Author: Looking for the Light

Looking for the Light is a Health and Lifestyle Blog. I advocate for Chronic Illnesses, and Mental Health. Please stop by my blog. I love hearing from you. Melinda

Stop Prison Abuse *Investigate Florida Prison In Darren Rainey's Death*

Published on by Looking for the Light3 Comments

Change.org Petition

Please read the original petition. I wanted to cry and vomit reading how Darren was brutally murdered. How can two prison guards ignore Darren Rainey beg for his life? Original Petition http://wp.me/p45hs8-pw . The prison and two prison guards have not faced charges for the death of Darren Rainey.

Please support our new petition

Steven Wetstein
Miami, FL
Dec 5, 2014 

Friends,

Thanks greatly for all your support to date. We are still working hard for a federal investigation of the Darren Rainey case.
Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Mike Crews resigned last month, under the pressure of the numerous cases of brutality toward prisoners that have come to light, starting with that of Darren Rainey.
Unfortunately, Crews’ number two, Timothy Cannon, who has spent 25 years in the DOC, has been appointed as interim DOC Secretary. Please support Stop Prison Abuse Now’s new petition, at https://www.change.org/p/richard-scott-appoint-independent-department-of-corrections-secretary?just_created=true, urging Governor Rick Scott to appoint a different permanent DOC Secretary, one who is independent of the system they must reform.

Richard Scott: Appoint Independent Department of Corrections Secretary
After a string of brutal inmate deaths–like that of Darren Rainey , who was locked into a scalding shower until he died–Florida…

HTTPS://WWW.CHANGE.ORG

New PSA #StrongerThanStigma in partnership with Brandon Marshall’s Foundation

Published on by Looking for the Light1 Comment

http://bringchange2mind.org

Start the conversation. Change the stigma.

We are incredibly excited to share our new PSA, #StrongerThanStigma, with you! Produced in partnership with Brandon Marshall’s foundation, Project 375, this campaign features four men who have each made mental health advocacy a part of his platform. These headliners are Brandon Marshall, NFL All-Pro wide receiver for the Chicago Bears; Michael Angelakos, lead singer of indietronica band Passion Pit; Wayne Brady, comedian and actor; and Ben Scrivens, NHL goalie for the Edmonton Oilers. Each shares his story, and encourages men to start the conversation and end the stigma.

For the past thirty years, the rate of suicide among men has been three to four times that of women. Traditionally, however, men have shied away from talking about their feelings because it is viewed as weak. In addition to a reluctance to seek help, men have higher levels of isolation, higher rates of drug and alcohol misuse, are at a greater risk for homelessness, display more externalized and destructive behaviors, and are more involved with the criminal justice system. Underlying many of these experiences are complex psychological problems, but we rarely empathize with their causes.

We want to erase stereotypes, create a new narrative by raising awareness of the mental health problems that men face, encourage dialogue, and promote help seeking behavior.

We hope that you will be a part of this significant opportunity to talk about the harmful and pervasive discrimination that surrounds mental illness. Please join our conversations on Facebook and Twitter, and visit our website to view and share #StrongerThanStigma, find resources, and help us end stigma.

Sincerely,
Pamela Harrington
Executive Director

Bring Change 2 Mind
1265 Battery Street, Fifth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111
415.814.8846 | information@bringchange2mind.org

http://bringchange2mind.org

New PSA #StrongerThanStigma in partnership with Brandon Marshall's Foundation

Published on by Looking for the Light1 Comment

http://bringchange2mind.org

Start the conversation. Change the stigma.

We are incredibly excited to share our new PSA, #StrongerThanStigma, with you! Produced in partnership with Brandon Marshall’s foundation, Project 375, this campaign features four men who have each made mental health advocacy a part of his platform. These headliners are Brandon Marshall, NFL All-Pro wide receiver for the Chicago Bears; Michael Angelakos, lead singer of indietronica band Passion Pit; Wayne Brady, comedian and actor; and Ben Scrivens, NHL goalie for the Edmonton Oilers. Each shares his story, and encourages men to start the conversation and end the stigma.

