Volunteering During the Holidays

Many people find the Holidays a good time to volunteer. They have time off from work or school and generally a more giving spirit. While help is needed year round, it is great to see increased volunteer activity during the holidays. The demand for volunteers during the holidays often exceeds the amount of volunteers! As you continue to cross presents off your holiday shopping list, remember those who are in need of your time and generosity, but may not be able to ask for your help. A great way to help those in need is to volunteer!

Here are some volunteer ideas to consider this Holiday Season:


VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Sponsor A Needy Family

Put food on the table for a family that doesn't have the means to do so when you volunteer with Family-to-family.org, an organization that matches you with a household in need.

Help The Homeless
At a time when warm homes and family gatherings are common, the homeless are left feeling particularly isolated. The National Coalition for the Homeless offers a number of ways for volunteers to combat homelessness by serving food at shelters, building homes, or offering job training. Check out the list of ways you can get involved this year.

Deliver A Meal
Share a meal with a lonely person in need this holiday season when you sign up with Meals on Wheels' food-delivery program.

Volunteer For Vets
Find out how you can thank the veterans who put their lives on the line for our safety by visiting the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Visit A Senior
More than 50 percent of senior citizens in nursing homes never get visitors, according to the Senior Source. Bring a sense of family to someone who doesn't have one, when you volunteer at one of these locations.

Show Some Puppy (or Kitty) Love
Get a warm-fuzzy feeling when you volunteer with furry, loyal creatures who are waiting to find the perfect home. Find an animal shelter that needs your help here.

My favorite animal shelter is Wayside Waifs where I have been a volunteer since 2010. 

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES

American Red Cross

"Give something that means something" when you get involved with the American Red Cross' campaign that aims to do just that. Peruse the list of charitable opportunities, which include vaccinating a child and buying phone cards for troops and offer up the ultimate present of selflessness.  I love volunteering for the Red Cross! 

The Salvation Army

Each holiday season, the Salvation Army amps up its fundraising efforts to help support the elderly, the homeless and other underserved populations. Find out how you can get involved with the Salvation Army's work to offer aid to those in need.

Toys for Tots

Marine Toys for Tots Foundation collects gifts for children who come from economically disadvantaged families. If you don't have a drop-off center near you, consider starting your own. Find out how you can get involved here.

United Way
Looking for an opportunity to donate money or time this holiday season? United Way offers both! There are nearly 1800 community based United Ways in 41 countries and territories. The United Way works to help individuals and families achieve their human potential through education, income stability and healthy lives. Click here to learn more about the United Way.

There are many opportunities to volunteer or give over the holidays and year round! 

Thank you for donating your time or money to others! Happy Holidays!

21 Comics that Capture the Frustration of Depression…

21 Comics That Capture The Frustrations Of Depression

For those who have suffered, are suffering, or simply want to learn more.       Posted on Sept. 19, 2013, at 1:13 p.m. by Heben Nigatu - BuzzFeed Staff

[Editor’s note: This is by no means a definitive list. The comics featured here can not and do not represent everyone’s experiences. But there are some things they do capture. Part of the difficulty of depression is that it is a pain that is unnameable. Sometimes, art is the best way to capture the things we do not know how to say.]

1. The dream of waking up and randomly finding the source of your depression.

Art by Megan Rose Gedris.

2. The frustrating way people talk about mental illness versus other illnesses.

 

Art by Susie Cambell.

3. Your relationship to your bed.

Art by Ryan Pequin.

4. Oh, the exasperating prison that is your relationship to your bed.

 

Art by Claire Jarvis.

5. The inexplicable loss of interest in things that once gave you so much joy.

Art by KC Green.

6. The never-ending cycle of paralysis.

Art by ?

7. The persistent, engulfing darkness.

Art by Sylvie Reuter .

8. And invisibly carrying that darkness with you everywhere you go.

Art by Kristian Nygård.

9. The inability to communicate how you actually feel.

Art by Tumblr user Elysian-Dreams.

10. Not being able to recognize yourself.

Art by Depression Comix.

