Scorpio.

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As Mars moves into your sign on your birthday this year you need to believe that all paths are open to you. Then you need to pick one of those paths and give it your all. You wont just be good this coming year Scorpio, you will be great!

Refuse to settle for second best and refuse to let others tell you that certain things cannot be done. Your ruling planet Mars makes all things possible, so set your sights high and go for it. While others are still stuck on the ground you will soar.

A change in the way you deal with people on a one-to-one basis is needed. You can still get your way in most things but you will have to make sure that others get what they want from joint activities too. Its no longer all about you.

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You dont have to change your ways to please other people. Even if you try it probably wont work because on a subconscious level your mind and emotions will be working against it. You are who you are and you do what you do for a good cosmic reason.

You no longer need to be reticent about your aims and ambitions. Make sure everyone knows what it is you are trying to do and how they can help you reach your goals. You may be pleasantly surprised how many come forward to assist you.

You will have to make some tough decisions over the next few days, the kind of decisions that are sure to make people angry. Fortunately, you are not the sort of individual to let it worry you, so do what you have to do and do it well.

You may believe that you can take on the world and win but even if that is the case you are advised to make compromises where you can and to avoid confrontation. Life is about having fun, so why fuss and fight about trivial things?

Once Mercury turns direct again tomorrow you will find it much easier to convince others that your plans are worthy of support. You may actually look back over the past few weeks and recognize that the delays you were forced to endure were worth it.

Dont waste any more time trying to analyze your motives, just get on and do what has to be done and be happy in the knowledge that you are making things happen again. Mars in your sign will endow you with no end of energy and ambition.

It is of the utmost importance now that you adopt the correct mental attitude in your everyday affairs. Cosmic activity in the most sensitive area of the your chart will open you to all sorts of negative influences, but you dont have to give in to them.

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The more adventurous side of your nature will come to the fore over the next few days and you will take the kind of risks you usually strive to avoid. By all means push your luck a little but dont forget there will be consequences for getting it wrong.

As Mars moves into the career area of your chart today you may be able to exert more leverage on the work front that has been the case in recent weeks. By all means let people in positions of power know when you think they are doing it wrong.

You have never been the sort to be taken in by the latest craze or fashion and you are not about to get caught up in the latest round of trendy hysteria. If others want to put common sense on hold thats up to them, but its not for you.

Discover more about yourself at sallybrompton.com

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Your daily horoscope: November 19 - The Globe and Mail

Judd Trump has won three ranking titles already this season (Picture: VCG via Getty Images)

Judd Trump might be one of the most naturally talented snooker players in history, but it is his single-mindedness and commitment to his game that separates him from the pack, believes Michael Holt.

The 30-year-old is riding high at the top of the sport as the world champion and world number one, showing no signs of slowing down.

After claiming his first world title in May, the Bristolian has triumphed in three more ranking events, most recently beating Ronnie OSullivan in the final of the Northern Ireland Open.

13 years ago, Trump became the youngest player to qualify for the final stages of a ranking event at the Welsh Open, so the snooker world has long been aware of him, but it has only been over the last year that he has reached the pinnacle of the sport.

Holt believes that his natural talent got him so far, but the mental toughness he has developed has taken him to the very highest level.

Im a big fan of Trump, I just love his attitude, hes brilliant, such a great player, Holt told Metro.co.uk.

Hes turned into a great player, he obviously had raw talent when he was a kid. Its his second spell at number one and what is he, 12? Its incredible really, hes won everything now.

What he did to [John] Higgins in the [World Championship] final. I admire his stubbornness and belief in his own ability, because he got a bit of stick a few months ago which I thought was incredible.

Some people would have took that criticism badly and start doubting his technique and start tinkering, because hes got a strange technique going across the white.

But he didnt, he believed in what he does, worked hard and look at him now. His attitude and resilience, thats what champions have got and hes got it in spades.

As far as dominating, its hard to dominate now, theres a lot of good players around and some days youre going to get beat. But the way hes playing now, you never know, somebodys going to have to play well to beat him because hes not throwing any bad matches in.

With his action, its so amazing. A lot of world champions have a bad season the next year because theyre away with the fairies, but hes said thats not going to be me hes got his head down. Great attitude, we can all learn from his mentality.

Trump hammered Higgins 18-9 in one of the most impressive performances in World Championship history, but it could all have been very different for the Juddernaut.

