Suicides and the Spring Time

Spring time is approaching... grass, plants, tress, leaves, flowers are going back to life again. There will be more sunlight, daylight is longer, more outdoor activities....these are some of the reasons I thought people are likely more happier and less depressed during Spring time. The truth about spring and suicide might surprise some people, which is exactly the problem.

There has always been a myth that suicides peak during the holidays(month of December and winter time) but it's actually just the opposite(this is according to Mental Health America). Research in US and Europe suggests suicide rate soar in the spring, with April and May among the most dangerous months for people who suffer from depression. It maybe related to brain chemicals ang light-for example, there is more sunlight in spring and the sun is closer to us, so the sunlight is better. Sunlight creates more serotonin- a brain chemical associated with good mood- while decreasing melatonin -a brain chemical associated with sleep. The question is why wouldn't this combination reduce the risk of suicide?

Seems when you are very depressed, you don't have the energy to act out your suicidal thoughts, it's all related to the energy to do it. So, it means spring suicides are tend to be more violent and more effective because of the increased energy boost. There's the energy to make the valid attempt.

Let us pay attention closely to our loved ones to suicide's warning sign. There are so many myths about suicide but the one that people who talk about it don't do it. NOt everyone who talks about suicide does it, but anybody who has done it has said something about it before. Watch for some behavioral signs and don't ignore them thinking it's spring and they feel better.

BEWARE OF WARNING SIGNS:

• Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness or having no purpose in life, along with a loss of interest of pleasure in doing things.
• A preoccupation with death, dying or violence, or talking about wanting to die.
• Seeking access to weapons, medications, or other means of killing oneself.
• Wide mood swings (feeling extremely "up" one day and terribly "down" the next).
• Feelings of great agitation, rage or uncontrolled anger, or wanting to get revenge.
• Changes in eating and sleeping habits (including withdrawing from family members and friends or suddenly becoming outgoing when the person is typically shy.
• Risky or self-destructive behavior, such as taking illegal drugs or driving recklessly
• Sudden calmness (when the person had made the decision to end his or her life).
• Life crises, traumas, or setbacks.
• Putting one's affairs in order - including giving away belongings, visiting family members and friends, drawing up a will or writing a suicide note. (source: American College of Emergency Physicians)

The "I" tag

Elaine passed me this tag...

I AM…........ excited with our plan right now.

I WANT….. change
I HAVE…... so many things to do for the next few weeks..
I HATE....... winter
I FEAR….... failure
I SEARCH… for a condo right now (see my previous post)
I WONDER.. if our plan will push thru, i wish...
I REGRET….everything that I've done wrong
I AM NOT....right handed.
I DANCE.......left and left
I SING….......bahay kubo out of tune pa.
I CRY............when I'm down
I WRITE…...anything that interests me
I WON..........a spelling competition
I AM CONFUSED… about life.
I NEED…................. more energy to do all these tasks.
I SHOULD…...........be thankful and grateful.

I want to pass this on to: Norma, Audrey, Nedekcir, Lina, Susan leonita, and Poray.

Hardwork Pays....

It's the time of year again (in the Philippines) that we will celebrate the most important day of school life....Graduation. I have nephew and niece that gonna graduate high school this March 26, 2008. I'm so happy for their parents, at last after all those hardwork they had made just to have financial means to support their children, they will now enjoy the fruit of their sacrifices by seeing them on the stage.

In our conversation this morning, I can feel how excited they were, I always tell them the value of education that on these days, if you don't have education, the only thing you'll be shown is the door. Don’t let your dreams stay only dreams. Take steps to make them a reality. You can start by having a good education. And don't let any obstacles hinder you, like lack of financial capability. That's the no. 1 reason of the rising number of out of school youth today, no money to support their education. But don't let that reason beats you, if the money is the problem, then find way to make one. I was one of them, unfortunately, I was not lucky enough like some of my batchmates who has capable parents to support their college education. If only those kids know how lucky they are, that there is someone who will be able to finance their education unlike us and the majority.

I still remember after my high school graduation, there were only 4 options that you can choose if u cannot go to college: those days, going to Japan is very popular, you will be trained to dance or sing or play in a band. Second, just get married young, have kids, and stay poor. Third, start working, salesperson if you have personality(this is a must in the dept. store), or any high school graduate jobs like washing dishes, or factory jobs. And fourth, just stay at home being PAL (palamunin), like a parasite.

Geesh, I chose none of the above. I bravely follow what my heart wants...to go enroll in a college, without any assurance that I have enough money for my expenses. Thanks to those fastfoods companies that gives opportunity to students earn money while studying. Jollibee is part of my college life, some competitors accused them of exploiting young students working, still, the fact remains that they help many poor students to survive and finish their college course. It is a good training ground for students to learn the value of hardwork, teamwork, good communications, and time management. I owe one to SM Supermarket too(working as cashier), by giving us, the students the opportunity to work with them. And many other companies who offered part time job to poor students who rely only to their earnings to support their education. Surely, hardwork pays....