Happening tonight! A special evening with Alan Pedersen: Music and Messages of Hope for all who grieve. Sponsored by Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, the Greenville chapter of The Compassionate Friends, Heartstrings Ministry, and Mourning Discoveries. From 7-9 p.m. at Thomas McAfee, 639 North Main Street, Greenville, SC 29601. The event is free.
23 Likes, 2 Comments - @raderwardfoundation on Instagram: "#MarioMonday! I stopped by the #Hallmark store this week for the new #MarioKart keepsake ornament...."
This weekend is TwitchCon, and today I want to highlight a charity event that was important to Rader. Games Done Quick is a video game speedrunning event, and it has been incorporated into TwitchCon 2018 as GDQ Express. GDQx is part of TwitchCon's Charity Plaza, which you can read about here.
Rader loved speedrunning, and challenged himself to complete various games or goals within games as quickly as possible. The Charity Plaza, presented by Tiltify, is partnering with 10 amazing charities, including American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and To Write Love On Her Arms. You can check them out by clicking through to their Facebook pages. I've added TWLOHA to our resources page.
This weekend is TwitchCon, and Take This Org is sponsoring a very important panel discussion, "It's Dangerous to Go Alone: Mental Health in Streaming," today at 10:30 a.m. Pacific (1:30 Eastern). You can watch live, or access the hour-long video after the fact. (I'll post a link in a few days.)
Twitch, an online community "where millions of people and thousands of interests collide in a beautiful explosion of video games, pop culture, and conversation," was a place where Rader felt like he could express himself, but still he struggled with his mental health even as he connected with people and shared his talents and creativity there. I'm encouraged to see Take This and Twitch advocating for and working toward mental wellness for gamers.
27 Likes, 1 Comments - @raderwardfoundation on Instagram: "I'm so excited! Look what's coming in the mail to me soon! #keeplearning #selfcare #Repost..."
As we near the end of National Bullying Prevention Month, I want to share with you another website full of resources: stopbullying.gov.
From a page that answers the question, "What is bullying?" to a state-by-state explanation of anti-bullying laws and policies, you'll find so much useful information, including the handy infographic on kindness I've included here. Under the "Resources" tab, there are detailed sections about What You Can Do (for parents, educators, and community), What Teens Can Do, and Kids.
As far as we know, Rader was not being bullied at the time of his suicide (10th grade), although he did have some trouble in middle school, when I met with teachers and school officials to try to sort it out. I believe I would have been better equipped if I had consulted a resource like stopbullying.gov.
Regardless of whether bullying influenced Rader's decision to end his life, we do know it can be a factor for some. "The relationship between bullying and suicide is complex. ... Research indicates that persistent bullying can lead to or worsen feelings of isolation, rejection, exclusion, and despair, as well as depression and anxiety, which can contribute to suicidal behavior." (stopbullying.gov, Facts About Bullying)
Today is Unity Day against bullying! Wear and share orange to show you are united for #kindness, #acceptance, and #inclusion. #UnityDay2018. For ideas to get involved, visit https://t.co/kSk2eEAyU1 @pacer_nbpc #bullyingpreventionmonth https://t.co/kszEvNHsd9 pic.twitter.com/GuhoBmScGT
— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) October 24, 2018
1 Likes, 0 Comments - @raderwardfoundation on Instagram: "Wear and share ORANGE tomorrow on #Unity Day, Wed., Oct. 24, to show your support of bullying..."
Click here to visit Pacer’s Unity Day page.
#MarioMusicMonday! I was literally in tears watching this incredible new video from the talented @SmoothMcGroove. The music from #SuperMarioGalaxy brings memories of happy times enjoying the game as a family before we lost Rader. #MarioMonday #MusicIsMagichttps://t.co/KSn1oWLGwb
— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) October 22, 2018
October is National #BullyingPreventionMonth. Learn what you can do at https://t.co/SBDSdfbZER
— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) October 20, 2018
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.#loveislouder #kindness #bullyingprevention #stopbullying #nbpm https://t.co/VKGsouxTNk pic.twitter.com/qITSWEinaX
Today, I want to share a grief support resource that's been helpful to me. Many months ago, when some long-time friends of mine had just lost their father, I found a link on his obituary page online that said 'enter your email address here to receive a year of daily grief support messages.' So I did, and the short notes have been encouraging. I've even used some of them as prompts for my daily writing. The typical format: a grief-related quote, followed by a few sentences exploring the idea it sets forth. They're not religious.
