WELCOME TO THIS EDITION OF THE

COMPEER SARASOTA NEWSLETTER!

We strive to provide

you a newsletter at the beginning of every

month. It’s filled with news of upcoming events, compeer friendship stories, tips and trends.

Issue 18 / December 2018

FRIENDSHIP REPORTTHE

ALWAYS REMEMBER! VOLUNTEERS NEED TO SEND IN MONTHLY REPORTS Use the following link: http://compeersarasota.org/volunteer-reporting.html

We need your data to keep Compeer compliant and informed.

email: CompeerDirector@coastalbh.orgweb: www.compeersarasota.org

Call: (941) 927-8900

Compeer – Sarasota hosted an event December 3rd at the Boat House in Sarasota for 80 special donors and guests. Each year during the holiday season, we give thanks to those who believe in the healing power of friend-ship with those who have a di-agnosis of mental illness. Mental illness leaves one stig-matized, lonely and isolated. Providing one to one friendship between a caring volun-

NEW VOLUNTEER:

Jon Coren

teer and a Compeer client is twofold; it provides companionship and helps promote mental health wellness for those who have a diagnosed men-tal health disorder and it provides a meaningful way for our volunteers to make a difference -- one person at a time. Compeer Sarasota volunteers re-ceive as much if not more in return by the relationships they have estab-

Compeer – Sarasota Thanks its Donors by Lynn Buehler

lished with their Compeer friend.The event was mostly about a sense

of wellbe-ing and gratitude for our supporters. Compeer – Sarasota receives no feder-al, state or county funding and our organi-zation is grateful to our many

donors who allow us to do the work we do. It was about volunteers and their Compeer friends expressing in their own words, what this program means to them. It was an opportunity for the Compeer Advisory Board and Staff to say thank you for their generosi-ty. During this season of giving, we remember that giving is receiving and Compeer’s many donors and support-ers are the most coveted gifts we can imagine. Thank you one and all.

.

lll.......Paul and Turbi Smilow with Shari, Jack and Erica Siegel

The Friendship Report

Does Netflix’s ‘13 Reasons Why’ Influence Teen Suicide? University of Michigan Survey Asks At-Risk Youths

A significant proportion of suicidal teens treated in a psychiatric emergency department said that watching the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why had increased their suicide risk, a University of Michigan study finds.

The hit drama, widely popular among teens, has generated controversy for its depiction of suicide. Its story centers around a 17-year-old student, who, before her death, recorded cassettes that detail 13 reasons why she took her own life. The show has raised concerns among mental health experts about its potentially negative impact on vulnerable youths.Which is why Michigan Medicine researchers asked suicidal adolescents whether the show had contributed to suicide-related symptoms.

The findings, published in the journal Psychiatric Services, add to the body of literature about how at-risk teens may be reacting to the program. “This show has been a real phenomenon, especially among teenagers,” says lead author Victor Hong, M.D., medical director of psychiatric emergency services at Michigan Medicine. “Its depiction of teen suicide has raised great concern among parents, health providers and educators.”

Of the 87 youths who participated in the survey between 2017 and 2018, half had watched at least one episode of the show, mostly teens ages 13 to 17. Among the 43 who had watched it, about half (21) said it heightened their suicide risk.

“Our study doesn’t confirm that the show is increasing suicide risk, but it confirms that we should definitely be concerned about its impact on impressionable and vulnerable youth,” says Hong. Few believe this type of media exposure will take kids who are not depressed and make them suicidal. The concern is about how this may negatively impact youth who are already teetering on the edge.”

Parental viewership absent. The idea for the study stemmed from anecdotal narratives shared among colleagues at different children’s hospitals, says Hong, noting that providers were hearing more teens being treated for suicidal symptoms talk about 13 Reasons Why. The study also found that 84 percent of surveyed youth who had seen the show viewed it alone and were more likely to discuss their reactions with peers (81 percent) than with a parent (35 percent).

A second season of 13 Reasons Why, which debuted in May, opens with a disclaimer urging young viewers to watch the show with a trusted adult — and the importance of seeking help.

Still, very few parents in the U-M sample had watched the series themselves; some were unaware that their child had watched it. The findings clash with a previous Netflix commissioned report that found 71 percent of youths in a U.S. community sample talked to a parent about the series.Hong says this possibly indicates some differences in the ability or desire of youths at high risk of suicide to have such discussions with their parents.

“The data from our sample of teens demonstrated that kids who were at high risk of suicide did not reach out to adults,” he adds. “They mostly watched the show alone or talked to friends, but they weren’t talking to parents, teachers or school counselors. Youths who are in greatest need of adult support may be less likely to seek it out.”

Diligence, conversation crucial. Of the teen viewers who said they believed the series increased their suicide risk, the majority strongly identified with the lead female character, Hannah Baker.

“The main character is easy to identify with,” Hong says. “She’s a teen girl who has suffered from sexual assault, bullying and anxiety — which, unfortunately, impact too many of our youth today.”