The world number one barely scraped past Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in round one, with the Thai star narrowly running out of position during a break in the deciding frame, and Holt knows how different Trumps life could be if those few seconds had played out differently.

He was one ball away from losing first match to Thepchaiya, who was so unlucky, continued the Hitman. He came through the pack and it could have landed almost anywhere and it ended in the absolute worst spot.

He left Judd a double and he knocked in a mad double. But Thepchaiya was a roll of the white away from knocking him out and then he wasnt world champion and wed all have been talking about him losing first match.

Everyone would be questioning if he can achieve what he should in the game. Thats all it takes, such fine margins between everyone saying how great he is now, the same people would be jumping on the bandwagon saying he hasnt achieved enough, he doesnt live right, he goes out too much, all this absolute codswallop.

But it did roll an extra one and all them people have disappeared into their hole again.

Much has been made of Trump curbing his former playboy lifestyle of clubbing and sports cars, and now being fully focused on the game he has profited.

The world champ still enjoys himself, as his Instragram detailed over the summer, and Holt believes as long as hes working hard and playing hard, then all is well, especially with the results speaking for themselves.

He works hard at his game, I think he does everything right, said the world number 37. Youve got to enjoy your life and if he likes going out to clubs, popping champagne bottles, its not for me, but if thats what rocks his boat then crack on mate.

On his death bed hell regret the things he didnt do, good look to the man.

Theres plenty of jealousy as well, which creates criticism, but hes not hurting anyone. Theyre the same people who say theres no characters in the game and the same people who ask him for a photo.

Hes world number one and world champion so you cant criticise him.

Holt and Trump will be in action at the UK Championship next week, where the Hitman takes on Adam Stefanow in round one and the Juddernaut faces Amine Amiri.

MORE: Judd Trump claims Ronnie OSullivan can only play well if you let him

MORE: Superb Judd Trump beats Ronnie OSullivan to retain Northern Ireland Open title

Read more:
How Judd Trump's attitude sets him apart at the top of snooker - Metro.co.uk

Photo Credit: Alan Hubbard

CATCH MANHATTAN @ URI, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 AT 4PM ON YURVIEW, COX CHANNEL 4 IN RHODE ISLAND.

The 2019-20 season is just four games old, but Rhode Island Rams freshman Jacob Toppin (6.5ppg, 4.8rpg) is already a fan favorite.

Possessing a mixture of above-the-rim athleticism, ball skills, and fluidity, Toppin is fitting in seamlessly in Kingston. There are adjustments to be made, muscle-mass to be gained, and knowledge to be accrued as the games and seasons pass all expected for a young freshman. But its easy to see why the URI coaching staff was, and is, excited about Toppins present and future in Kingston.

Over the summer, Toppin and I enjoyed a lengthy discussion over the phone after his commitment. Postgame after Rhode Islands 70-65 win over Nicholls State, we connected personally for the first of many conversations well have in Kingston.

Chris DiSano: Four games into your URI career how are you feeling about your experience here and getting rolling?

Jacob Toppin: Its great. I love being on the court with my teammates its a great environment to be in and my teammates are always pushing me. We push each other in practice and workouts to our limits. Were close as a team and we play as a team. Thats why weve been successful early on this season.

CD: You talk about the team being close and weve heard some of the guys talk about this team being tighter this year. Obviously, you werent here previously but when youre in a dogfight like you were tonight and youre down 5 to 7 points, how do you approach staying together in those moments?

JT: I choose to lead as best I can in my role. Im big on posture, attitude, and mental toughness. So when were in a dogfight or the other team goes on a run, I want to be the one, choose to be one of those guys who makes sure everyone is alright and were staying together. We need to continue to play through adversity and play for one another.

CD: Whats been the most significant on-court adjustment for you so far in terms of transitioning to play at this level?

JT: Definitely the speed. Right now my shot isnt falling like I want it to. Im a shooter but Im not making enough shots right now because of the speed. Im sped up at times. That just comes with practice and shooting game reps. Ill get used to that and things will come naturally.

CD: When we spoke over the summer you talked about having tight hips defensively and needing to work on that. How would you assess your play defensively so far and how youre coming along?

JT: I think Im playing pretty good defense. I still need to stay in front of my man and not let them take me off the dribble, but Ive gotten a lot better since Ive been there on the defensive side. Our strength and conditioning coach, Chase [Campbell], helps us a lot with our lateral movement and movement in general, so thats been big for me.

