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Resources, What's Up?

CYBERBULLYING: What We Know & Can Do Today

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December 10, 2016

- Resources, What's Up?

Yesterday dozens of teens and young adults in our community were victims to a very public, mean-spirited cyberbullying attack that hit Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat platforms. 

Please know we take this attack seriously. We’re sorry for the harm caused to those targeted and are working to bring this situation to a close as quickly as possible.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
– Taos Municipal Schools, Taos Police Department and New Mexico State Police are actively investigating to identify the person and/or persons responsible for the attack. The cyber attacker(s) potentially face criminal charges as a result of the violations committed.

WHAT WE CAN DO NOW
– To help stop the violations, assist authorities in identifying who is responsible. If you have any info to share or continued online posts to report, please contact Officer Henry Sanchez, Taos Police Department at (575) 613.6570 or Luckie Daniels, Taos Municipal Schools at (575) 224.4480.

– Resist re-sharing content [and talking] about the attack. No denying the content shared was hurtful. But authorities need to determine who is responsible for putting it online, and re-sharing original posts makes following the digital trail challenging. Also, the person/persons involved intended to cause those attacked pain and embarrassment. Don’t give him/her the satisfaction – cut the effort short!

– Get help if you need it. What’s happened is upsetting. Talking about this experience with trusted family and friends can help you get through it. We also have local resources (see below) and Crisis Text Line at #START 741741 available to support you. You are not alone. Let your circle and community help.

– Crisis Text Line – Text “START” 741741
– DreamTree Project (575) 758-9595
– Golden Willow Retreat (575) 776-2024
– Valle del Sol (575) 751-7037
– Non-Violence Works (575) 758-4297
– Tri-County Community Services (575) 758-5857
– 24/7 Emergency (575) 758-1125
– Youth Hotline (877) 968-8454
– National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-8255
– Sky Counseling Center (505) 473-6191
– Ted Wiard (505) 690-0126
– Jill Cline (575) 770-1327
– Marsha Carlson (650) 933-8367
– Risa Lehrer (575) 758-3913

As we learn more, we’ll share more. Just know this, we are here for you, however and whenever you need it.

See something. Say something. Do something.

Luckie and Justis
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Training + Education

How To Help: Youth Mental Health First Aid

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December 3, 2016

- Training + Education

Today I experienced my first mental health training. Sponsored by TAOS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL and ROCKY MOUNTAIN YOUTH CORPS, I spent the day learning how to support young people in crisis who are at risk of causing self-harm and/or harm to others.

The course, YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID is straight-forward, incredibly informative and sobering. Victoria of RMYC did an excellent job facilitating a complex discussion. I’m honestly just beginning to understand how much weight young people today carry on their shoulders. I’m not a mental health professional, just a mom/ally committed to supporting young people in need where I can; how I can. 

In a community where suicide is a reality of our culture and a scenic bridge is too often the medium used to end a life, the training room should have been packed. We should have all listened (as tough as it was) to the story of KEVIN HINES who at age 19 jumped from the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE — and lived to tell about it.

We should have all heard Kevin say to stop him from going over the railing of that bridge he just needed 1 person to ask, “are you okay?”. To hear Kevin say on the day of the attempt his father — who seemed to know something wasn’t right — just didn’t know the question to ask, was a reality check as a parent.

There’s a suicide every 12.8 minutes in the United States and New Mexico has the 5th highest suicide rate in the country. Stop expecting this discussion to ever be comfortable. Have it anyway.

When necessary, ask the question – are you thinking about or planning to commit suicide? And if the response is yes, without judgment, take time to better understand the extent of his/her plan.

Because maybe your 1 question is the anchor needed. Maybe he/she can’t find the words and like Kevin, needs you to ask, are you okay?

The room should have been packed but it wasn’t. I get it. We are all busy and overwhelmed. But friends, family, educators, caregivers, providers and allies cannot be silent or absent from the room any longer.

