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The hot potato topic

What I speak about is often acknowledged as important.

Heads nod, emails are answered and then the, “I think that is Sara’s or Kenny’s area.” Let me introduce you to these five people. And my message just gets drowned out in a sea of emails of “we’ll get back to you later.”

Do I get back? Sure I do. But what I get in response is, “Did you ever talk to Kenny or Sara?” No, they wouldn’t call me back.

Suicide, mental illness, grief and addiction are topics people want to pass to someone else to take care of. Not unlike how our country has handled the opiate crisis and mental health in general. Do you sense a pattern here?

We’re really good at hands off. That we have mastered. Just pass it along to someone else then check that box and claim to have done their duty.

The whole problem with people struggling who want help, is that they are passed on down a myriad of resources lined with and covered in red tape. Few want to say, “Hey let’s make this happen.”

What I’m finding is that my connections are starting to push back and advocate. And while it might not always turn into something, just having that support and knowing that they were thinking of me, is what I need the most. I’m not really alone as I feel, am I?

Published by

Anne Moss Rogers

I am an emotionally naked mental health speaker, and author of the Book, Diary of a Broken Mind and co-author with Kim O'Brien PhD, LICSW of Emotionally Naked: A Teacher's Guide to Preventing Suicide and Recognizing Students at Risk. I raised two boys, Richard and Charles, and lost my younger son, Charles to addiction and suicide on June 5, 2015. I help people foster a culture of connection to prevent suicide, reduce substance misuse and find life after loss. My motivational mental health keynotes, training and workshop topics include suicide prevention, addiction, mental illness, anxiety, coping strategies/resilience, and grief. As talented and funny as Charles was, letting other people know they matter was his greatest gift. And now the legacy I try and carry forward in my son's memory. Mental Health Speakers Website. Trained in ASIST and trainer for the evidence-based 4-hour training for everyone called safeTALK.

4 thoughts on “The hot potato topic”

  1. Anne Moss: This is god sent. You may not remember me but maybe my son Russell. His oldest son had a mental illness and took his own life Nov. 6, 2019. In a way it was a shock and in a way it wasn’t.Ford was 23 at the time. For years they tried to find the right help for him but none of it worked. I am passing your information on to them. Hopefully they will reach out.

    1. I do remember you and of course Russell. I am so sorry they are suffering this loss. I think I may have heard something about it but it was not a sure thing. So thank you for confirming. That is so recent.

  2. We do appreciate your tenacity and share in your joy at the successes. We are thankful you have turned your grief into advocacy. Hang in there!

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