Shared Links (weekly) Feb 8, 2026
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In the wake of a tragedy on campus, BYU students are pointing out the obvious. Telling people to ask for help is great, but you better have the help available, which doesn’t seem to be the case: “By Monday night, an open letter to officials at the university as well as at the Counseling…
As the post below goes on to explain, it’s not just being generous financially that has this effect on us, it can also be giving time by volunteering, or helping out someone who can use it, cooking a meal for them, helping them clean, etc. All of these ways of giving to another human being helps that person, and it helps us. It’s good for us.
The other thing I’d like for many survivors to consider is finding a way to be generous during the holidays especially when you are struggling with the holidays to start with. Yes, I’ve seen many, many folks already starting to dread the holidays. They are estranged from their families, expect to spend the holidays alone, etc. It sucks, I won’t lie about that. But, consider finding a way to be generous, as a way to make the holidays a bit less lonely. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, or another place that may be serving holiday meals. Hop online and offer to chat with other folks in a similar situation over the holidays, make plans to get outside of your own situation, and find a way to give to someone else, even if it’s nothing more than time.
That might be the better option for the holidays compared to just waiting for them to be over if you can find a way to do it.
Left untreated in childhood and early adulthood, we end up with adults with symptoms that get continually worse over time. She says that ideas of how mental illness “should look” are so prevalent, it is difficult to believe that someone who doesn’t look mentally ill could be struggling. In fact, a study out of Duke…
I came across this review on the Scene website, and I wanted to share it with you because one of the things we know is that LGBTQ+ folks are more likely to deal with mental health issues, and also suffer a higher rate of suicide. So while the book is about being Bi, and not directly about mental health, during Suicide Prevention Week I think it’s important to share resources for groups who often struggle with seeing their own stories told. Based on the review, I think this book seems like exactly that type of thing, a voice of an underserved group.
Laura has an important message about mental health issues and the internet: “We may assume the extra convenience of being able to find endless information online and connect with others anywhere, anytime would only bring positive change. But it’s important to recognize some of the pitfalls that have come with the digital age and ensure…
Choosing to tell your story for the first time or to a more public audience is not a decision you want to take lightly. Many of us who have done it and are “public” about our past or current issues can tell you that while there are great things that can come from sharing, there are also things you should be prepared for.
I’ll be the first to admit that I was not prepared for things. As much as I have never regretted starting this site and sharing my story, there have been times when it’s been a bit awkward. Times I did not think enough about ahead of time and might have handled differently if I had thought more about it.
So, with that in mind, let me share this resource from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: