Music touches everyone and words in songs can be particularly powerful. In the case of For All Seasons, hearing the soundtrack of the Tony Award winning Broadway musical, “Dear Evan Hansen,” touched the core of the organization’s mission of “Restoring lives and transforming communities.”
This past spring, Amy Haines and Richard Marks’ Dock Street Foundation invited 40 representatives from several Talbot County service agencies and educational institutions to board a bus bound for New York City to see Ben Platt and the cast of “Dear Evan Hansen.” Both Amy and Richard had seen the play and felt it would be helpful if shared with local providers of care.
They noted, “We were moved and inspired by the relevance and impact of the show particularly as it incorporated social media’s influence on our society and youth. We appreciate For All Season’s leadership and coordination with all agencies in our community assisting our citizens facing mental and emotional challenges.”
Beth Anne Langrell, executive director of For All Seasons, adds, “It was an amazing opportunity to see a show and spend the day with so many people who are working day in and day out to better the lives of the youth in our community. The musical, which centers around the suicide of a high school student, really hits home about what it’s like to be a millennial, or any person, struggling to find their way. One song in particular, ‘You Will Be Found’ had a lasting impact on several of us attending. The song shares the life of young man who is watching life happen around him, but never finds a space where he believes he fits in…he struggles to see that he matters and that even at his darkest moments, someone is there to ‘find him’.”
Beth Anne shares that returning from the show she knew that Richard and Amy’s gift could last much more than just one day. She thought it offered an opportunity to reach students and those in the community in the same way that the show reached everyone on the trip that day. It was then that For All Seasons decided to begin a new campaign and start a conversation about suicide prevention. The agency’s new campaign will be called No Matter What . . . You Matter.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), every 13 minutes someone dies by suicide. Suicide does not discriminate, affecting people of all genders, ages and ethnicities. Many different factors may contribute to someone making a suicide attempt. For All Seasons hopes that by discussing the signs and symptoms associated with suicide that it can raise awareness about the issue in our community. Because family and friends are often the first to recognize the warning signs of suicide, they can be critical to helping an individual find treatment with a provider who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions.
For All Seasons wants people to know that if they think a friend or family member is considering suicide, they should reach out and start a conversation. Talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life. The following are three steps to help people begin the conversation:
1) Ask directly – “Are you having suicidal thoughts?” – Let them know you care.
2) Stay and Listen – Let them share their thoughts and feelings.
3) Get help – Connect them with a friend, family member or crisis hotline. (For immediate crisis support, call the Eastern Shore Crisis Response Hotline at 1-888-407-8018.)
Beth Anne adds, “The launch of our campaign, No Matter What . . . You Matter, will create an ongoing dialogue with agencies and educators who attended the musical, as well as others who are interested in joining the conversation about this growing issue in our community. The campaign will include dialogue circles, educational outreach and community events. We want people to know that no matter what, they matter.”
For All Seasons provides Trauma Certified Individual, Family and Group Therapy; Crisis and Advocacy Services for Adult, Child and Adolescent Victims of Sexual Assault, Rape and Trauma; Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; and Substance Use Disorder Services (in collaboration with Corsica River Substance Use Disorder Services).
Follow For All Seasons on Facebook, Twitter #nomatterwhatyoumatter and Instagram in the coming weeks to find out how to get involved. For further information, call Beth Anne Langrell at 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.
For All Seasons offers individual and group therapy, general, child and adolescent therapy, marriage and couples counseling, grief counseling, school-based mental health therapy, urgent care services, Rape Crisis Response, Rape Crisis Counseling and Support, 24-Hour English and Spanish Hotlines and education and outreach programming. For further information about For All Seasons, call 410-822-1018. For the 24-Hour Crisis Hotline, call Toll-Free: 800-310-7273.
Warning Signs
The following behaviors may be signs that someone is thinking about suicide. If these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, get help as soon as possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently. For immediate crisis support, call the Eastern Shore Crisis Response Hotline at 1-888-407-8018.
- Talking about wanting to die or wanting to kill themselves
- Talking about feeling empty, hopeless, or having no reason to live
- Feeling unbearable pain (emotional pain or physical pain)
- Talking about being a burden to others
- Feeling numb or like nothing matters
- Acting anxious or agitated
- Feeling unusually confused or forgetful; on edge, angry or upset; or worried and scared
- Unable to perform daily takes like getting to work or school
NO MATTER WHAT . . . YOU MATTER Campaign Kick-Off
October 6, 2017 • 5 – 8 p.m.
Bartlett Pear, 28 South Harrison Street, Easton
Live music provided by the Choptank Big Band
For All Seasons kicks off Mental Health Awareness Week and the launch of its new suicide prevention campaign, NO MATTER WHAT…YOU MATTER at Easton’s First Friday event. The event is part of the First Friday stroll through the local galleries and shops.
Easton Shopping Week
October 7 – 14, 2017
Easton’s business community is supporting Mental Health Awareness Week by donating a portion of their sales on specific dates during Mental Health Awareness Week. Visit forallseasonsinc.org to see which Easton businesses will be supporting the campaign or call Beth Anne Langrell at For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 to learn more.