7 Signs Someone May Be Suicidal

If you have a loved one or friend that you think may be suicidal it is imperative to recognize the warning signs of suicide. While each person is an individual and will exhibit signs of depression and suicidal thought in their own way, there are several warnings signs that you can watch for that may indicate they are in crisis. If you believe someone is contemplating suicide please get help immediately. There are a number of suicide prevention web sites and hotlines available to help those in need, which can be accessed at the bottom of this article.

1. Talking about suicide or death.- Do not take statements about wanting to die or "ending it all" lightly. Seek help immediately. Even if they are not seriously considering suicide, statements like these indicate that a person is in need of help and is reaching out.

2. Withdrawing from friends and family. - Loss of interest in friends and family can be a sign of depression or suicidal thought. A person contemplating suicide may withdraw to spend more and more time alone. They may become despondent or angry when loved ones try to intervene.

3. Sudden behavioral changes. - A sudden and marked change in behavior may indicate that a person is suffering from depression, mental illness or suicidal thought. This can include a change in attitude, thinking, appearance or interpersonal relationships. In some cases the changes can be gradual as well.

4. Wanting to "tie up loose ends" or give away belongings. - This can include calling old friends and relatives to say goodbye. Giving away personal belongings or pets to others or wanting to secure care for children is a serious warning sign that a person may be considering suicide very soon.

5. Reckless behavior. - Engaging in behavior such as heavy alcohol and drug use, driving recklessly, starting fights or taking excessive risks.

6. Withdrawing from regular activities. - Suddenly quitting or loosing interest in regular and extracurricular activities such as school, work, sports teams, clubs, church, volunteer duties, or hobbies.

7. Sudden change in sleeping patterns or eating habits. - Watch for sudden weight fluctuations or a marked increase or decrease in the amount of sleep a person is getting.

If you or someone you love is thinking of committing suicide please seek immediate professional help. There are many caring professionals and trained peers that are available to listen and talk about feelings of loneliness, depression or suicide.

Why You Need an Advance Directive / Living Will

An Advance Directive, or Living Will, is an important document to have at any stage in your life. It is a legal document that is drafted to express your wishes for end-of-life care when you are unable to make those decisions yourself. Without an Advance Directive in place, some of the hardest and most important decisions of your life can be left entirely in the hands of medical professionals and your family. Not only do you risk having a decision made that you might not support; family members may be forced to make up your mind for you, often leaving them feeling unsure that they’ve made the right choice. Some of the items that are addressed in an Advance Directive are:

· Whether to accept or deny certain medical treatments

· Pain Control

· Resuscitation wishes

· Wishes for organ donation

· Appointing a agent to make decisions on your behalf

An Advance Directive is legal in every state in the U.S. and most hospitals will allow you to keep a copy of your Advance Directive on file with them. Every hospital is different, so please inquire with the particular hospital that you will be treated at. Having an Advance Directive on file can help ease your concern and fear about what will happen to you once you have entered a hospital for treatment or end-of-life care.

If you would like more information on developing an Advance Directive of your own, please visit the Living Wills section of this website. Up-to-date information about advance directives listed by state, along with the forms you need to complete an Advance Directive can be obtained from the following organizations:

Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE)
American Association of Retired Persons
P.O. Box 96474
Washington, DC 20090-6474


Choice In Dying, Inc
200 Varick Street
New York, NY 10014-4810
Telephone: 1-800-989-WILL

April is National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Month

April is National Donate Life Month. The month-long observance began in 2003 and serves to educate the public on the importance of organ, tissue, marrow, and blood donation.

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network reports that there are currently 91,684 people on waiting lists to receive organs. They reported that in 2005 28,110 organ transplants were performed and there were 14,489 donors.

Raising awareness about donation is vitally important. The campaign to increase understanding of organ and tissue donation began in 1983 when April 22 through April 29, 1984 was declared National Organ Donation Awareness Week. In 2003, the observance was increased to a full month. At the same time the name was changed to "National Donate Life Month" and the awareness program evolved to cover not only organ and tissue donation, but bone marrow and blood donation as well.

This April, resolve to learn more about organ and tissue donation and how you can give the gift of life.

Famous Cremated People

Where Are Their Ashes Now?

Celebrities have a flair for drama and in the case of Hunter S. Thompson, this continued after death. He made headlines around the world when his ashes were shot out of a cannon! The Cremation Association of North America states that 695,637 people were cremated in the United States in 2003. Although most will be scattered or safeguarded by more traditional means, it is still an economical and environmentally sound way to go. Many famous celebrities and people of notoriety have been cremated over the years. Let's take a look at a few of the more interesting individuals that chose cremation.

Dezi Arnaz - Actor, Musician and Lucy's husband of the "I Love Lucy" fame.

Marlon Brando - The actor famous for playing "The Godfather" was cremated at a secret ceremony in Los Angeles.

Lloyd Bridges - The hilarious star of "Airplane" had his ashes given to his family.

