ReMindEd   •   April 23, 2017

I‘m pretty excited about this blog. It’s been stirring in my spirit for a while now, although it’s no secret to those who know me. Actually it’s my heartbeat.

This is the launch of our social media campaign #pleasestaytoday. This will happen for the week leading into the month of May and will then launch into our annual month-long campaign: #mayyoustay

One of my earliest memories of pain was when a friend from school suicided. Aside from the loss of such a beautiful young life, it was completely unexpected. As far as we all knew, he wasn’t depressed, he hadn’t spoken to a counsellor, he wasn’t on medication, he had never even seemed sad. It was the shock that stayed with me long after the proceedings had taken place.

It was soon after that day, after a night of being awake drowning in my own tears for my friend, a giant within me awoke from its slumber. A passion I hadn’t even considered before. It was that night, I made a decision that would change the course of my life:

I will never let anyone’s pain go unnoticed, no matter how silent it may seem. 

Ever since my fifteen year old self made that decision, most of everything I have done has been veiled with that commitment. I made it my life’s call to see people set free, to see pain healed, relationships restored, mental illness released, and suicidality broken in people’s hearts and minds.

Twenty years on, I can confidently say, my life’s work has seen the privilege of walking beside thousands of people, and seeing them find freedom. And suicidality?

Not one person I have ever worked with around suicidal ideation has completed suicide. Not one.

Why? Because it’s my number one passion and hearts cry. And because I have educated myself, sought wisdom, sought truth, sought for the key to unlock suicidality within people’s minds. That’s why. It’s the one thing I have been learning for two decades.

So when I say this topic is my heart beat I mean it. Because while their heart still beats, I will fight for their freedom. While their mind argues it’s cause to end it all, I will speak truth and hope and love. They will not be taken on my watch!

My message is this: #pleasestaytoday

It is that simple. If each person can win the battle for their life today, that is one more day they have managed to stay. One day at a time. Just today. Choose life today.

If there’s one thing my friend’s suicide taught me, it’s that this battle is often silent. A silent scream to live muffled by deep waters of confusion, fear and pain. And suicide is no respecter of persons. I have worked with children, teens, adults, the elderly, successful, wealthy, surrounded by loved ones and a beautiful life, those dressed in suits or skate shoes, mothers, sons, sisters, grandmothers. No other commonality except they are human. And the fight for their life is waging war within their minds. That’s it.

It could be your friend, your brother, your mother, your spouse, your child, your neighbour. Any one in your life.

And there may be not one single external sign. Not one.

Not to overwhelm you, but the stats are one of two feel suicidal at some point in their life. That’s half the population! That’s the biggest waged war currently being fought on the planet.

“What should I do”? Great question. But it’s not the right one. Should implies responsibility and it’s not yours to carry. Plus it ends in guilt as every should does.

And if you haven’t done the twenty years of practice work, a lot of damage can be done if you think you should do something yourself.

The question to ask yourself is this: “What can I do ?”

The answer to that question is simple, Surround everyone in your world with love.

As much as it’s a war for lives, it’s actually about love. Because love represents hope, truth, light, freedom. If you doubt you are loved, and believe you are unlovable, watch how quickly hope is lost.

Believing you are unworthy of love is the commonality for every suicidal thought. 

Surround people with love, shine hope into their darkness, breathe peace into atmospheres.

And from a practical sense, jump on the campaign, like our page, share the posts with hashtags. You never know who on your friend list needs to see that post.

As I said, the #pleasestaytoday campaign will run across the next week, April 23-April 30, with our annual month-long campaign #mayyoustay launching May 1. So jump in, create momentum, get our message out.

There’ll also be more blogs over the next five weeks than usual, so keep an eye on the website for those: www.reminded.com.au/blog

And we will be running google ad word campaigns, and sponsored Instagram and Facebook advertising campaigns to further get the word out.

Remember, this is not about Reminded getting known, it’s about lowering suicide stats, destigmitising seeking help for mental health and suicide ideation, and ultimately,

This is about saving lives.

And you never know, it could be the life saved of someone you love. Given the stats, it probably will be.

#pleasestaytoday

Always for freedom,

Grant and Sal, Reminded mind health clinic

Coolum Beach, Sunshine Coast QLD