For the past thirty years, the rate of suicide among men has been three to four times that of women. Traditionally, however, men have shied away from talking about their feelings because it is viewed as weak. In addition to a reluctance to seek help, men have higher levels of isolation, higher rates of drug and alcohol misuse, are at a greater risk for homelessness, display more externalized and destructive behaviors, and are more involved with the criminal justice system. Underlying many of these experiences are complex psychological problems, but we rarely empathize with their causes.

We want to erase stereotypes, create a new narrative by raising awareness of the mental health problems that men face, encourage dialogue, and promote help seeking behavior.

We hope that you will be a part of this significant opportunity to talk about the harmful and pervasive discrimination that surrounds mental illness. Please join our conversations on Facebook and Twitter, and visit our website to view and share #StrongerThanStigma, find resources, and help us end stigma.

Sincerely,
Pamela Harrington
Executive Director

Bring Change 2 Mind
1265 Battery Street, Fifth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111
415.814.8846 | information@bringchange2mind.org

http://bringchange2mind.org

14 year old prostitute needs help not prison *Please sign Change.org Petition*

Published on by Looking for the Light6 Comments

change.org

Don’t Charge Victim Of Child Abuse 

Petitioner April Childs  Watkinsville, GA

Earlier this month, Georgia Police busted a prostitution ring involving 11 men and a 14-year-old girl. Not only do they plan to prosecute the child predators, but they have charged the 14-year-old victim with prostitution as well. Sixteen is the age of sexual consent in Georgia. District Attorney Fred Bright is charging a statutory rape victim with a crime she’s not legally old enough to commit. Help me tell him child prostitution victims need help, not prison.

My name is April Childs. I am a parent and Georgian, and I work as a forensic interviewer of children. My job entails interviewing victims of child abuse and sexual assault. I can take their testimony and transmit it to prosecutors so the victims don’t have to endure the stress and humiliation of taking the stand and seeing their accuser. I have worked with more than 500 children and helped them tell their story to officials so their abusers could be duly prosecuted. That’s why I was so shocked when I heard about Chief Kent Lawrence and District Attorney’s Bright’s plan to charge this young girl with prostitution, further victimizing her and punishing her for an act she couldn’t have legally consented to.

What the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuitplans to do with this young girl goes against any legal, therapeutic or even common sense protocol. The law–both federal and state–recognizes that children do not have the emotional capability to consent to sexual activity. As a vulnerable population, children should be protected from predatory adults, as well as helped to heal from traumas inflicted upon them. Charging a victim of statutory rape does exactly the opposite. It places blame on the victim which is counterproductive to the healing process.

Join me and tell DA Fred Bright to respect state law and human decency and refuse to prosecute the victim.

https://www.change.org/p/fred-bright-don-t-punish-a-victim-of-child-abuse

Get A Tissue Or Ten *Dedicated to Sharon At 4 Times and Counting*

Published on by Looking for the Light19 Comments

There are people you meet in life who leave you in awe. The ability to push forward, awe to fight a disease trying to kill them not once but four times. Awe of their strength in the weakest moments to care for their children. Awe not give up, just throw in the towel, who would blame them. Awe with her dedication to educate, awe of the positive energy she exudes. I am in awe of my blogging sister Sharon from 4 Times and Counting, 4timesandcounting.wordpress.com . Please visit Sharon’s site, you’ll see a strong woman with unstoppable determination. Sharon is all the above a much more. Being a survivor does not define who she is or where she’s going. I’m so happy our paths crossed.

I clicked on the video by accident, God reminded me it was no accident.   XO Warrior

Happy Birthday To The Best Mom…I Love You

Published on by Looking for the Light24 Comments

My granny did everything to help with my emotional pain. She had one child by birth but she had two children. There is no question she was my mother. I talk a lot about my gramps, granny stood at his side keeping him in line. She was shy, her father died when she was nine years old, they lost everything and truly lived day-to-day. Granny went cross-eyed at three years old. I believe this made her self-conscious.

