In this episode, Caleb and Todd talk with Robert Vore who is a mental health worker and advocate about warning signs for at risk students for suicide, the definition of mental health, and how to begin to start a conversation in the church about mental health.

Robert's website

Robert on Twitter

Robert on Instagram

National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255)

People Need to Stop Using Mental Illness as a Scapegoat for Violence by Robert Vore

CXHM Podcast

Mental health is not mental illness.

Mental health is the ability to regulate people's emotions and have appropriate responses and being able to cope with them.

There is a difference between sadness and depression.

The less we talk about mental health, the more we become scared of it.

What are things NOT to say?

What are things for people to remember when talking about mental health?

Warning Signs

Talk: If they talk about killing themselves, feeling hopeless, having no reason to live, being a burden to others, feeling trapped, or unbearable pain.

Behavior: Increased use of alcohol or drugs, looking for a way to end their lives, withdrawing from activities, isolation from family and friends, sleeping too much or too little, visiting or calling people to say goodbye, giving away prized possessions, aggression, and fatigue.

Mood: Depression, anxiety, loss of interest, irritability, humiliation, agitation, or rage.

Risk Factors

Health Factors: Mental health conditions, serious or chronic health conditions and/or pain, and traumatic brain injury.

Environmental Factors: Access to lethal means, prolonged stress, stressful life events, exposure to another person's suicide, or to graphic or sensationalized accounts of suicide

Historical Factors: Previous suicide attempts, family history of suicide, and child abuse, neglect or trauma

Don't be afraid to ask someone if they are contemplating killing themselves or hurting themselves.

The church needs to talk about this because people go to faith leaders in crisis.

Always ask rather than assume.

"Mental health is the ability to regulate people's emotions and have appropriate responses and being able to cope with them." - @RobertVore @LearnersPodcast Click to Tweet

"There is a difference between sadness and depression. Sadness has an end point. Depression doesn't." - @ToddDuke @LearnersPodcast Click to Tweet

"The less we talk about mental health, the more we become scared of it." - @RobertVore @LearnersPodcast Click to Tweet

"Don't be afraid to ask someone if they are contemplating killing themselves or hurting themselves." - @RobertVore @LearnersPodcast Click to Tweet

"The church needs to talk about this because people go to faith leaders in crisis." - @RobertVore @LearnersPodcast Click to Tweet

"Always ask rather than assume." - @ToddDuke @LearnersPodcast Click to Tweet

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