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***Trigger Warning: The following references sexual violence. It does not describe any events in detail, but names things that could be difficult for some readers.*** written by Rachael Keefe (reposted from Rachel's Blog - Write out of Left Field) Jesus valued what society dismissed. He didn�t care which of his disciples could most accurately quote scriptures or put the most in the offering

�...then your light shall break forth like the dawn, And your healing shall spring up quickly...�Isa. 58:8 written by Alan Johnson The obituary said the young man had lived with bipolar disorder and had ended his life. It was clear, honest and direct. It was published in the local newspaper for all the world to see. That was a couple years ago now. In the obituary, the family

Part 2 (part 1 here) written by by Grant F. Sontag I began a suicide note which I worked on constantly until I had what I would call a nervous breakdown (now called a �major depressive episode.�). I began to shake and a thin, plaintiff wail began to well up inside me. With my cousin Jane rubbing my back to soothe me, I called my psychiatrist at University Hospitals. Dr. Ito listened

written by Grant F. Sontag Part 1 (part 2 here) In 1996, while living and working in Cleveland, Ohio, I was diagnosed with a carotid body tumor - a rare, usually benign growth almost always occurring in men over forty. I was forty one at the time. The otolaryngologist, Dr. Harvey, explained that the risks of cutting along the artery wall were �stroke,

by Rachael Keefe Watching �13 Reasons Why� brought back a lot of memories and emotions from my own horrible high school years. It also made me realize anew that suicidality is still a mystery and, too often, a shameful secret that can claim too many lives. We do need to talk about it, as the show supposedly intends. However, we need to talk about suicidality, trauma and depression in