Earlier this year, I attended the European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behavior (ESSSB) in Rome. One of the plenary presentations by Prof Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, of the Medical University of Vienna, illuminated the powerful impact of the “Papageno Effect” on suicide prevention.
It seems that any time we hear the words “suicide” or “mental health”, the word stigma follows right after. The word “stigma”, according to the Oxford Dictionary, means a “mark of disgrace”.
Instead of talking about stigma incessantly, let’s stop to consider how by focusing on it, we ensure it stays in place, forever associated with mental health challenges. The net result is that people who are struggling are all too often reluctant to seek help, since they are constantly reminded that having a mental health issue is a mark of disgrace.
What if we reframe stigma as a form of bias, rather than something to be ashamed of? Doing so would help normalize help-seeking for mental health concerns, creating the expectation that getting help is reasonable and even preferable.
Growing up in a family of natural athletes, I always felt like the odd one out, struggling to find my place in the world of sports. But when I discovered running, everything changed. This blog explores how running became more than just exercise for me—it became a powerful tool for self-care, resilience, and finding peace.
When the behavioral health crisis assessment and referral team at Banner Health’s Northern Colorado campus in Greeley heard about H.O.P.E. Certification, a program that is helping build resilience and wellbeing in industries facing acute suicide and other mental health crises, they were intrigued. The team knew that workers at their hospital were exhausted and traumatized, and needed a variety of mental health supports.
