probablyHagoth7 Posted March 24, 2017 Posted March 24, 2017 Americans in their early 50's are withdrawing into despair in increasing numbers, contrasted to other areas of Europe and the Commonwealth. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-white-working-class-deaths-of-despair-20170324-story.html With a message of hope, what would a viable Mormon response/outreach look like? Thoughts? Suggestions?
pogi Posted March 24, 2017 Posted March 24, 2017 9 minutes ago, probablyHagoth7 said: With a message of hope, what would a viable Mormon response/outreach look like? Interesting article, and good question. Thanks for sharing. Much of what is driving this problem, according to the article, is a loss of "steady middle-income jobs for those with a high-school diploma or less." Interestingly, it is mostly white Americans who are affected. African Americans and Hispanics seem to be much more resilient. The article speculates as to why: "Case and Deaton note that many Hispanics are "markedly better off" than parents or grandparents who were born abroad, enabling a greater sense of optimism. African-Americans, they add, may have become more resilient to economic challenges given their long-standing disadvantages in the job market." If this is true, it would appear that it is not actually money that is the problem, but perspective. It is interesting how perspective can cause two people in the exact same situation to have two completely different emotional reactions to the same situation. It seems that one of the biggest sources of despair and suffering in humans comes from our unwillingness to accept our condition or situation - always wanting more, comparing ourselves to others, etc. Honestly, I don't know what a Mormon outreach project might look like, but I would be willing to help out where I could. 4
probablyHagoth7 Posted March 24, 2017 Author Posted March 24, 2017 18 minutes ago, pogi said: ..Honestly, I don't know what a Mormon outreach project might look like, but I would be willing to help out where I could. Would you (or others) be willing to help man/woman/child a suicide hotline? Friends with a billboard ministry reaching out to people with such despair could use more people with heart to wade in and be a lifeline.
pogi Posted March 24, 2017 Posted March 24, 2017 1 hour ago, probablyHagoth7 said: Would you (or others) be willing to help man/woman/child a suicide hotline? Friends with a billboard ministry reaching out to people with such despair could use more people with heart to wade in and be a lifeline. Tell me about their ministry. Where are they located? Do they provide training? How does it work? Are these your personal friends who have a billboard ministry, or is the ministry actually called "friends with a billboard"?
probablyHagoth7 Posted March 24, 2017 Author Posted March 24, 2017 (edited) 30 minutes ago, pogi said: Tell me about their ministry. Where are they located? Do they provide training? How does it work? Are these your personal friends...? CAM, or Christian Aid Ministries, has, among many other things, a billboard ministry across the nation, and humanitarian initiatives across the globe. Based in Ohio. I've read some of their publications - they do a very good work. I've recently had an exchange or two with one of the authors, who is personally most involved with the refugee crisis in the Middle East. I have personal friends engaged with the billboard initiative. They have specifically mentioned the need for additional local support/engagement - since suicide rates among certain influential ages (in Utah) have almost tripled in recent years. Per the chart, similar with people in my own age bracket. Edited March 24, 2017 by probablyHagoth7
pogi Posted March 24, 2017 Posted March 24, 2017 2 hours ago, probablyHagoth7 said: They have specifically mentioned the need for additional local support/engagement - since suicide rates among certain influential ages (in Utah) have almost tripled in recent years. That is sad to hear about Utah. It sounds like their ministry is doing a lot of good. I had a young man in my last ward commit suicide a couple years ago. It affected me deeply as I was close to him in young men's. One has to wonder, "what more could I have done to prevent this?" I would be happy to donate some time to this organization. 2
The Nehor Posted March 25, 2017 Posted March 25, 2017 My outreach ideas: Watch/listen to less news sources designed to spread fear and/or outrage. Stop expecting obsolete jobs to persist forever. You should have saved for retirement. Spend more time with happy people.
Recommended Posts