September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. It is estimated that 5% of the Canadian population has thoughts of suicide at some time. Loss of people we love, relationships, jobs, and money are all reasons to want to escape a problem that seems insurmountable. We are wired to solve our problems and, for most of us, we naturally reach out, talk to someone, and together find solutions other than death. I urge you to become aware of the commonness of thinking about suicide and seriously LISTEN to someone who is talking about suicide.

How common is it to think about suicide? About a plan to stop your life; to die and leave all of this? Do you suddenly find yourself thinking about suicide and wonder how you got there? Well, you’re not alone. Many people report they think about suicide and possible plans. It is estimated that 5% of the Canadian population has thoughts of suicide at one time or another (ASIST -Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Centre of BC). Does that mean we’re all depressed? Or doing such a bad job of managing of our lives that we need to escape?

No. We are certainly not all depressed and most people with depression do not die by suicide or think about it all the time….and no, most of us may have one or two things in our lives we are struggling with, but our life overall is normal and acceptable. Thinking about suicide may start with thinking of a way to escape difficulty, sorrow, shame or guilt. Loss of people we love, relationships, jobs and money are all possible reasons to want to escape the feeling and the problem. We are wired to find solutions to our problems and for most of we naturally reach out, talk to someone, and together we have the ability to find solutions other than death. Some people, however, do not have someone that will listen to them when they mention their thoughts of suicide as a way to end the problem.

September 10^th is World Suicide Prevention Day. I urge you to become aware of the commonness of thinking about suicide and seriously listen to someone that is hinting or talking about suicide, ending it all, or not having a choice. We absolutely cannot make someone suicide by asking them if they are thinking about killing themselves. Think about yourself. If you have had thoughts of suicide, it started long before someone asked about it. It was your idea – not theirs. Let’s try to prevent a suicide by LISTENING to someone’s story, and trying to find a solution other than death.

Barbara Gilmore is a registered counsellor in Victoria BC region that discusses suicide in your life. Why did someone die? Why do I want to die?

Help available in BC:

• 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) – 24 hours a day

• Online Crisis Chat – CrisisCentreChat.ca

B. Gilmore Clinical Counselling, BGilmoreCounselling.com

Did you know that we can reverse our aging process by 10 years or more? We can defend our brains and bodies against mental decline and aging. A groundbreaking discovery at Princeton University has led to anti-aging and enhanced wellness, enhancing brain health and our quality of life. Coupled with powerful plant enzymes, proteolytic probiotics, life-enhancing whole food supplements, and a healthy lifestyle, we can prevent and eliminate many illnesses. Many have eliminated and improved illnesses such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, deathbed cancer, MS, ALS, lupus, diabetes, etc. Coupled with a healthy lifestyle, we can increase our brain performance and stay in ideal health way into our ‘golden’ years! Health is NOT a matter of CHANCE; it’s just a matter of CHOICE! Reclaim your health today! Visit our educational health site to learn about brain health research and enhanced wellness and request our indepth educational health package and educational newsletters.

Louis Hoolaeff, HR HC ACS, Leading Edge Health, ProvenHealth.info

Do we need to hear from experts that listening to music, tapping our feet in rhythm to music, or humming a familiar tune is good for us? My own curiosity about how music gets us moving, smiling, or recalling things we haven’t thought of in years led me to Music Therapy and research: McGill Unversity’s Dr. Daniel Levitin has found that as a result of exposure to music, levels of immunoglobinA, an antibody linked to immunity, increases; In another study he found significant evidence of music’s anti-anxiety properties. Montreal Neurological Institute’s Dr. Zatorre has found that a brain structure called the striatum is stimulated by music to release dopamine which increases feelings of pleasure. Music therapists are continually training to integrate and apply research findings into practice in order to better serve people of every age, from babies to Alzheimer’s patients.

Nejama Ferstman BA, MTA, Certified Music Therapist @ ShiriMusicTherapy, ShiriMySong.ca

BELIEVING is the most important part of the mental game of any sport or leisure activity. If you want to change your experience, change your beliefs – at the subconscious level. Learn to hit the ball, SEE THE BALL, be AWARE of the game set around you and play with confidence. BELIEVE in your ability and watch your game improve daily! Hypnotherapies for sports and leisure activity treats anxieties and blocks at the subconscious level, improving your underlying beliefs in your abilities. Remember how good you felt when you first hit a ball cleanly, made a wonderful putt, sank a shot, made a fabulous pass to a teammate, returned an impossible serve, got your first strikeout or made it to the podium? Hypnosis works with your subconscious beliefs to eliminate anxieties, release old blocks, and bring those wonderful feelings of being in the moment – IN THE ZONE – and put you back on the path of enjoyment and fulfilment within your sport!

Pete Flagg, Hypnotherapy Consultant, Victoria Hypnotherapy for Sports Performance Improvement, Relax2playwell.ca

Shame tells us a story about ourselves. We all have a private understanding of who we are, and sometimes the sum total can feel good enough. But sometimes the secret story is deeply embarrassing – we feel deeply wrong or screwed up. We may doubt or blame ourselves, act out, or feel deeply responsible. Shame can make it hard to handle overbearing people or make the changes we need. Our friends may not know how to reassure us. Counselling can be a safe place to uncover these feelings, find new ways to appreciate yourself, and rediscover confidence.

Mary Munro, MaryMunro.ca

After summer, it’s typical for us to consider new tech devices for back-to-school or work requirements. As a result, it’s an opportune time to review all the subscriptions, apps, and user terms you’ve agreed to during the past year. Just as it is wise to review the status of any service fees and monthly debits once a year, it’s good to review renewable download agreements. Should you have younger tech users, it’s important to remind them about employing an antivirus program and practicing personal security habits to protect their privacy, especially when using social media.

Abakhan and Associates Inc., Abakhan.com

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the most common behavioural disorder in children, is being diagnosed in epidemic proportions. Approximately 11% of children 4-17 years of age are being diagnosed with ADHD. About 70% of these youngsters are given stimulant medications such as Ritalin. These medications can be helpful, but do not address the underlying causes of ADHD. From a naturopathic perspective, common causes include nutritional deficiencies, especially mineral deficiencies, fatty acid deficiencies, food sensitivities, and traumas to the developing brain by chemicals or stress. The brain is dependent on certain nutrients for optimal function. A hair mineral analysis is a quick way to assess mineral status. I love the supplement EMPowerplus Advanced by True Hope, available in most health food stores. Made up of 36 clinically proven vitamins, minerals, and amino acids and antioxidants, EMPowerplus Advanced is scientifically proven to effectively treat ADHD.

Dr. Anke Zimmermann, BSc, ND, FCAH, DrZimmermann.org