The link appears on the web pages of various funeral homes; here is the one from Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes. Enter your email address in the box at the lower right of the page, and click "sign up." There's an unsubscribe button within the emails if you decide it's not for you after all.
42 Likes, 0 Comments - @raderwardfoundation on Instagram: "Wearing my purple for #SpiritDay, proud to join @glaad and @loveislouder to mute bullying and..."
#BullyingPreventionMonth— #Bullying is everyone’s issue, and when we’re united for #kindness, #acceptance, and #inclusion, the cause is strong. What will you do to help? https://t.co/NnIbLgqcTO
— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) October 17, 2018
Something a little different for today: a book review! I bought this book, "How to Be a Good Creature" by Sy Montgomery, last week while I was spending some time with a girlfriend at a great local bookstore, M. Judson Booksellers. When I woke up earlier than anticipated on Sunday morning, I used that time to read it cover to cover in one sitting.
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A hardback with an invitingly illustrated colorful paper dust jacket and deckle-edged pages, its looks were what enticed me to pick up this book. I love a good memoir, and the description of this one made it seem likely to speak into my life as it is right now: mourning the loss of a child to suicide, figuring out what my purpose is now and how to be the mom my surviving child needs. “It ... explores vast themes: the otherness and sameness of people and animals; the various ways we learn to love and become empathetic; how we find our passion; how we create our families; coping with loss and despair; gratitude; forgiveness; and most of all, how to be a good creature in the world.” This book was exactly what I hoped.
#MarioMonday! This cut-paper-mosaic #8bitArt #Mario is the work of our surviving child in memory of Rader. It’s a prized part of our #SuperMario collection. .
— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) October 15, 2018
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.#8bit #videogames #memorial #brother https://t.co/aFQ1zCUF99 pic.twitter.com/GxC8tnt09e
Also, I just signed up for this seminar. “Hope and Help for the Holidays and Beyond” gave me tools for getting through the holidays when I attended it last year. If you’re local to the Greenville, S.C., area and grieving the loss of someone you love, I recommend it!
We participated in our first Out of the Darkness walk with AFSP. I think the hardest part for me was picking up my beads for the bead ceremony, where different colored strands of beads represent your relationship to the person you have lost or to the cause of suicide prevention. White beads signify the loss of a child. I just didn’t even want to touch them.
Today we are walking our first #OutOfTheDarkness walk. @afspnational @afspsc #fightsuicide #afsp #shinealight #suicideprevention #youarenotalone #youbelonghere #courage #hope https://t.co/NHVmefTVGq pic.twitter.com/tsZT8oSWrT
— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) October 14, 2018
#MentalHealth conditions are the U.S.'s leading cause of disability. Most people can be successfully treated, yet less than half the adults who need services and treatment get the help they need. @NAMICommunicate #CureStigma #MentalIllnessAwarenessWeek https://t.co/dMHIDwiCfs
— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) October 13, 2018
People experiencing #mentalhealth conditions often face rejection, bullying and discrimination. This can make their journey to recovery longer and more difficult. @NAMICommunicate #CureStigma #MentalIllnessAwarenessWeek #BullyingPreventionMonth https://t.co/El0p9pF20C
— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) October 12, 2018
Are you depressed or at risk for #depression? Take a 10-question quiz from @MentalHealthAm for #NationalDepressionScreeningDay (or share it with someone you're concerned about). #NDSD #ReachOut #KnowledgeIsPower #NotAlone #HelpIsAvailable #Someone2Turn2 https://t.co/20uH6P9187
— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) October 11, 2018
Today is World Mental Health Day, and I couldn’t limit myself to sharing just one thing, so I have two articles and a comic. I am in full agreement with the message from the Sad Ghost Club: you really never know who needs to hear what you have to say! That's why I encourage you to share anything you see on this site (or our Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook) that speaks to you. The more we share them, the more likely the resources are to reach the people who most need them. Thank you all!
Please read this short article from @WHO on #WorldMentalHealthDay 2018: "Young People and #MentalHealth in a Changing World" https://t.co/TvUyMHqKJI #WMHD #WorldMentalHealthDay18 #HealthForAll
— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) October 10, 2018
@LadyGaga and Tedros Adhanom of @WHO teamed up to write a thought-provoking #CallToAction for #WorldMentalHealthDay. #TimeToAct #Someone2Turn2 https://t.co/BQJ3YpP4dD
— Rader Ward Foundation (@RaderWardFound) October 10, 2018
6 Likes, 0 Comments - @raderwardfoundation on Instagram: "#Repost @theofficialsadghostclub with @get_repost ・・・ It's #worldmentalhealthday and we felt it was..."