Like Justis says, you don’t need to be a superhero to save a life. You can help but will need the tools to know how.

In Taos contact Victoria at RMYC ([email protected]) or Eric Mares of CYFD ([email protected]) for details on when and where training is being offered. Outside of Taos, please start here – https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org

Advocate or ally, we need you. And our teens experiencing crisis and contemplating suicide need you far more.

Luckie, mom/ally

youth-mental-health-first-aid-one-pager
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Hear Us, In Memoriam

Brandy Vela, 18

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December 2, 2016

- Hear Us, In Memoriam

Brandy Vela - In Memoriam

We created “See Something. Say Something.” after the loss of 4 of our friends to suicide. It hurt; every loss does. But the loss felt by suicide, especially when the victims aren’t even out of high school, is something completely different.

So when I heard the story of 18 year old Brandy Vela, the Texas Senior who committed suicide a few days ago, my heart broke. Not just for Brandy, but for her family, friends, and my peers who have and might still consider suicide an option. 

Teen suicide is a reality we don’t often talk about; at least not on the level we need to.

Talking about loss isn’t easy but it must be done. And we have to be able to talk about teen suicide, not just after one has happened, but before. No person, teen or otherwise, should be pushed to the point where they feel like they need to end their life.

“See Something. Say Something.” is a campaign, for teens by teens. A campaign not just for the friends we’ve lost, but also for the friends we’re fighting to save. For friends, for family, and for teens like Brandy.

Justis, advocate and friend

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Hear Us, Resources, Stories

Project Semicolon

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November 25, 2016

- Hear Us, Resources, Stories

When Justis told me about the death of LEXI WILLIAMS (16) in Gastonia, North Carolina on November 21, I was again speechless. He’d received a Facebook message from a friend who was a friend of Lexi’s. News of Lexi’s suicide, by jumping off the Cox Bridge into I-85 traffic, has been shared by thousands across Facebook and Twitter. 

I read many tweets from Lexi. She knew she needed help and asked for it, MANY times. There were countless signs and too many warnings to cite. 

I didn’t know Lexi but I can’t help wondering if folks witnessing her very public struggle raised a flag? Did they know Lexi had options and hope could be found? Did anyone attempt to take action to save Lexi?

Is there a way to show love and provide support for teens in crisis while they are still living to benefit from it? Is there a real way to stop teen suicide?

Questions but no judgments here.

As a single mom with a demanding technology job, I know I’ve missed my share of crisis signs. With my son, I’ve been guilty of overlooking the stress and burden of living up to everyone’s overly high expectations. At times I’ve diminished teen issues because hell, I’m not walking in teen shoes. Admittedly, there’s much about “teen life” I don’t get.

But I want to. I want to see a sign and move QUICKLY in a way that protects the life of a young person who has EVERYTHING to live for.

I want to talk about action and work with people who are taking action. I want to answer my own question, what could we have done to save Lexi, so we can work to prevent the next “Lexi”?

If you are a teen or know a teen who needs to know there’s hope, we are here. See Something, Say Something is in this fight for the long-haul and accompanied by powerful partners – Project Semicolon and Crisis Text Line, we’re gonna kick hopelessness in the ass!

I’m no expert or mental health professional. I have not lost a child to suicide, and I’m fighting every day to keep it that way.

Checkout PROJECT SEMICOLON and Amy Bleuel. Hope is alive.

Your story is not over . . .

project-semicolon-logooooo

Luckie, mom/warrior
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Hear Us

Wailing Wall

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November 23, 2016

- Hear Us

Tonight I went to the Wailing Wall
And heard a mother scream
Haunting silence
Sliced clear through
As we all stood staring
Praying
Raising desperate hopes
That it wasn’t true
Again
But it was
And it is
And hearts continue to shred with pangs
Of when
And why
And how
Can we make this stop
Tonight I went to the Wailing Wall
And heard a mother scream

– Rev. Jill Cline, a mom

for Miquela
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