Help Yourself, Help Another

Suicide and mental health are public health issues. The way to make a community healthier for all forms of illness is preventative care, early identification and intervention if necessary. Suicide prevention today is where cancer prevention was 50 years ago -- and look how far we've come in cancer prevention. Today routine preventative check ups and screenings are the norm. People are aware that early identification and intervention offers the best chance for recovery and gives them the chance to make many more efforts to proactively deal with their medical concerns. Those who survive cancer and those who are fighting for their lives are celebrated as our heroes. The mental health movement is on the same trajectory. We need to focus on maintaining a holistic approach to help and provide support for those who are going through a difficult patch in the road.

Here are the stories of those who have helped themselves or helped another.