Jeff Elhart: Book will help you put Be Nice into action for your family
Hopefully, you have read this column the past two months. If not, readers have received a sneak peek into a book called "Be Nice: Four Simple Steps to Recognize Depression and Prevent Suicide," written by myself and co-author Christy Buck, executive director of the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan.
This article focuses on the action steps that you can take by reading this book. You have learned the basics behind the Be Nice Action Plan, and now you will put your knowledge and confidence into what we like to refer to in the car business as “where the rubber meets the road.” That’s action to take steps to improve and/or save a life.
Below is a snapshot of the action items you will be prepared to take:
Chapters 1-2: Could I Have Prevented My Brother’s Suicide?
Action: I will communicate with my family members about any noticeable changes in their lives by inviting myself to have a loving and caring conversation. I will also plan on having a mental health checkup for myself and my family at least once a year with our primary care physicians.
Chapter 3: Understanding Mental Illness and Suicide
Action: I will take inventory of my family members and take action if needed to help those who may be struggling with a mental illness today. I can have an impact on how they think, act and feel by learning and using the tools in this book.
Chapter 4: Nobody Is Immune
Action: Mental illnesses need to be brought to the forefront of awareness. I can do this by finding events and resources in my community that bring awareness to mental health and suicide prevention.
More:Jeff Elhart: Putting 'Be Nice' into action for your family
More:Jeff Elhart: Putting Be Nice into action for your family
Chapter 5: Dispelling the Myths
Action: I can make the Be Nice Action Plan a part of my daily life. I can take it a step further by bringing the program into my school, workplace or community environment.
Chapter 6: A Program and an Action Plan
Action: I will meditate or pray for the next five minutes concerning who in my life may be in need of this simple plan. I will take action to notice, invite, challenge and empower.
Chapter 7: Notice
Action: By recognizing what makes someone special, I will acknowledge this in person or in writing.
Chapter 8: Invite
Action: I am going to invite myself to have a loving and caring conversation with a person that I have identified. I am going to say, “I’ve noticed that you typically have a positive outlook, but lately you don’t seem like yourself. I’m concerned about you and genuinely care. Are you OK?”
Chapter 9: Challenge
Action: If a person I’ve identified has exhibited signs of suicide, I will initiate a caring conversation: “I am worried about you, and I need to ask you a question. Are you thinking of killing yourself?”
Chapter 10: Empower
Action: I will empower myself to help my friend or family member get professional help. This does not mean merely advising them to go the hospital on their own, I will act and take them myself.
Chapter 11: Be Nice In Action
Action: I will make it my mission to create real-life success stories by simply noticing, inviting, challenging, and empowering. Period.
Chapter 12: Changing the Culture with Be Nice
Action: I can initiate change. One way I will do this is by spreading knowledge about the be nice. action plan along with things I’ve learned in this book.
Chapter 13: Saving Lives with Be Nice
Action: I will take it upon myself to be an accountability partner to someone by involving them in an activity that both of us enjoy.
Chapter 14: Managing Your Mental Health
Action: If I am in a crisis situation, I will use the knowledge I have learned and plan to take the one of the following action steps:
- I will contact a family member, school counselor, pastor or friend to let them know that I am considering suicide.
- I will call the National Suicide Hotline at 800-273-8255 with my friend/family member to inquire for professional help.
- I will ask my friend or family member to take me to the hospital emergency room for a professional assessment of my condition.
- I will not follow through with any plans to kill myself.
- I will allow my friend or family member to be my accountability partner until I receive the professional help I deserve.
You can get your copy of this new book at benice.org.
— Community Columnist Jeff Elhart is Playground Director II of the Elhart Automotive Campus in Holland. For more information, contact benice@elhart.com.