Weekly Spark - 3/17/2010

Just a few comments about this week’s Spark – March 17, 2010


First of all there is a research summary from Europe entitled “Economic Supports Prevent Suicides in times of High Unemployment,” This research will also give us a different view of how other countries are dealing with the global recession. This focus could help us here in Michigan, since our economy has been in decline for over a decade. I hope they find that because of the longevity of this economic recession that we will have learned resilience in life coping skills coming out of this period. Another article about depression in parents shows up in children also having anxiety, depression, and drug or alcohol dependence among other problems. P.S. another perspective from Australia: this time the under-diagnosed cases of depression in children and adolescents.

New York state and county jails with high rates of suicide, while a federal judge ordered suicide prevention experts to investigate the problem is being held up because they cannot agree on the interview process. Because of a whole list of issues not just the liability of correctional institutions to prevent injury and possible death while someone is incarcerated they tend to be less open to outside help.

Please check out this week’s Spark at SPRC, excellent webinar’s on many topics. These are great training and learning tools FREE to all of us, all you have to do is sign up to participate.

Before I close this post I wanted to mention the U.S. Census all of us should have received one this week. On a personal note I signed up to work and help get everyone counted. I know many of us are busy with everything in our lives; however the Census is VERY IMPORTANT to all of us. This determines how federal and state programs allocate their monies such as schools, roads and many programs we take for granted, also how many delegates a state gets. I could go on and on, the benefits far out-weight the few minutes it takes to fill out, and last but not least it only happens once every ten years. Please fill out your form and mail it back quickly, thank you.

Stay safe, stay connected Larry Lewis