11. Feeling SO OVER THIS SHIT.

Art by Megan Rose Gedris.

12. The loneliness.

Art by A Zillion Dollar Comics.

13. Having to deal with people delegitimizing your pain.

Art by Shannon Sophia.

14. The difficulties of trying to share your feelings with family.

Art by Moose Kleenex.

15. The particular difficulties of being a student dealing with depression.

Art by Paralanalysis.

16. Knowing how you ridiculous you sound and yet…

Art by Sarah.

17. The difficulties of trying to get your friends to understand.

Art by B. Patrick.

18. The unbelievable strength it takes to ask for help.

Art by Boggle The Owl.

19. The roller coaster ride of healing.

Art by Dave Walker.

20. Celebrating the little things.

Art by Ruby.

21. And, of course, no list of comics that capture the minutae of depression would be complete without the amazing work of Hyperbole And A Half creator Allie Brosh.

Thank you for reading, now time for an internet hug.

Art by Jacqueline.

I ran across this article and thought it was appropriate to re-blog. Hope it made someone smile today. Depression is such a debilitating disease but that doesn't mean there aren't reasons to smile. Have a great day!

Volunteering at the KC Marathon and Half Marathon

I volunteered as a course monitor again this year at the Kansas City Marathon and Half Marathon. New this year was something pretty cool. For each volunteer that completed their assignment as Course Monitor, $10 was donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. The Wounded Warrior Project assists injured service men and women. I always like to run in races that benefit charity so I thought it was great that by volunteering I also got to help a charity! Thanks Kansas City Marathon!

My alarm went off early and I again wondered why I was getting up early to go to a race I am not running in. I am not a morning person so when the alarm clock goes off I am always wondering what possessed me to volunteer for early morning events (or to run in the early morning for that matter!). However, after completing the Chicago Marathon last week I was excited to go to a race and cheer for runners. The Chicago Marathon had literally a million or more spectators along the course and that was pure awesomeness! I know Kansas City won't have that many spectators and since cheering really does help boost a runner during a race I wanted to do my part. I rolled out of bed, dressed in layers and ventured my way towards my assigned location. Along the way I stopped by QT for my coffee and doughnut fix (it's not an every day thing but I occasionally have to have a doughnut especially the pumpkin spice in the fall!) and then found my way to my assigned area. It was still dark and well... Paseo isn't exactly where I want to be in the dark so I stayed in my car until the sun poked it's head up and provided enough light I could see my way around and wouldn't mind being outside.  I was originally scheduled to be at 75th and Wyandotte but because that would put me on the marathon course and not the half marathon course I requested a change in my assignment. I was reassigned to Paseo and Lake Street which put me just before the 11 mile marker for the half marathon and just before the 24 mile marker for the full marathon. This new location assignment would allow me to see a friend running her first half marathon which was really cool. I always enjoy hearing of friends/acquaintances, etc who decide to take up running. Runners are such a weird but fun breed! 

Anyhoo, back to race day. It was a beautiful day for a run (and to volunteer)! Once the sun poked up, I noticed another volunteer a block down so I ventured down her way and chatted with her for a few minutes. Turns out it was her first time volunteering and she was nervous. She was excited because her daughter was running the half marathon and she would be able to cheer for her from our location but she was nervous about what our responsibility as volunteers was. I explained to her our role - to keep cars off of Paseo when runners were in the area. Also, we keep an eye out for runners who might need assistance medically or who may not be able to finish the race under their own power and might need transportation back to the start/finish area. Thankfully we didn't have any runners in our section who needed medical assistance or to catch a ride back to the start/finish area. Thanks to Kansas City Police Department for providing officers to keep traffic off the course! Volunteers work in cooperation with KCPD to help create a safe race for runners.

KC is a great running community and there is literally a race every weekend you could do if you wanted to. The Kansas City marathon and half marathon (and 5k) is one of the bigger events in the area along with Rock The Parkway which is a half marathon in April (and also usually has a 5k or 10k on race day) and Hospital Hill Half Marathon and 5k in June are the other big races in the area. Approximately 12,000 total runners competed in the KC Marathon/Half Marathon/5k last weekend. Here's a pic from near the start. Lots of runners! Great to see so many people getting out and hitting the pavement. 

