonies on her YouTube Channel called, 
“Mother Earth Productions LLC)

Here is the video!

 

Story For His Glory with Romania Whitehurst

    Facebook is amazing. I don’t care a what anyone says about it not being cool anymore. 
It is the platform I connect with people on the most. Facebook lives saved me in the pit of
 homelessness last year. People donated over $4,000 to my GoFundme and it lead to an amazing 
Christian couple reading my story and welcoming me into their home. So when a local church
called asked me to come on their Facebook show I was all about it.

The show “Your Story for His Glory” is hosted by Romania Whitehurst in conjunction with her 
church Bountiful Blessing Ministries. I was so impressed by Romania’s set up.
 She had a small production crew, backdrops, cameras, and even a commercial break. 
The show title was called “Depression, Now What?” I shared my experience living with major
 depressive disorder, and Certified Life Coach Danielle Boose talked about her being the
 parent of a child with a mental illness and how it has changed their family and her career path.
The show was so engaging and powerful. To this date it has over 700 views which tells me that
 people of faith are hunger for discussions on mental health. Many struggling with accepting a
 mental health diagnosis and continuing in their faith. Many don’t feel the two can co-exist. 
I beg to differ. I believe more discussions like this are needed to break the stigma of mental illness
 in the church community.

I also had the opportunity to share stories on two amazing Mental Health blog/websites

Speak Away The Stigma

Click here to read the blog!

Doming Out 

Click Here to read my blog feature on living with anxiety

There is a scripture in the book of John that says, “The truth shall set you free.” John 8:32

Speaking my truth has set me free of so much shame and guilt of having a mental health diagnosis. And, I encourage you whatever your truth is —- OWN IT! The amazing thing about the stories of our lives is that as long as we are breathing you have the power to write a new chapter.