CD: If this Nicholls State team is 11th in their league, Ill be shocked. Theyre a physical, veteran, team. Can you reflect on this win tonight?

JT: This is a big W for us because we want to go to Jamaica coming off a win. We dont want to sulk. And theyre a great team that will do very well in their conference. It will help us out in the long run.

CD: What do you see your role as for this team as we sit here right now?

JT: An energy guy. I have to come in, provide energy, crash the boards, and have to do everything I can to help the team win. Whether scoring, rebounding, playing defense I need to be an energy guy on and off the floor.

CD: Because of your athleticism, youve quickly become a fan favorite. You must like that, right?

JT: Yeah, its nice [smiles].

CD: You made two really solid, underrated decisions tonight leading directly to six points for your team. One was in the first half where you shook a defender off the dribble at the top of the key and found Mekhi Long for a three-pointer. And the next was in the second half where you penetrated from the right wing, had an opportunity to throw up a runner or something similar but instead whipped it cross court to the left wing to Fatts Russell who connected from deep. Can you take us through those possessions and your decision-making?

JT: Im big on sharing the ball and always want to look for my teammates. If I dont believe that I have a good opportunity to score then I try to make the right basketball play. On those plays, I saw what made the most sense and made the pass.

CD: Whats your greatest, early learning that youve taken from the upperclassmen?

JT: Definitely mental toughness. Were always trying to move forward to next play, next possession, as coach always tells us. Thats big to be able to control your frustrations and focus on the next play.

CD: Finally, what are your thoughts on the upcoming trip to, and games in, Jamaica?

JT: Ive never been out of the country, so Im excited. Im excited to play great competition thats just going to make us better and to experience being in another country.

CATCH MANHATTAN @ URI, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 AT 4PM ON YURVIEW, COX CHANNEL 4 IN RHODE ISLAND.

Chris DiSano, is an Atlantic 10 television analyst and writer. He has served as the host of A-10 Live! at Mens Basketball Media Day and founded the former College Chalktalk. DiSano, who was named an NBC Sports top Atlantic 10 basketball follow, can be found on Twitter at @CDiSano44

More:
Toppin: Four Games and Already a Fan Favorite - yurview.com

Behind many rich, stimulating and vibrant legal careers lurks an undercurrent of suffering, with stress, anxiety and mental ill-health rife within all areas of the profession. With this in mind, Richard Collier, a professor of law and social theory at Newcastle University, told WTR why hes concerned for the mental health of a generation of lawyers, and what the industry can do to effectively improve employee wellbeing.

The body of research into the legal professions problems with mental health is growing. Colliers latest addition to it is a study funded by the charity Anxiety UK. Anxiety and Wellbeing Amongst Junior Lawyers: A Research Study documents the findings from interviews with people who have under five years of post-qualification experience. It raises questions about how law firms respond to evidence of the complex relation between mental health and the workplace, the scale of poor lawyer wellbeing, the need to work in more efficient, effective and safer ways; and the greater willingness of young lawyers to be open about mental health issues.

Many of Colliers findings flesh out research carried out in the 2019 Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) Resilience and Wellbeing Survey. The JLD survey received 1,803 responses from UK lawyers, and produced alarming figures for the industry: high workloads, client demands and expectations caused 74% of respondents to regularly or occasionally feel stressed, causing experiences of disrupted sleep, anxiety, emotional upset and fatigue, negative and depressed thoughts, and self-harm. 14% of those experiencing mental ill-health reported experiencing suicidal thoughts.

The problem is rooted deep within the way our legal institutions work and how theyre failing to account for this growing issue. Exemplary of this, 78% of respondents thought their organisation could be doing more to provide support to employees.

More than one problem

Although the two reports focus on junior lawyers, Collier is quick to note how widespread the issue is across all demographics. We cant generalise in discussing the laws wellbeing problem. The specific issues relating to corporate firms (working hours, etc) can be very different from in-house and high-street firms, or legal aid lawyers. He continues: It is also important to remember our individual experiences of wellbeing can be shaped by boundaries of age, gender, sexuality, class, ethnicity, race, and stage of career and so on (and as the JLD research shows, some distinctive pressures can face early career solicitors).