Because of my location as course monitor it would be nearly an hour after the start before I would see any runners. When the runners were getting close it was apparent as the lead runners get a police escort. This is for the safety of the runners. It allows course monitors to know that it's time to divert traffic away from Paseo (or whatever area they are working along the race route). Here is KCPD providing an escort for the lead runners of the half marathon:

And here are the race leaders of the half marathon:

These guys had such a lead it would be a few minutes before we saw any more runners. But once they started coming it was non-stop runners for hours as the half marathoners and marathoners would be going by my location from approximately 8am until nearly 1pm.

I didn't have much trouble with traffic this year. Some years I encounter rude people who are not happy to be told they need to either wait until the runners have gone by or turn around and go a different direction. This year, I only had one person cause me any problems and he finally decided to listen to me rather than go on to Paseo and then have to face the Police Officer at the next intersection. I was glad he decided to listen to me as there were many runners on the Paseo at that moment and I didn't want to risk harm to any of them. The man decided to turn around and go the direction I instructed him. That doesn't always happen. Last year, I got bumped by an angry driver who did not want to listen to my directions to turn around. The individual sped off before an officer near by was able to do anything about it. I wasn't hurt but anytime someone threatens you with their car is a scary situation. The fleeing driver also did not cause harm to any runners, they just sped off in the direction they wanted to go and the runners were aware enough to scoot over on the road so as not to be hit by the vehicle. This year the only vehicle that got on course while runners were actually running by my location was a fire truck. It was early enough in the race that only the lead runners had gone by which was good because the fire truck came screaming through with lights and sirens. No other emergency vehicles went by so not sure what the emergency was but it apparently didn't have anything to do with the race. The same fire truck came by a few minutes later from the direction it had headed previously, this time without their lights and sirens on so whatever it was they went to previously it must not have been a fire or they wouldn't have been cleared to leave the scene as quickly as they did.

I did have one strange incident this year that I haven't encountered previously. A runner came up to me and said there was a bloody knife in the drain just down the street. Since it was in my section I walked down the street in search of said knife. I ended up not finding it but did report it to the closest police officer. The officer didn't seem too interested in it but did make a report of it. As far as I know, a knife was not found.

As I was heading up the street to look for said knife, my friend who was running her first half marathon, saw me and came running over. We hugged and I told her, "You've got this!". And it was true, she looked good. She looked happy to be running the race and happy to be close to the finish. She had just over 2 miles to go from that point and I made sure to tell her that. She went zooming off to the finish and I would later learn that she met all her goals for her race. Way to go Sherri! I was really happy for her especially considering the rough few weeks she had leading up to the race. We all face difficult times. It's not those times that define us, but how we react to them. She could have decided not to run the KC Half Marathon and I don't think anyone would have blamed her for skipping it. Instead, she faced it head on and had a great race. I am so proud of her for doing that!

I spent the remainder of the race watching for traffic, cheering for runners and ringing a cow bell as a means to provide some mental stimulation for the runners. I know I always appreciate hearing cow bells during a race. Encouragement from the crowd is great but there is something about hearing a cow bell during a race that just seems to stick out. I would pay a small price for ringing the cow bell for so many hours. A blister formed on the knuckle of my middle finger. It would turn in to a painful blood blister that is lingering today... 4 days post race. Here is a pic:

Despite the blister, I had fun. I always enjoy helping out at races that I am not running in. It's a way to give back to the sport I love so much. I am not fast, so I make sure to pay special attention to the middle to back of the pack runners. We are all covering the same distance but I can tell you from experience that being a slower runner is difficult. We are out there longer than the fast runners. Because we are out there longer, we sometimes miss out on things like aid stations, cheering crowds and even finisher medals. I volunteer because I love the sport of running but I also volunteer to make sure that all runners in the race are safe while on the course and get a little encouragement along the way. I know what it's like to run a 5:20 mile but those days are long gone. I am happy now if I can get a 10 minute mile and even that doesn't happen often much anymore. I am more of a back of the pack runner these days and that's okay. If you know me, you know I run for my mental health as much as my physical health. The benefits of running are amazing and I can't see my life without running being a part of it. Any time I can encourage someone else to run is a good day in my book. I encourage all runners to volunteer at a race. Volunteers are needed to make races successful and safe. In the process, you just might gain a new appreciation for running that you hadn't experienced before. Happy Running!