Researchers developed a 44-item questionnaire to assess several aspects of youths’ interactions with 13 Reasons Why, using caution to avoid advertising the series to those who were not already aware of it. Teens unfamiliar with the show weren’t asked additional questions. Authors say further research is needed to accurately gauge how media content that focuses on youth suicide can influence the mental health and suicide risk of its viewers. But in the meantime, there are plenty of red flags for parents to watch for.

“Our findings support the need for tailored prevention programming for vulnerable youths and education and training for their parents,” says study senior author Cheryl King, Ph.D., a child and adolescent psychologist at U-M’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Parents whose kids may be vulnerable or at a high risk for suicide should be even more diligent about what their kids watch and if they are being exposed to content that could trigger them,” she adds.

“They also shouldn’t shy away from open, honest and difficult conversations with their kids about these topics.”

Issue 18 / December 2018

MAKING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS by Dale Wolfson

(Adapted from an article by Mike Bundrant, co-founder of the Neuro-Linguistics Program-ming Center)

One of the goals of Compeer is to establish meaningful connections between our volunteers and their matches. Hopefully, this article will give you the tools to do just that.

Meaningful connections with oth-ers are lacking in our society and can be causing suffering. Studies are all pointing to a lack of mean-ingful connections as the root cause of depression and anxiety. We have become a culture of disconnected people seeking connection through inappro-priate and unfulfilling pathways such as social media, shopping and consumerism, drugs and alcohol, and meaningless work. Without true connections, we are left feeling empty, unfulfilled and unhappy.

We can reestablish meaningful connections by having real, not virtual interactions through these six simple ways:

1. SMILE. A simple, genuine smile to a stranger, a homeless person, or your child, can be the cata-lyst for changing someone’s life. Never underestimate the power of a smile.

2. MAKE EYE CONTACT. Just a few moments of eye contact are enough to show you care and provide the feeling of connec-tion.3. GIVE A COMPLIMENT. The compliment doesn’t have to be big or profound, it just has to be genuine and heartfelt. When you give a compliment the receiver will feel noticed and appreciat-ed.4. BE INTERESTED IN ANOTHER PERSON. Simply asking questions about the other person and listen-ing to their answers makes that other person feel good about themselves and more willing to open up. Also, responding to their comments shows that you understand and feel compassion about what they are telling you.5. APOLOGIZE and FORGIVE. This one works both ways. Saying “I’m sorry” without making an excuse takes courage, and accepting an apology and forgiving can be the catalyst for repairing and strengthening your connection with another.6. PRACTICE VULNERABILITY. Actually, all of these suggestions show your vulnerability, but you can go further. Share a person-al story that demonstrates your human fallibility. Admit you don’t know something and ask for help. Be authentic even when you are afraid of being judged.

When you are vulnerable, you invite others to do the same, and you let them know it’s safe to be themselves. This is the place where true connection exists. By practicing vulnerability not only will you strengthen your authenticity and connection to yourself, but you’ll encourage au-thenticity in others, and everyone involved will reap the rich rewards of more meaningful and fulfilling connections.

From the Volunteer Coordinator

I hope everyone had a won-derful Thanksgiving holiday, and that none of you are too stressed about the upcoming holidays. Just relax and enjoy!I sent an email to all the vol-unteers asking you to let me know what times and days of the week are good for you to hold a volunteer roundta-ble. The last two roundtables I tried to schedule had very low response.

These roundtables can be valu-able resources for you and help to make your matches more meaningful. I have heard from nine volunteers, and so far the consensus seems to be to hold them in the afternoon, but there is no consensus on a day of the week. If you haven’t responded yet to my email, please do so soon. Then I will be able to better schedule our next roundtable.

Compeer Sarasota is in the run-ning for a grant from Compeer, Inc. to increase the number of children we serve to over 100 by 2021. In anticipation of a positive result, we have formed a committee to work on re-cruitment of both volunteers and clients, but if you have any ideas to help us reach out to potential volunteers, please email them to me. Your input is greatly appreciated.

Dale WolfsonCompeer Volunteer Coordinator

Issue 18 / December 2018The Friendship Report

Coastal Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.Compeer Sarasota 1565 State Street

Sarasota, Fl. 34236(941) 927- 8900

www.CompeerSarasota.org

Jordan A.Betty C.Karen F.Mimi H.

Sandy K.Martha L.Sherry S.Daniele W.Holly W.

December Birthdays!!!

Talk to your friends and relatives and tell them the benefits you receive by being a Compeer friend.

There are children and adults out there who are just waiting for a special person - just like you.

Compeer VolunteersLet’s Put Your Friendship Story

in the Next Issue

We’ve been sharing thoughts about your Compeer friends.

Just email your stories and ideas to:dwolfson@coastalbh.org

Every month we feature what you and your Compeer friend have done to give us all ideas

and inspiration.

Remember our websitewww.compeersarasota.orghas a volunteer application