Over the past few weeks/months, I’ve read and heard many different things that have made me uneasy, sad, even heart broken.
I am someone who is empathetic to the extent that I cry at commercials (I know sounds extreme). Not all commercials, just those like the Budweiser with the puppy, The mother & father and the touching going to college scene or the scraped knee and the gentle kiss with the band aid. Or even a good Facebook story like how a Father was walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding stopped and grabbed the hand of the Step-Father and then they both walked her down the aisle together as a family. (Not a dry eye in the place).
Lately with the suicides from kids to adults who were bullied or had felt a failure at life and could not make ends meet. Or the child abuse where kids are given back to parents who were clearly unable to take care of themselves let alone a child of any age. Boyfriends/girlfriends who abuse a child repeatedly till that child dies while the parent stands by either too afraid to help or to removed to care. Even those throughout the country who have no tolerance for others around them that do not agree with their point of view. It saddens me that children suffer. Children at an early age hold such innocence and grace in their eyes as the look at us and learn from us what the world holds for them. We great them with love and kindness they learn this we treat them with less they learn that too. What we show them is what they repeat in the world.
Reading the Coloradoan articles on the welfare of our children and seeing the meetings they have been holding taking the initiative in bringing the subject into the spotlight makes me proud to be part of a community that respects children as we do.
With this in mind I’ve looked up some local and national sites for your information and education if interested. Help for those who need it and for those who want to help but don’t know where or how to reach out.
Please take some time and reflect to see if you can help and how you are willing to do so. Whether you are looking for help or someone who can help now is the time to start.
Suicide info and help:
Alliance for Suicide information includes Emergency hotlines, Emergency walk in locations, non-emergency locations, Education & Support information, and Grief support services. Here.
Colorado Crisis Services includes information for relationship, depression, bullying, family crisis, substance abuse, stress, anxiety, suicide thoughts, and disability; http://coloradocrisisservices.org/
Suicide Prevention Resource Center is packed with tons of resources that will help those who suffer and those who are looking to educate themselves. Website here.
Colorado Suicide & Crisis Lines: Fort Collins Larimer Center for Mental Health is open 24/7 Weekday hours 8am-5pm 970-221-2114. After hours and weekends when many need to call 970-221-5551. If for some reason these lines are not open please call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) which is the national hotline. Or Call the talk line at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or call 211 or go to 211.org.
For general help you can call and ask the general lines to help with many different kinds of crisis.
For General info and to help find the correct help you need when you need it call 411.
Or Dial 0 and ask for any of the following:
Hotlines for Suicide, overdose, medical assistance, crisis prevention, community crisis center, local mental health center, hospital mental health clinics, local addiction crisis prevention centers and any specific help you need if you can’t find your local numbers or if they do not work.
Only call 911 in a true emergency.
Bullies:
For some great information and resources for Teen bulling Kid’s health is a great resource. Kid’s health is a great resource on many things and covers information for kids, teens, and parents. http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/bullies.html Kids information on bullies http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/bullies.html
PBS Kids has some great information on definitions and what to look for in bullying for kids.http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/friends/bullies/
National Federal information on bullying is found here.
Mental Health and addiction
Mental Health and addiction crisis info here http://summitstonehealth.org/mental-health-addiction-crisis-services/ Call the Colorado Crisis Support 24/7/365 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or call (970)494-4200 locally.
Drug or alcohol assistance can be found either online or by calling:
Ft Collins Health Care Center 1000 S Lemay Ave 970-482-7925.
Bridgeways 506 S College unit B 970-420-4526
Heart Centered Counseling 406 E Pitkin St. 970-498-0709
Child abuse:
To report child abuse or neglect: (970) 498-6990 or 1-844-264-5437 1-844-CO-4-KIDS 24/7/365.
Larimer County human services and child protection information can be found here.
Child Protection Services – Guide For Parents.
Larimer County Office of Emergency Management for everything from Wildfire, emergency preparedness, hazard mitigation, etc (environmental). http://www.co.larimer.co.us/emergency/
Events:
Alliance for Suicide has a Community Rememberance Walk Saturday April 15th at 8:30 am in Old Town Fort Collins. The Walk starts at Downtown Artery and is ½ mile. 9:15 is a Rememberance Rally in Oak Street Plaza with a breakfast ad coffee. Be sure to bring family and friends to join with the Larimer County community to walk and remember those who have died by suicide and to promote a goal of ZERO suicide. Registration required. Register here.
