For the hearing impaired, contact the Lifeline by TTY at: 1-800-799-4889
Is there for a reason. It’s there to help.
Update:
In Canada
If you are in crisis, call 1-833-456-4566 or visit crisisservicescanada.ca. First Nations people and Inuit can also call 1-855-242-3310 or chat at hopeforwellness.ca.
To learn more about suicide prevention, visit Centre for Suicide Prevention at www.suicideinfo.ca.
Switchboard - LGBT+ focused
0300 330 0630 - 10am-10pm every day
And remember
Remember, you can take a break for today, or a little bit longer if you need. Unplug for a bit, talk to someone you trust, or hug a pet. Take care of yourself, the rest of us can hold the line.
(Please feel free to comment with services in other countries, and I will edit to put them up here).
Hey everyone. Stay strong: you are one tough cookie. But remember it’s OK to crumble sometimes, to not be OK. Just stick around please. We see and hear you. You are needed, wanted and loved. Thank you for being you!
Also, in Australia, relevant services include Lifeline, Centres Against Sexual Assault, beyondblue and KHL (Kids Helpline).
Agreed. I don’t even make any reference on the BBS to the existence of another place (I may have said things like “maybe I’ll see you elsewhere” in the early days).
I expect she has already had PMs from some users I could name, several of whom are active on both sites.
If she’s the person I think you mean, she’s been a BBS user for a while, and her comments seem to be on the side of Right and Truth, with an emphasis on women’s issues. What do people think about inviting her here? Her recent posts are troubling, and a safe space and lots of hugs might help.
Regarding this, should I have posted in the Lounge rather than a public category? I don’t know the protocol here. Who should decide on invitations, and is there a topic for proposals? I can’t remember where I saw the last one.
I have struggled so much in the last couple of years, increasingly in the last 6 months, since my father had a stroke, and is on the downhill slide to dying of old age. I’ve tried to gin up the courage to make an appointment with a counselor, and failed over and over.
Today, I made an appointment. It’s not until November, but I want to see this person specifically. They deal with sexual health, and while that’s not my primary problem, it’s so deeply enmeshed that I cannot be honest with someone I can’t talk to about my sex life. I’m going on the assumption that someone with this specialty won’t hear “kink” and go directly to “abuse”. Honestly, in the buckle of the bible belt, it was hard finding someone who isn’t “christian counseling”.
So, I am scared, panicked but I have some hope. Specifically, I hope that the fact this person is covered on my insurance is the universe telling me that they are the right one to help me.
Then this afternoon, I read that Jason Kander is dropping out of the race for mayor of Kansas City. The reason is that he is seeking treatment for PTSD. He mentioned something in his message about what he’s doing, and I’d like to share that here. He is a veteran, and he gave the number for the VA Crisis Line. It is 1-800-273-8255.
I hope you can get the help you want. My current therapist is the best one I’ve ever had; I wish I could get you an appointment and a transporter to get you there.