Lost Minds: KC's Mental Health Crisis

A very good documentary showing how Kansas City Police Department is trying to help those in crisis receive the help they need rather than a trip to jail. Other local police agencies could learn from this example. Thank you KCPD!

It only takes a moment to make a difference in someone's life...

A friend shared this post on Facebook this morning and said it was okay to share. I don't know the person who originally posted it but I do know the friend who shared the post wouldn't have if it wasn't a true story. It was a nice reminder that there are people in the world who are willing to help even if it's just a ride. You never know when that one small act of kindness might mean more to the person receiving it. Here's the story...

I had the opportunity to meet a guy named Chuck tonight. He was walking down a country road when I came up on him with my truck. It was pitch black out. I was taking the long way home from visiting my Dad. I didn't see Chuck on the edge of the shoulder until the last second. I swerved left. Barely missing him. I backed up and asked him if he wanted a ride. He accepted. As we drove into town it was then I realized he was trying to build up the courage to commit suicide. He said he was hoping I would have hit him back there. Or the next car anyways. He told me his current story. I felt sad for him. He gave me directions to a friends house. Chuck was hoping his friend would let him crash at his place for the night. We arrived at his friend's house and I could sense our brief ride together was what he needed. I shook his hand but he wouldn't let go and he started to shake and cry. I prayed for him and spoke life over him. A cool breeze blew through the truck and Chuck started to cry deeply. After a while he thanked me and said this was what he needed. I told him I am the one who is thankful tonight. He got out of my truck and said "don't worry Joe. I'm going to be ok now."

Thank you Jesus for setting my path home tonight. A minute sooner or later I would have missed the chance to meet Chuck. God is so good.

When a moment presents itself to help someone I hope you will take the opportunity....You could just save that person's life!

Red Cross Community Event 09/27/2014

Seems like I haven't done much with the Red Cross lately. That isn't too uncommon during the summer months as we tend to see less fires during the summer than during the winter. Winter will be here soon enough and unfortunately our calls to house and apartment fires will increase and I won't likely be able to say I haven't done much. I have been on call regularly over the past few months so it's not that I haven't tried to be active, I just haven't been needed and like I say... that is a good thing! I never wish for a disaster, I just appreciate being able to help when one does occur. I did get a chance to participate in a community event this weekend. The NAACP held a picnic for it's members at Shawnee Mission Park. And wow did they have some nice weather for their picnic! I helped with community education and first aid. We didn't have any injuries so it was quiet in that regard. We did get some folks to stop by our table and pick up literature about emergency preparedness. We got to speak with several folks about ways to be prepared for things such as fires, tornadoes, floods, etc that can occur in our area of the country. I even spoke with a lady who received assistance from the Red Cross after a flood several years ago. She was quite excited to tell me her story and it was nice to hear how volunteers were able to help her!

I know I have said it before but I can't say it enough.... I really enjoy volunteering for the Red Cross! It's been a blessing for me and something I hope to continue to do for a long time!

Here's a pic from this weekend's event:

Steve, Melvin, me... and not pictured is Kim because she refused to be in front of the camera instead of behind it! 