Greta Garbo - Garbo, from Hollywood's "Golden Age" had her ashes returned to her native Sweden for burial near family.

Alfred Hitchcock - He was cremated without a public funeral and his ashes were scattered.

Rock Hudson - Hudson's ashes were scattered at sea.

Jill Ireland - Charles Bronson's late wife had her ashes made into a walking stick for him.

Janis Joplin - Joplin's ashes were scattered over the Pacific Ocean.

Jerry Garcia - The Grateful Dead frontman had his ashes scattered at sea.

John F. Kennedy Jr. - After his plane crash, the famous president's son's ashes were scattered over the sea.

Vivian Leigh- The "Gone With the Wind" actress was cremated in the UK and had her ashes scattered on a mill pond at her home in Sussex.

Henry Mancini - The famous composer of The Pink Panther Music was cremated at Forest Lawn Glendale.

Groucho Marx - He once said, "I would never be caught dead in Burbank." However, that's just what happened when his urn was stolen and his ashes taken to Burbank for a time. They were eventually returned to his home at San Fernando, California's Eden Memorial Park.

Robert Mitchum - Mitchum's ashes were scattered at sea by family and friends.

Steve McQueen - Actor and star of "The Magnificent Seven" had his ashes scattered over the Pacific Ocean.

Christopher Reeve - Superman's ashes were scattered to the wind by his family.

Gene Roddenberry - The Star Trek creator's ashes were blasted off into space.

Last Updated: 03/20/2006

Sources:

Purified by Fire: A History of Cremation in America
Cremation Association of North America Statistics - http://www.cremationassociation.org/html/statistics.html
Hollywood USA - http://www.hollywoodusa.co.uk/celebrity-graves.htm
Morbid Curiosity - http://www.morbid-curiosity.com/id170.htm
Lloyd Bridges Biography - http://www.nndb.com/people/374/000026296/

Profile: Riverside National Cemetery

Riverside National Cemetery

Location: Riverside, California

Age: Opened in 1978.

Size: 740.3 Acres.
Vacancies: Yes

History: Riverside National Cemetery was established in 1976 via transfer of 740 acres from March Air Force Base. In 2000, it was the most active cemetery in the National Cemetery Administration's system based on the number of interments. The cemetery was officially opened for burials November 11, 1978.

Famous Citizens: Two Medal of Honor recipients.

Items of Interest: The Medal of Honor Memorial, which features the names of all medal recipients, The Fallen Soldiers Memorial, a memorial to honor Prisoners of War, a carillon donated by the American Veterans, and a memorial amphitheater.

Contact: 22495 Van Buren Boulevard
Riverside, CA 92518
Phone: (951) 653-8417
Fax: (951) 653-5233

Website: http://www.cem.va.gov/nchp/riverside.htm

Profile: Crown Hill Cemetery

Crown Hill Cemetery

Location: Indianapolis, IN

Age: Established in 1864

Size: Large - The third largest non-government cemetery in the United States at 555 acres. Has over 185,000 occupants.

Vacancies: Yes

History: Established as the official cemetery of Indianapolis when the city was being planned.

Famous Citizens: Benjamin Harrison, Former U.S. President
Colonel Eli Lilly
James Whitcomb Riley, Poet
John Dillinger. Infamous Bank Robber
Booth Tarkington, Author
Frederick Duesenberg, Automobile Manufacturer
13 Civil War Generals
Several Governors and Mayors

Items of Interest: Crown Hill has a Gothic Chapel from the late 1800's, National Cemetery dedicated to U.S. Soldiers, and a Confederate lot on cemetery grounds.

Contact: 700 West 38th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Phone: (317)925-8231
Fax: (317)925-8240
info@crownhill.org

Website: www.crownhill.org

Profile: Rose Hill Cemetery

Rose Hill Cemetery

Location: Whittier, California

Age: Established in 1914.

Size: 1,400 acres - making it the largest cemetery in the United States

Vacancies: Yes

History: Rose Hill began as a small cemetery with only 1 acre. Over the years it has increased in size to over 1400. Much of the land that was acquired for the cemetery was rugged hillside and 25 million cubic yards of earth was moved to create the cemetery that we have today. Rose Hill is the final resting place for many of southern California's residents and with 2500 acres of land holdings, it will continue to prosper for many generations to come.

Famous Citizens: William Hopper, Actor
Frank Nixon, Father of former U.S. President Richard Nixon
Eric "Eazy-E" Wright, Rapper
Robert Chandler, Professional Football Player
William Roy "Link" Lyman, Professional Football Player
Wally Hood, Professional Baseball Player
Augustus Jenkins, R&B Pianist
Billy Laughlin (William Robert), Actor (played Froggy on The Little Rascals)

Items of Interest: Rose Hills houses several Mausoleums (including one that is the largest building of its kind in California), gardens, and fountains.

Contact: 3888 S. Workman Mill Road
Whittier, California 90601
Phone: (562) 699-0921

Website: www.rosehills.com