Despite problems as myriad as the people they affect, tracing a narrative of the issues is not an insurmountable task. Whilst theres no one problem, there are shared themes across the community. Concerns about stigma around mental health issues, the importance of speaking out and being supported when they do, issues about work life, long hours, the competitive culture, even the personality attributes of lawyers: the particular kinds of insecure overachievers and perfectionists its been suggested that the career attracts. And perhaps especially the impact here of the dominant form of billing of much legal work.

On the surface, it seems that issues of mental ill-health at work are being prioritised like never before. Its almost impossible to get through a day without interacting with a volley of wellness initiatives. Meditation, yoga and wellness breaks frequently show up in the language of committee action in big city firms. These are good signs, Collier believes, because the culture around mental health is tangibly changing.

However, Collier is sceptical how universal a salve the wellness trend is. When wellness is prioritised, the onus is often shifted onto the employee and their capability for resilience. The focus is on individuals to change what theyre doing themselves, which is quite limited. Theres going to be kickback from individuals who dont need to see a mindfulness poster but need a change of work culture. Thats where conversations about billing, the dominant culture, and also mens dominance at upper levels in the profession start to appear.

These solutions couldnt come soon enough. In Colliers research, hes come across countless examples of people struggling to match the demands of the job with their lives. Why does this matter? The health of lawyers should be a concern for society. If you scratch the surface of the data, he says, you realise theres a lot of suffering out there. To recognise the need for cultural change does not mean the many initiatives that have been introduced to support lawyers are unwelcome. Were also not saying that a career as a lawyer isnt incredibly rewarding, personally, intellectually, and certainly financially for some at least. But Collier is still adamant that the profession needs a serious rethink.

At the heart of many issues is stigma. Long hours cause lawyers to lose a work-life balance while feeling unable to speak out to their personal needs, regularly due to the same refrain. Although some will say its just part of the package deal you buy into, more and more arent accepting that, perhaps especially junior lawyers; there is a generational change taking place in attitudes to wellbeing and mental health Collier says. Theres lots of evidence that for all the potentially high financial rewards in some areas, there can be other sides to an outwardly successful career.

Intersection of gender

While flexible working schemes are now showing up at the big firms, many others still lag behind. The intersection of gender is unavoidable at this point from the conversation. Taking wellbeing seriously entails engaging men given their continued dominance at upper echelons in providing leadership, speaking out about their own experiences, in driving this agenda forward; this is why the recent turn to better engaging men in gender equality is so significant. Collier notes. Theres still gender disparity at the top of the profession. You have to talk about men and how the men at the top of this culture need to change.

In fact, acceptance of the status quo is one of the first things Collier wants to challenge. The danger is, if you dont address this, youre going to lose a lot of good lawyers, and traditionally it has been more women are leaving the profession in this equation than men. More women (63%) reported mental ill-health had a negative impact on their physical health than men (50%) in the JLD study.

However, to think that these issues disproportionately affect women in the profession would be myopic. The JLD study also found a higher proportion of men (20%) suffering suicidal thoughts than women (12%). One of Colliers other focuses is on the way men exist in the legal profession. Hes extensively researched the ways mens attitude to fatherhood has evolved over time, from a simple breadwinner character to someone that wants to be present in their childrens lives.

Collier relates a typical comment from a study he did on fathers at major law firms: Some see it as the costs of the package deal of this life. I didnt see the boys grow up, but Ive got the big car and the big house. Yet many are finding this trade-off to be deeply unsatisfying. All the more reason for the model to change, particularly at the top: The equality, diversity and inclusion aspect is not talked about enough in relation to the wellbeing debate, he says.

Rethinking mental health and the workplace

Tackling stigma at the top of law firms has been the focus of a number of excellent campaigns. The Green Ribbon campaign, for example, saw law firms such as Freshfields don ribbons to indicate they or someone they knew had experienced mental ill-health. Elsewhere, mental health charity LawCare launched This is Me in 2016 to open up a dialogue for major industry personalities to talk about their experiences with mental health. Firms that have taken part include Baker & McKenzie, CMS, Herbert Smith Freehills, Hogan Lovells and Linklaters.

Campaigns such as these are good steps, but Collier argues structural change with wellness in mind is still necessary. You have to go beyond ticking the box, as the danger is wellbeing is just another measure that the universities and firms use. If it becomes a box ticking exercise, youre not changing the structures or key aspects of the causes of the problems in the first place. He adds, Its about rethinking the relationship between mental health and the workplace. Its raising fundamental questions about what being a good lawyer and employer is.

