Monday, March 6, 2023

Donna's Law would voluntarily block a person with suicidal thoughts from buying a gun.

 From YouTube:

In any given year, suicide accounts for between 60-65% of all gun deaths in the United States (approximately 25,000). So far, three states have passed legislation called Donna's Law, which would allow people who fear that they may become suicidal to place themselves (voluntarily and confidentially) on a "do not sell" list, to block their purchase of a gun. Correspondent Susan Spencer looks at an innovative way to save lives. [If you or someone you know is in crisis, get help from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.]


As a Psychiatric Social Worker I have done over 15,000 suicide evaluations in my career. One of the questions asked as part of an assessment is "If you were to attempt to end your life, how would you do it.?"

If the person responds they would do it with a gun, the next question is "do you have one?"

If the person responds that they do, this is a very high risk situation and steps must be taken to block the person's access to guns until the suicidal thoughts are diminished or eliminated.

Donna's Law is one way that a person can take to block such access. Passing Donna's law would be a wonderful idea that could save lives.

Sunday, March 5, 2023

Purpose and meaning in life.


One of the main attributes of well being is a sense of purpose and meaning in one’s life.

Sometimes I ask my clients to answer this question “The three things that matter the most to me in my life are __________. _______________. And ___________.


I also ask them to say what they would like to have gotten out of life in the next 1, 3, and 5 years, or 2, 5, and 10, short term, immediate, and longer term?


For more click here.


Saturday, March 4, 2023

Studies and experience show that quality conversations increase an individual’s sense of well being.


Across three studies, researchers recruited over 900 students for a one-day experiment. During that day, they were asked to connect with a friend in one of seven different ways:
  • Catch up about how you’ve been

  • Have a meaningful conversation

  • Laugh and joke around

  • Show care, affection, and support

  • Be a good listener

  • Show you value them and their opinions

  • Give them a compliment

At the end of the day, everyone filled out surveys about their emotions and their day overall, including how lonely, anxious, stressed, and connected they felt.

Ultimately, people who had just one interaction with a friend felt less stressed and more connected at the end of the day than those who didn’t. And it didn’t matter what they did together—whether it was being silly or having a deep discussion.

For more click here.


Many of my clients report to me that they are isolated and don’t have anyone to really talk to and have become anxious and depressed. I share with them the information above and ask who they might reach out to and interact with? Try it once every day for a week and report back on the effect this activity has had on their mood.


Working a four-day week boosts employee wellbeing while preserving productivity, major six-month trial finds

Now, results from the world's largest trial of a four-day working week reveal significantly reduced rates of stress and illness in the workforce -- with 71% of employees self-reporting lower levels of "burnout," and 39% saying they were less stressed, compared to the start of the trial.

There was a 65% reduction in sick days, and a 57% fall in the number of staff leaving participating companies, compared to the same period the previous year. Company revenue barely changed during the trial period -- even increasing marginally by 1.4% on average.

For more click here.

Editor's note - Productivity does not depend on hard or how long you work but on how smart you work. The "work" often expands to the amount of time allocated and expected rather than outcomes and deliverables.

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Music therapy - You're So Vain by Carly Simon

Narcissism seems to have entered the lexicon of pop psychology with all kinds of articles and books written about this personality style.

The concept of narcissism is nothing new. Over the decades and centuries it has been called different things like “vanity,” “selfishness,” “stuck on oneself”.


Before you can manage a relationship with a person with narcissism you have to know what you’re dealing with. If you would like to increase your ability to spot narcissism listen to Carly Simon’s great song, You’re So Vain.




Music therapy appears on Markham's Behavioral Health most Thursdays.