Anthony Steels: Don’t Be Sidelined By Suicide

And finally here is the seventh post I want to share this week to wrap up Suicide Prevention Awareness Week:

Anthony Steels: Don’t Be Sidelined By Suicide

September 5th, 2014 by  Gabriela Acosta  0 
Filed Under: 100 Voices for Suicide Prevention, Blog Carnival, Mental Health, MSW@USC Blog, Social Work Resources,Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Uncategorized

This post was submitted to the 100 Voices for Suicide Prevention campaign by The Kim Foundation .Don’t Be Sidelined  is a mental health public awareness campaign created through the collaboration and support of various non-profit and health and human service organizations across the state of Nebraska. The Don’t Be Sidelined campaign is led by The Kim Foundation and was launched in September of 2012 in partnership with Husker Sports Marketing.

Don’t Be Sidelined is a public awareness campaign that focuses on mental health and suicide prevention. The campaign has kicked off its third year, and is reaching thousands of people throughout Nebraska, the United States, and even internationally, with the message that mental illness is treatable, and suicide is preventable.

We are appealing to people who are personally experiencing challenges with their mental health but haven’t yet sought help, to encourage them to take that first step by asking for help. Anthony Steels is a former Nebraska Husker and retired NFL player who has battled severe depression, but is now living a successful, fulfilled life in recovery. Anthony serves as the spokesperson for Don’t Be Sidelined, and in this brief radio spot encourages others to join him in building awareness about suicide prevention and mental health. He talks about his struggles and journey to seek help, while emphasizing the staggering statistic about suicide that more than 38,000 people die by suicide each year.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call 800.273.TALK or visitDontBeSidelined.com for more resources. Join Anthony, and all of our partners at Don’t Be Sidelined, in raising awareness about mental health and increasing the understanding that suicide is preventable. Together, we can get those impacted, back in the game.

Don’t Be Sidelined PSA Transcript

Hi I’m Anthony Steels, former Husker and NFL player. For years I struggled with depression and for years I dealt with it alone, but with the encouragement of my friend Tom Osborne, I sought help. Unfortunately, not everyone seeks the help they so desperately need. More than 38,000 people die by suicide each year. National Suicide Prevention Week is in September. Join us in building awareness to this critical topic. Help is available. Suicide is preventable. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call 800-273-TALK or visit dontbesidelined.comfor more resources.

If you or someone you know is struggling please reach out. Help is available!

Stand Against Suicide: Educating About Suicide And Mental Illness

Here is the sixth post I want to share this week in support of Suicide Prevention Awareness Week:

The following post was submitted to the 100 Voices for Suicide Prevention campaign by Stand Against Suicide, which is a nonprofit organization started in 2011. Their Mission is to raise suicide awareness and prevention by educating about suicide and mental illness.

By Becky Voss
Contributing writer

Through determination and support from others, Elbridge resident Tara Olmstead Kinsella-Dennee has found the strength to turn a personal tragedy into something positive, for herself and others.

On July 16, 2008, Kinsella-Dennee received a phone call saying her father had taken his own life. Wayne Olmstead was 50 years old at the time of his death. He left behind a wife; daughter, Tara; a granddaughter; three step-children; nine step-grandchildren and many friends.

Olmstead was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder in his 40s. According to Olmstead-Kinsella, his disorder was usually kept under control with proper medication and counseling.

However, when Camillus Cutlery closed, Olmstead lost his job along with his health insurance coverage.

In turn, he no longer had access to medical care and prescriptions. Although he tried to find alternate employment and reached out for help several times, he wasn’t able to pull himself out of the depression this time, Kinsella-Dennee said.

“After my dad’s suicide, I wasn’t sure what to do,” she said. “I didn’t have anybody to reach out to. My family and friends were amazing, but couldn’t really relate to what I was going through, even though they tried. I kind of just went on with my life as if it didn’t happen.”

Kinsella-Dennee said she was left with many unanswered questions. She wondered, “Why? Was it really that bad? How could he do this to us? Was there something we could have done differently?”

She researched mental disorders and suicide rates and was shocked at the statistics. That’s when Kinsella-Dennee decided to take a stand.

Tara Dennee, of Elbridge, founder of the suicide support group Stand Against Suicide, meets with the group at her mother’s home in Elbridge.
In 2011, she launched, Stand Against Suicide, a non-profit organization with the mission to raise suicide awareness and prevention by educating about suicide and mental illness.

