You Call, We Answer
There is so much stigma against mental health and suicide in the Black and Creole cultures, but many of us are working to break that stigma. I’ve always been interested in mental health. My family moved to Southwest Louisiana over 300 years ago as one of the premier and largest Creole families.
The ripple effects of substance abuse and suicide are quantifiable and immense. I know firsthand how difficult it is to lose a loved one to suicide. I’m a suicide loss survivor. My father struggled with extreme mental illness and died by suicide when I was just nine years old. Ten years later, my sister died by suicide. In a lot of different...
Suicide prevention is very personal to me – one of the reasons I chose this path is that I want to make sure that help is accessible, and it’s something that people are not afraid to talk about. I grew up in extreme poverty – my brothers and I all struggled with our own mental health and substance use issues, and loss was a very prominent part of...
Calling crisis lines helped me through a few difficult times, and I want to return that favor. I was twelve or thirteen when I first called a crisis line in middle school. I found it very helpful when I was younger, and even through my college days. I struggled a lot with anxiety, depression, and ongoing suicidal impulses. I struggled to connect...
Dialing or texting 988 is not simply a conversation; it is a bold step to reach out. We understand you, can empathize with your plight, and will do all we can to help. We hurt as a community – now is it time we heal as one. My name is Martin, I’m 43, and I was born and raised in Northeast Portland. I answer helpline calls at Lines for Life. I am...