One of the areas in need of change, and identified by Colliers research, is manager training. Theres a key role for management. They need support themselves too. Many seem to be struggling. Support networks need to be set up for all lawyers as well as adequate education on the issues.

Traditionalists may worry that paradigmatic shifts in how the legal professions works sound nice, but dont consider the fundamental demands of the job. Its a valid concern law likely will always be a career more demanding than most. For this reason, the Mindful Business Charter was established. A collaboration between major banks and law firms, signing up to the charter indicates a firms awareness that the profession has high demands, but that measures need to be taken to mitigate any unnecessary sources of stress. Firms already signed up include Pinsent Masons, Ashurst, Clifford Chance and Simmons & Simmons.

The legal landscape is changing, and Collier is hopeful that a generational shift will see increasing change. However, one argument that he is particular to rail against is preluding these necessary changes with an appeal to the economic benefit. Although studies and research do support wellness schemes, diversity and inclusion policies, and work-life balance as financially valuable to firms, theres a risk it can then be de-prioritised were it ever proven to not make financial sense. Theres a bottom-line argument about the economic benefit. Collier says. But theres also an ethical argument here. Tackling wellbeing because its the right thing to do, he urges.

Colliers current research, funded by a fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust, will see him speak to members of the legal community for a project called Wellbeing, Law and Society: Policy Practice and Politics A Socio-Legal Study. He is also writing a book for Cambridge University Press on wellbeing in the profession.

For anyone feeling affected by issues raised in this piece, LawCares helpline can be reached at +44 0800 279 6888 from 9am 5:30pm Monday to Friday. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email[emailprotected]or[emailprotected]. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org.

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There's a lot of suffering out there leading academic warns of the legal profession's mental health problem - World Trademark Review

By: Lubaba Mahmud, Staff Writer

Diversity at SFU is not only represented in community events and in classrooms its found in the universitys sports scene too! For students looking to diversify their campus athletics experience, look no further than the SFU Kendo Club.

The SFU Kendo Club practices two forms of traditional Japanese martial arts: kendo and iaido. The club is active all year round and welcomes both experienced martial artists and beginners. Membership is not just limited to students, either, as members of the general public can join too.

Founded by Hirokazu Okusa (7th-dan), the SFU Kendo Club had a humble beginning in 2001 with only seven members. In kendo and iaido, dan refers to rank, with 8th-dan being the highest grade attainable. In 2010, an iaido component was added to the club under the leadership of Sandra Jorgenson (6th-dan) and Hirokazu Okusa. The iaido classes, according to the SFU Kendo Clubs website, focus on the Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei style and the Muso Shinden style.

For readers unfamiliar with kendo, its purpose is to guide improved health of both the body and mind through a disciplined routine of practice with a sword. According to the clubs website, it focuses on the following three components: the way of the body how to hold the sword, the way of the sword how to execute a strike at the right moment, and the way of the mind the correct mental attitude.

Similarly, the term iaido literally means, the path to finding harmony in any situation in which one finds oneself. The clubs website explains that, to practice, the student sits or stands quietly, draws out a blade, and cuts through the air, all in one motion. While this may create a false perception to the casual observer that the sport is easy to practice, iaido actually requires a great level of concentration to make precise motions with the sword.

Today, the club boasts a large membership, consisting of many dedicated swordsmen/swordswomen (kenshi) who regularly represent SFU in competitions. Members participate in an annual tournament with UBC and the University of Victoria, as well as other events through the British Columbia Kendo Federation and Canadian Kendo Federation. With their sister club, the University of British Columbia Kendo Club, the group also makes annual trips to Kelowna for training camp (gasshuku).

If youre interested in joining, the SFU Kendo Club accepts new members in January, May, and September. They hold a trial week on the second or third week of each semester, during which students can give either kendo or iaido a shot free of charge. If you have some experience in kendo, and have the requisite protective equipment (bogu), you can contact them to inquire about joining the club at other times as well.

Semesterly fees include a program registration fee of $74 and a $5 club fee. For your first training sessions, a bamboo sword (shinai) can be purchased from the club at a cost of $35. After the first semester, students are asked to purchase their uniform (hakama and kendogi), which costs approximately $100. The bogu can only be worn after permission is given by the instructor, and can range from $350 to $500 for a starter set.

