prevention and fitness – Page 34 – watercress words by Dr Aletha

Pastors Rick and Kay Warren are the parents of a young man who suffered from mental illness and committed suicide. They are committed to destigmatizing this illness and helping other families cope.

Suicide seems random but is predictable. The majority of people who commit suicide have suffered from mental illness for a long time, and may even have had previous attempts; unfortunately, acquaintances, friends, even family may not know this.

Here are some facts about suicide

Most suicide victims in the United States are white men.
Guns are the most common means of suicide, followed by suffocation and poison.
There is often a family history of mental illness and suicide .
Major depression is the most common cause of suicide- 90% of victims.
Suicide may be triggered by recent or prolonged stress and loss, serious health problems and chronic pain.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone who you think may be at risk of suicide. You may save that person’s life. Here are some resources to help you know what to do.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

National Alliance on Mental Health

Desiring God depression articles

Print resources (purchase through these affiliate links may pay a commission to this blog; thank you)

New Light on Depression

Night Falls Fast; Understanding Suicide

Finding Your Way after the Suicide of Someone You Love

Loved Back to Life

You may read an updated version of this article at this link-

Surprising myths and truths about dental care

I often cringe when I read health advice articles by people without medical training but sometimes the information is accurate and helpful. Such is the case with a recent newsletter I read by Mary Hunt, founder of Debt-Free Living. I subscribe to her newsletter and have been impressed with the wealth (no pun intended) of information she provides on money management, budgeting, frugal living, and how to avoid the stress of being in debt.

This newsletter caught my attention because just now I am dealing with some unexpected dental expenses that I do not have dental insurance to cover. Fortunately, I am able to pay for it out of pocket but it’s still not something I wanted to spend money on right now.

Who doesn't want healthy teeth? — Who doesn’t want healthy teeth?

Budgeting for medical and dental expenses is difficult, since we don’t exactly plan to get sick or injured. We can anticipate routine care however, and practice preventive measures to lessen the chance for those unexpected occurrences.

Her recent newsletter Dental Care is Not a Luxury Item lists suggestions for caring for our teeth to prevent the need for extensive and expensive dental procedures. I think the suggestions she offers are valid and worth discussing with your personal dentist to see if they are right for you and your family. (Mary’s posts contain affiliate links which are not connected to my blog)

Unfortunately, not everything can be prevented; some problems will happen no matter what, like my cracked tooth which I apparently did nothing to cause and which could not be fixed with a root canal procedure. But I am going to continue doing my routine dental care to avoid preventable dental diseases. I need my teeth for a long time; all these food bloggers make me hungry. And I would rather spend my money doing fun activities with my grandchildren.