One cherished memory is the havoc we created while she was in a wheel chair. For unknown reasons she could not walk for around two years. She was so depressed it was heartbreaking to see her fade. Granny was so straight and never the life of party. I changed a small part of her timid nature. The best way to cheer her up was a trip to the mall. I had a Corvette and her wheel chair was worst than a boat anchor. Getting the chair in the back of Corvette was not an easy job but I made it look like piece of cake. We would go to the usual stores she liked to shop. To liven things up and really throw her off, I started acting like her wheel chair was a race car. I would make racing sounds and turn corners in the clothes racks real close. When we reached the main walk ways I would start pushing her really fast making fast car noises and jump on back. We would cruise, she would say “Melinda you’re going to hit someone”, with a little laugh. I helped take her mind off life for a short period. She is in my heart everyday.

SPEAK UP FOR EQUALITY IN MENTAL ILLNESS HEALTHCARE

Published on by Looking for the Light16 Comments

CHANGE.ORG PETITION UPDATE

Fix Mental Healthcare

Theresa Kinley
Norcross, GA
Jan 6, 2015 — I would like to thank everyone who signed or commented on my petition to Cigna. Unfortunately, Cigna is quite accustomed to people complaining about the level of care they provide–or don’t provide–to their premium paying customers; they simply blocked the petition and signatures. The insurance companies’ behavior has finally received some attention from the media, specifically a 60 Minutes piece about Anthem denying care to the seriously mentally ill. I would like to build on that momentum by launching a website dedicated to the stories of those who, in addition to battling serious mental illness, must also battle their insurance companies to get treatment. To the insurers trying to cut costs these people don’t matter; we know they do matter. I would like to encourage anyone with a story to tell about the their experience in dealing with an insurance company while seeking treatment for a mental illness to visit http://fixmentalhealthcare.wordpress.com  to submit your story.
Thank you again and God bless you all.

Fix Mental Health Care
Fix Mental Health Care
Mission Statement: With this website we are seeking to raise awareness of the harm the health insurers do to those…

HTTPS://FIXMENTALHEALTHCARE.WORDPRESS.COM

273 Days Since 273 Young School Girls Kidnapped By BoKo Haram’s

Published on by Looking for the Light4 Comments

Update on Change.org Petition

Boko Haram’s ‘deadliest massacre’: over 2000 children, women, elderly- all dead in Nigeria

Ify Elueze
Bonn, Germany
Jan 11, 2015 — In two days, it would be 273 days since 273 young secondary school girls were taken from the safety of their boarding school and families. It would also be one week since over 2000 children, women, men and elderly people were massacred in a town called Baga, in the north-eastern part of Nigeria (400km from Chibok where the girls were kidnapped in April); and two days since a 10 year old girl who was strapped with a bomb, blew up in a busy market, killing 20 people and leaving many others injured.

International reports have it that hundreds of bodies – too many to count – remain strewn in the bush in Nigeria from the extremist attack in Baga that Amnesty International described as the “deadliest massacre” in the history of Boko Haram. For over five days, Baga and 16 other nearby villages were pillaged and burnt to the ground by members of the Boko Haram sect.

The response of the Nigerian government to this issue has been poor as the country is preparing for political elections. In less than five weeks, it’s citizen would be voting for their next set of leaders. It would seem that there is a real war going on in Nigeria, but only the Nigerians aren’t fully aware of this fact. Too many innocent lives are being lost because actions that must be taken are not being implemented…these mounting issues are not being addressed as priority.

That is why we need to keep demanding that world leaders get involved, they must pressure and collaborate with the Nigerian government to strategize and undertake the necessary steps that would bring this persistent terror and bloodshed to an end!
We ask the government to take action! We ask the world to take action!

#TakeActionOnBokoHaram
#BringBackOurGirls