For more information, visit the SFU Kendo Clubs website, email them at sfukendo@gmail.com, or contact them through their SFU Kendo Facebook Group.

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Strengthen your mind and body with the SFU Kendo Club - The Peak

A teacher whose job sent her mental health spiralling had to fork out hundreds of dollars for a therapist because her school wasn't signed up to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

The 32-year-old Aucklander, who does not want to be identified, said her school wasn't open to the idea that teachersmight need external mental health support.

"There was an attitude that said 'if we advertise the fact that we're supporting staff then we're creating a culture of weakness being acceptable'," she said.

Instead, she was left to battle anxiety and intense feelings of guilt and insecurity alone.

READ MORE:*Teacher mental health suffers amid shortage crisis*Burnout main reason for primary and secondary teachers leaving profession*Teachers learn calming techniques to combat stress

"Having a panic attack in front of students is super ugly," she said.

Her days turned into a game of clock-watching, holding it together until the bell rangand then crashing. It affected her teaching "terribly", she said.

LAWRENCE SMITH/STUFF

An Auckland teacher says schools should provide external mental health support.

She confided in her manager, but theynever checked back in, she said. Anti-anxiety medication from her GP didn't touch the sides.

Teaching was a "really, really hard job to be weak in", she said, as teachers were expected to be rational authority figures.

Teachers were also competitive about who had it worse, she said, whether that was the longest hours, the biggest class or the tallest stack of marking.

That was rampant at her school, where she said teachers were expected to strive for unachievable targets while receiving little praise or encouragement.

"There's this idea, if I struggle and if I suffer and if I endure, then I've achieved something," she said.

JOHN BISSET/STUFF

Teacher wellbeing was one of the priorities fro striking teachers.

When shewanted to ask for help, school counsellorswerethe only option available. But she knew them, and they knew the people who she said were part of the problem.

"The idea that you can see your school support team for anything to do with work anxiety is ridiculous," she said.

So she found a private therapistat $160 a session. She had only been able to afford three sessions.

She said if EAP had been available, it "would have made the process of finding support [...]a lot quicker and smoother".

Therapy had proved incredibly helpful, she said. Her therapist had given her tools for maintaining positive relationships with her students and acting rationally when things seemed overwhelming.

They were skills that benefited her students, so she questioned why the school wasn't willing to support teachers to seek help.

An Official Information Act request to schools in Auckland revealed 10 per cent of secondary schools werenot signed up to an EAP programme.

Jack Boyle, President of the Post-Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA), said while there wasn't a black and white requirement for schools to sign up to EAP, they had a requirement to provide a safe working environment, which includes mental wellbeing.

Requiring teachers to go through internal procedures to get help created "arbitrary and unnecessary barriers" to support, he said.

All schools should provide EAP, he said, and one of PPTA's recommendations was for theMinistry of Education to have a single EAP contract to which all schools were signed up.

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Auckland teacher says job sent her mental health spiralling, but her school wouldn't help - Stuff.co.nz

Have you ever thought of quitting your life? Almost all of us would have had thought about killing ourselves in certain situations. Suicidal behavior is evident in humans throughout history. It has always been a global concern.

Research shows that about 10 lakh people attempted suicide last year, out of which 8 lakh people have died. Data reveals that only 10% were impulsive suicides, and the remaining 90% are planned suicides. Further, studies have found that only 30% of people kill themselves due to psychological issues, and the remaining 70% were due to situational problems. It is also the second leading cause of death among adolescents.

Even the slightest knowledge about suicidal behavior or its symptoms can help us in preventing suicide.

How to identify suicidal behavior?

Researchers have emphasized an acronym to provide a crisp overview of the possible symptoms for suicidal behavior:

IS PATH WARM

I Ideation: Suicidal ideation is the conception of thoughts about quitting life, or planning to commit suicide. And this thought predominantly occupies the mind inducing suicidal behavior.

S Substance abuse: The relationship between substance use and suicide is an unending affair. Individuals see substance as a way to numb their pain and overcome depression. But the same behavior stands as a threat to the lives. Most individuals deliberately intoxicate themselves to take their life.

P Purposelessness: Risks of suicide increases with the loss of purpose of life. Someone who thinks who has lost the meaning of life or the reason to live is susceptible to killing oneself.