So far, the group is focusing on gaining name recognition by attending community events.

“We try to attend some of the more diverse events,” Kinsella-Dennee said. “So many of the larger suicide prevention organizations only target certain age groups or areas. We try to branch out to reach those that may not have been able to connect with somebody.”

For example, Stand Against Suicide participated in the Syracuse Nationals and the Emerson Park Father’s Day Car show.

“There is such a broad range of people that attend large car shows that we were able to reach out to many different people; families, elderly, children, teenagers, you name it,” said Kinsella-Dennee.

“Then we attended the controversial K-Rockathon this year. We had some of the most positive feedback yet. We also attended a large, heavy metal concert, the Trespass America Tour, and got even more positive feedback. We really like to hit the areas that others wouldn’t think to.”

Stand Against Suicide volunteers meet at Louanne Weatherspoon’s home in Elbridge. The group’s founder, Tara Dennee, of Elbridge, is facing toward camera at left. The woman facing the camera at right is Kelly Blackburn, Camillus. Back to camera at left is Debi Geroux, of Oswego, and at right is Lauren Dodge, of Liverpool.

At each event, volunteers offer support, a listening ear and provide brochures that focus on depression, warning signs of suicide and background information on the organization.

“We participate in community events to promote our message and raise funds,” Kinsella-Dennee said. “One hundred percent of our profits go back into the organization. There are no paid volunteers.”

The group will be at the Jordan Fall Festival, Sept. 21 to 23. And, it will host its first Take A Stand, Save A Life Community Walk Sept. 29 at the Inner Harbor in Syracuse.

Money raised from the events help fund initiatives, including a “sympathy basket” sent to the newly bereaved, containing the book, “No Time To Say Goodbye,” handmade “Hope” bracelets, Stand Against Suicide T-shirts, and personal items like coffee and mugs, slippers, bathrobe and candles. Each basket is individually made.

In addition to support, the group acts as a community liaison.

“We also make every effort to connect people with the proper organizations to get the help they need,” Kinsella-Dennee said. For example, a woman whose husband suffered from PTSD and was a veteran, was referred to a veteran’s association near them,” said Kinsella-Dennee. “Many people think you can just “Google” everything, but some people don’t have that technology and need our help to make the connections.”

According to Kinsella-Dennee, there are different programs available in the community to assist those in need of prescription coverage.

“Had I known this four years ago, maybe we could have gotten help for my dad,” she said.

After one year, Kinsella-Dennee said that the group is off to a good start.

“Our name is getting out there. The more events we attend, the better off we are,” she said. “We are gaining momentum … in fact, we are very close to being able to open our peer-based group therapy center.”

She said that will happen within the next six months to a year. Meanwhile, volunteers are training to conduct these groups.

Kinsella-Dennee wants people living with the suicide of a loved one to know that they are not alone.

“First and foremost, we really do know how you feel,” she said. “We understand that your life feels as (though) it has been shattered into a million pieces, and it has. We know that you are on a very long, hard road to recovery. We know how you will go through a million different emotions and feelings at one time. But most importantly, we know that with proper support, you will get through it.”

About suicide:

More than 36,000 people in the United States die by suicide every year.

In 2009 (latest available data), there were 36,909 reported suicide deaths.

Suicide is the fourth-leading cause of death for adults between the ages of 18 and 65 in the United States.

Currently, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.

A person dies by suicide about every 15 minutes in the United States.

Every day, approximately 101 Americans take their own life.

Ninety percent of all people who die by suicide have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death.

There are four male suicides for every female suicide, but three times as many females as males attempt suicide.

There are as many as 25 attempted suicides for every suicide death.

Youth Suicide is the sixth-leading cause of death among those 5 to 14.

Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among those 15 to 24.

Risk factors for suicide among the young include suicidal thoughts, psychiatric disorders (such as depression, impulsive aggressive behavior, bipolar disorder, certain anxiety disorders), drug and/or alcohol abuse and previous suicide attempts, with the risk increased if there is situational stress and access to firearms.
Source: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s website afsp.org

To learn more:
Visit standagainstsuicide.org for more information about Stand Against Suicide or to help support the organization.

