Blog
Mental Health Requires Representation
Growing up in Oakland had its challenges, I knew that it wasn’t a place I wanted to live in forever. Like many Urban areas there was poverty, drug use, and gang violence that I witnessed throughout my life, and it was something that I didn’t want for myself. However, it wasn’t until after I left that I realized and appreciated the culture, the...
Weaving Mental Health into Black Culture
When asked what it means to support our community, Derric Thompson said, “Just being available. I’m sharing resources, staying involved, volunteering, and making myself an essential worker.” Derric co-founded a youth mentorship program, Leaders Become Legends, that supports young Black men as they secure employment, get into stable housing,...
Black History Month
Showing Up for Black Joy – Black History Month Recap
Supporting each other and working together is how Black folks survived the horrors of slavery, and continue to survive family separation, state-sanctioned oppression and more. Black Joy is made possible by community members looking out for one another and lifting each other up...
Always Hope Gala
Behind the Scenes: Planning the Always Hope Gala
By Maggie O’Connor, Assistant Director of DevelopmentEvery year, as soon as the Gala ends and the Development team is busy packing up at the venue, we start thinking about what we want to do for the next one! Together, we carefully plan every element from invitations, décor,...
Black History Month
Celebrating Black Joy – Helping Students Rebound from Incarceration
By Martin Lockett, Director of Cultural Engagement I recently had the privilege, with Lines for Life’s Equity Team, of visiting Portland State University to speak with Rebound – a unique program serving formerly incarcerated individuals who are rebuilding their lives by...
Hispanic Heritage Month
Breaking the Cycle of Stigma – Bilingual Training for Suicide Prevention
I came into a new position at Lines for Life earlier this year and established the bilingual community training program. It was important that we network and build relationships with community partners right away for the program to be successful.We started offering QPR training...
Hispanic Heritage Month
Strengthening My Community: Learning About Mental Health
The Hispanic & Latino community experiences many barriers to Mental Health. One of them is stigma. There is not as much stigma around physical health – but when it comes to mental health, there is this narrative that the only people who look for help are the “crazy” people. Another...
Service Members and Veterans
Remembrance and Community on Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a day of solemn reflection and remembrance of those who died while serving in the US military. This Memorial Day, I attended a ceremony hosted by the American Legion in La Pine, Oregon – attended by around 200 people, 150 of whom were Veterans.Many Americans observe...
Service Members and Veterans
PTSD 101 – What it is and How to Support Someone
Traumatic events impact everyone differently. For some people, the impacts of trauma can develop into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a diagnosis that is treatable with evidence -based therapies.June is PTSD Awareness Month – here is some basic information to boost your...
Pride Month
Supporting LGBTQ Teens Online – Safe Social Spaces
Queer people have found community online since the internet started. YouthLine’s Safe Social Spaces, a social media outreach program, is not a specifically queer program, but most of our contacts are queer. Many of our contacts don’t feel like they have a community in person...
Featured
Recognizing Juneteenth
Lines for Life honors Juneteenth as a reminder of the struggle toward freedom for Black Americans. We recognize the hardships that racism continues to inflict on Black communities and we embrace Juneteenth as a time to acknowledge these hardships, celebrate progress, and honor...
Pride Month
This June, Lines for Life recognizes LGBTQ Pride by Celebrating Our Whole Selves!
June holds special significance for LGBTQ Pride, tracing back to the historic Stonewall Riots of June 1969, where LGBTQ individuals stood up against police mistreatment in New York City. Since then, Pride Month has evolved into a global celebration of sexual orientation and gender...
