It's the last Wednesday in Suicide Awareness Month, and this week we are delighted to welcome Missy Stolfi. Missy is the Area Director of the Capital Region NY Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Coming up this weekend is the 21st annual Walk for R.I.T.A. in Saratoga Springs, NY. The walk is a significant fundraiser for our local AFSP chapter, and it's one with a fascinating origin story. Missy shares with us how this unique walk originated, and what makes it different from other AFSP walks.

The Capital Region NY chapter of AFSP serves 15 counties in upstate NY. AFSP is truly a grassroots organization focused on eliminating suicide through prevention programs, public education about warning signs and risks, raising funds for research and programs, and reaching out to meet the needs of those who have lost someone to suicide. Much like us here on Pieces to Wellness, Missy and AFSP make it a point to talk openly about the importance of mental health, breaking stigmas, and supporting others. And while life isn't all sunshine and rainbows, this conversation is far from depressing. Hopefully you'll find a bit of inspiration and a touch of motivation to reach out to build/reinforce connections with those you care about. We're all in this together.

There's still time to register for the Capital Region Walk for R.I.T.A. this Sunday, September 28, in Saratoga, NY. Go to afsp.org/rita to sign up today! And make sure to stop by the Pieces to Wellness table to say hello!

Here are some other helpful links:
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) - Crisis Intervention

IASP (International Association for Suicide Prevention) - Suicidal Crisis Support

Is there something you're struggling with? Or something you'd like to hear us discuss?
Reach out on IG @piecestowellness or shoot us an email at neverunderestimatetpp@gmail.com.
Please check out our other episodes and tell a friend!
Remember - The road to a better you is paved with pieces to wellness…
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How do you suture your future? What does that even mean? Suturing your future means doing what you can now to impact your future in a positive way. It means setting yourself up for success in terms of your mental-emotional-physical-spiritual well-being.

To be honest, 'cause that's what we do here, the stuff that sutures your future is generally not flashy or sexy. It's things like preparation and repetition. Getting your stuff together the day before, every day. Doing your meditation or movement practice at the same time every day. Routine reinforces wellness. We don't need to be rigid; like GPS, we can recalibrate as needed. Our routines evolve as we do.

Another way to suture your future is to be on the lookout for green flags. We hear a lot about red flags, things to watch out for and avoid. The Instigator and the Yogi challenge you to open yourself up to green flags in your life. These will be different for everyone but in general are things that calm your nervous system, bring a sense of joy or peace. Green flags can be people, places, practices, or things. When you find a few green flags in your life, build them into your wellness routine - they may just become the sutures that hold you together.

Is there something you're struggling with? Or something you'd like to hear us discuss?
Reach out on IG @piecestowellness or shoot us an email at neverunderestimatetpp@gmail.com.
Please check out our other episodes and tell a friend!
Remember - The road to a better you is paved with pieces to wellness…
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Get a copy of Tim's book, Never Underestimate the Power of You by clicking the link below:

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September is Suicide Awareness month. For our first episode of September this year, we're talking about the difference between active and passive suicidal ideation. First of all, it's normal to think about suicide. It's much more common than most people think (a study from the NIH found that over 10% of the U.S. population experiences passive suicidal ideation in their lifetime). In this conversation we discuss the difference between passive thoughts and actively making plans to take your life. If you or anyone you know is having active suicidal ideation - meaning the person has made a plan to end their life, get help immediately. You can get help by calling 911, or by calling or texting 988 - the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If you have passive thoughts of suicide that are becoming more frequent or intense, it's time to talk about it. There are many resources available for people who need help. By having these conversations, we hope to bring light to a dark subject. By bringing light to these subjects, we hope to help others find the courage to have conversations of their own. It all starts with normalizing conversations about mental health.

Here are some helpful links:
AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) - Find a mental health professional

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) - Crisis Intervention

IASP (International Association for Suicide Prevention) - Suicidal Crisis Support

Is there something you're struggling with? Or something you'd like to hear us discuss?
Reach out on IG @piecestowellness or shoot us an email at neverunderestimatetpp@gmail.com.
Please check out our other episodes and tell a friend!
Remember - The road to a better you is paved with pieces to wellness…
Like, Follow, Share 🧩

Get a copy of Tim's book, Never Underestimate the Power of You by clicking the link below:

Send us a text

https://a.co/d/h7AQf91