If you or someone you know is struggling please reach out. Help is available!

Nothing Special? One Teen’s Initiative to Prevent Suicide

Here is the fifth post I want to share this week in support of Suicide Prevention Awareness Week:

The following post was submitted to the 100 Voices for Suicide Prevention campaign by Luke Maxwell. Luke Maxwell is the founder of ucantberased.com (“you can’t be erased”), a website designed to break the stigma of teen depression and stop the epidemic of suicide in our country today, especially among Catholic youth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 percent of high school age teens suffer from clinical depression and one in 12 has attempted suicide. Luke has appeared on television and radio, has been featured in newspapers, and speaks to teens and parents about this life-saving topic.

Luke, like one in four teens, struggled with clinical depression. In December 2012, he attempted suicide and thankfully survived. He sought treatment and is now active in suicide prevention work with other teens who suffer from depression and self-harm. Luke started the first support group in his area and has started the website ucantberased.com so that teens struggling with mental health can find a community which will encourage them to seek proper treatment. This is Luke’s story:

Everyone longs to be special, noticed and loved. I’m no exception. You might recognize this as the theme of “The Lego Movie,” which was released this year. I want people to love me just as much as Emmet, the main character, does. And, like Emmet, it took many struggles before I realized the truth.

As a child, I was happy and lived life to its fullest. But, unfortunately, this didn’t continue into my teenage years.

Around the age of 12, I began to think differently. Although my parents and siblings loved me, I couldn’t feel it. I started to struggle. I didn’t know I was dealing with major depressive disorder. I was suicidal. And nobody knew.

Every day was filled with apathy, fatigue and constant confusion. I was almost in physical pain. I doubted reality because I couldn’t believe it was possible to have such a terrible life. I couldn’t sleep at night, and that’s when I imagined how I would escape and finally be happy and free. But as time went on, those fantasies turned to darker thoughts: I started to plan how I would kill myself.

I was sick. Plain and simple. But I didn’t know it.

After four years, I gave up. I couldn’t handle the torment and I couldn’t figure out how to make it stop. December 3, 2012. I was 16. And I was done. I bought into the depressed mindset that told me I was nothing special, and the world would never miss me when I was gone.

I was supposed to clean the family’s 12-seater van, but before I went out, I left a note. After pretending to clean for a couple of minutes, I jumped into the driver’s seat. As I roared out the driveway, I searched for a way to end my pain. I spotted an SUV traveling in the opposite direction.

Accelerating, I swerved and slammed head on into that oncoming vehicle — no seat belt at 60 miles per hour. The crash was horrific. Both cars rolled in midair, and were completely totaled. And I had survived. Nothing in my plan had prepared me for this.

I was arrested for assault, for purposely driving my van into an occupied vehicle, and taken to the hospital. Miraculously, I was completely unharmed.

I was admitted into a mental facility, diagnosed with major depressive disorder, and started treatment. As my recovery progressed, I realized I was special, and I needed to help other teens in the same situation see how much they impact the world, too.

I looked for a support group of teens like me, but there wasn’t one, so I started the first of its kind in my area. I also created a place online —ucantberased.com — so those struggling with depression and self-harm know they aren’t alone and can recover if they tell someone and find treatment. They are so special, and their stories can touch so many.

You might be wondering what happened to the other driver in the SUV. His name is Lenny Ross, and he was injured but survived. We are now close friends who share a desire to help other youth. He and his wife are expecting a baby soon — a baby that wouldn’t be here if Lenny had been killed that day.

So, just as Emmet discovers that he is special, like everyone else, I now know I’m my own unique person. You are, too, but the disease of depression can make you think otherwise.

I am here, unashamed, to let you know that you are important — indelible. That depression isn’t who you are, it’s what you have. And it can be defeated.

Remember, you can’t be erased.

My unbelievable journey through teen depression, attempted suicide, hope, and redemption.

If you or someone you know is struggling please reach out. Help is available!