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This Holiday Season, Choose Connection And Choose Life

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Please forgive me for indulging this week’s blog with a deeply personal message. Ever since we lost our daughter from suicide 11 years ago, I have made it my mission to sit with others walking similar paths. Families on the edge of crisis. Individuals grieving unbearable loss. People carrying invisible pain. I have lost count of the souls I have walked beside, but I have not lost track of the lessons.


Why The Holidays Are A High-Risk Season


Every year, the holiday season becomes one of the most dangerous times for those struggling with mental and emotional health. Why?


  • Increased loneliness, even when surrounded by people

  • Financial pressure and stress

  • Disrupted routines and sleep patterns

  • Intensified grief over loved ones who are gone

  • Unrealistic expectations of “holiday joy”

  • Family conflict or strained relationships

  • Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and lack of sunlight

  • Higher alcohol and substance use

  • Overwhelm from social obligations and events

  • A painful sense of “I should feel happy, so why don’t I?”


When someone is already vulnerable, these pressures can push them much closer to crisis.


Resources Exist, But They Are Not Always Enough


Prevention is not always easily available for everyone. That is something I've have worked hard to change.


A strong, dedicated group in Utah has spent years working to improve crisis response. Because of that effort, we now have:


SafeUT - A 24/7 chat and crisis tip line for youth, parents, and educators.https://safeut.org


988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - A nationwide number that Utah helped initiate and move forward so people in crisis have someone to call.


These tools are powerful, but they are still crisis tools.


That leads to an important question:


What about prevention before the crisis?


What about self care, emotional regulation, physical health, and ongoing support long before someone reaches the edge?


What Prevention And Self Care Can Look Like


Healthy bodies and healthy minds are deeply connected. Self care is not indulgence. It is protection. It is preparation. It is often the difference between barely hanging on and having enough strength to keep going.


Here are ten self care practices that can make a real difference:


  1. Red light therapy with quality full body beds (like the Regen Q8) to support mood, inflammation, cellular energy, and emotional processing (not just a sales pitch - We see the results.

  2. Daily movement or exercise, even 10 to 20 minutes of walking or gentle activity

  3. Consistent, high quality sleep, with a regular routine and calming wind-down time

  4. Healthy, nutrient dense meals, especially stable blood sugar and real, whole foods

  5. Targeted supplements to support gut health, brain health, hormones, and immunity

  6. Mindfulness or meditation, even a few minutes of quiet breathing each day

  7. Breathwork and nervous system regulation, such as slow, deep breathing or guided exercises

  8. Therapy or counseling, to have a safe, trained person to talk to regularly

  9. Support groups or community connections, where people understand and relate

  10. Limiting alcohol and substances, especially when emotions are already running high


These practices do not fix everything. But they make the brain and body more resilient. They help people feel clearer, more grounded, and more able to cope long before a crisis hits.


We Must Also Learn The Signs


Another key part of prevention is recognizing warning signs and changes in behavior. Education can literally save lives.


Here are two powerful resources:


Live Hannah’s Hope Resources - Information and tools for suicide awareness and prevention.

QPR Institute (Question, Persuade, Refer) - Evidence-based suicide prevention training that teaches anyone how to respond. https://qprinstitute.com


Learning these skills gives ordinary people the ability to step in, ask hard questions, and help someone get to safety.


A Pattern We Cannot Ignore


In every single incident of suicide we have personally been close to, the person was described in almost the same way:


They were always there for everyone else. They always listened. They were the one people went to for help.

And yet, they did not talk to anyone about their own pain.

So here is the message that cannot be quiet:

TALK TO SOMEONE.

Talk to a friend. Talk to a family member. Talk to a therapist. Talk to a church leader. Talk to a teacher. Call a hotline. Tell someone.


Someone cares. Someone will listen. As much as you love and care for others, there is someone who also loves you that way. There is someone who would gladly listen if they knew you were struggling.


An Invitation For This Holiday Season


This holiday season, if you are hurting, we invite you to do something incredibly brave:

Open up to someone and share your pain. Tell someone your worries, your fears, your grief, or your exhaustion.


You are not a burden. You are not too much. Your life matters.

And if you are in a stronger place right now, we invite you to reach out to others. Check on the people who are always “fine.” Check on the strong ones, the helpers, the givers, the ones who always have a smile.


Connection saves lives. You are worth connecting for. ~Laura

 
 
 

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