Deion Sanders and the CU football team are all the rage in college football right now. Even as University of Nebraska alum, it's hard for me not to join the bandwagon. In fact, I've seen Coach Prime twice now at BJ's Pizza in Boulder and the second time I worked up enough courage to talk to him. He was very nice.
But there's one thing about Coach Prime you might not know. At the height of his professional sports career in 1997, Sanders struggled in his personal life and attempted suicide by driving his car off a 40-foot cliff. Listen to what he has to say about it HERE.
Whether you're a CU fan or not, Coach Prime offers some great advice. Public success has no indication of what someone is going through privately. Our social media accounts do nothing to help this. Our feeds are full of happy pictures of friends, families, celebrations and vacations. Yet a person could still be severely depressed and going through a difficult time. You just never know. Like Sanders says, we have to talk to and love each other.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and World Suicide Prevention Awareness Day is Sunday, September 10. We all can help prevent suicide simply by talking about it, sharing resources and knowing how to help those who struggle with suicidal thoughts. Here are some more specific ways.
1. Know and share info on the 988 hotline.
- If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 immediately.
- If you are uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can chat the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.
2. A mental health crisis like suicide must be addressed quickly and effectively. The National Alliance on Mental Health is also an amazing resource for all things mental health in America and they wrote a resource guide for people experiencing mental health emergencies and their loved ones so they could be better equipped in times of need. You can download it for free here: Navigating a Mental Health Crisis.
3. At SunShineBlu, we want you to know that you are not alone. We are a safe place for anyone to come in and talk to us about their struggles. Suicide is NOT the answer and there is hope. We're open:
Tuesdays-Saturdays, 11 am to 5 pm at
1241 Kimbark, Unit C, Longmont, CO 80501
Or just stop by and get a free Suicide Prevention Awareness sticker during the month of September and help us spread hope.
4. Many of the people walking through our doors are struggling with thoughts of suicide, especially young teens. You can help us by supporting our efforts and making a donation HERE.
We were made with two ears and one mouth for a reason. Take time to listen to the people around you. Often that's what they need the most. Even if you think they're doing great. Hang out and show them you care. It can make all the difference in the world and save a life.