A Anxiety: Anxiety disorders are complex psychological problems. Anyone undergoing major depression or experiencing mental illness are more likely to lose the strength and attitude towards life. It often paves the way for suicide attempts.

T Trapped: Feeling of being entrapped in a tough situation or a complicated problem, and thinking of there is no way out of it except death.

H Hopelessness: This is closely associated with the entrapment phase. The act of losing hope on life and consistent worries about the future provokes the person to take his/her life.

W Worthlessness: Persistent thoughts of doubting their self-worth and feeling as if their life has no significance in the world. Considering themselves as a burden to family, and merely comparing themselves to nonentities.

A Anger: Anger is the root cause of many problems. Likewise, uncontrollable anger results in the impulsive thoughts of ending life.

R Recklessness: Involving in activities without bothering about the consequences. People with high reckless behavior are much impulsive towards committing suicides.

M Mood Swings: Sudden mood changes such as lingering between extreme happiness and sorrow, exhibiting perpetual sadness, and disinterest in life.

Apart from the above signs, Aloofness, withdrawal from friends and family, exhibiting dramatic changes in character, appearance, and attitude are possible signs of suicidal behavior.

There are enormous reasons that amount to killing oneself. However, Anger issues and substance are found to be the common reasons for suicide attempts in men. In women, the debacles they face in their day to day life induces suicidal thoughts.

Prevention:

Suicide is inhibitable. Yet we lose a life to self-destruction every 40 seconds. People with suicidal thoughts are always seeking out for help in some way. They even consciously make some unsuccessful suicide attempts to send a signal to their friends and family.

How to help them?

Converse: A modicum of compassion, empathy, emotional support, and care could inhibit someone from attempting suicide. Spending some time to talk with a suicidal person is the best way to help them. WHO, in association with IASP, encourages everyone to spend 40 seconds of their time to initiate a conversation to show concern over someones life. It is a way of showing people they are not alone, which could drag someone away from suicide.

Counseling: In some situations, People tend to suffer despite the emotional support. In such cases, only trained mental health professionals such as psychological counselors could help them. Find a therapist. While looking for the right therapist, Counsellors listed on Three Best Rated are known to be reliable. Attending counseling sessions helps to find a way out of suicidal thoughts.

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Spend 40 seconds to save a life - Thrive Global

US President Donald Trump launched a Twitter attack on a former US ambassador to Ukraine on Friday while she was testifying during impeachment hearings against him.

Marie Yovanovitch, the third witness in the televised hearings, testified while the president tweeted against her, reports foreign policy expert Brooks Spector.

Yovanovitch was a career diplomat who fought against corruption in Ukraine. She was recalled by Trump earlier this year.

Spector says Trump's Twitter tirade is indicative of his inability to tolerate criticism from women.

When two male diplomats testified before Yovanovitch last week, Trump "didn't do a thing", Spector explains.

There she is on Friday giving her testimony in her calm, reasonable and measured tone... As we are watching this, the crawler at the bottom of the screen there's been a Twitter attack on her by Donald Trump.

He didn't do a thing on Wednesday when two male diplomats testified... the moment there was a female diplomat doing this, off he went on a tangent. He went at her.

You have to wonder just how symptomatic of his mental workings this is... He cannot stand criticism by a woman of confidence and knowledge who just stands up to him by virtue of what she says.

The impeachment hearings are centred on Trump's request that Ukraine investigate political opponent Joe Biden.

Spector predicts that things are only going to get worse for Trump, with at least six witnesses expected to testify this week.

Listen to the latest developments on Today with Kieno Kammies:

This article first appeared on CapeTalk : 'Trump's Twitter attack on impeachment witness shows his attitude towards women'

Continued here:
'Trump's Twitter attack on impeachment witness shows his attitude towards women' - 702

THE brother of a man who went missing in Cork to be found a month later in London has recalled the "horrendous tale" in new book for charity.

Ronan Baxter made headlines across Ireland and the UK when he disappeared from his father's home- but was discovered weeks later in London in 2005.

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Spearheading the campaign to find Ronan were his family, including brother Ciaran, an accountant, who has written a book about the ordeal.

Ronan has depression and schizophrenia and left his home with some money, his bank book and a bus pass.

With no passport, he managed to catch a flight from Cork Airport to Heathrow - staying in London without his medication.

Speaking to Ryan Tubridy on RTE Radio One, Ciaran recalled the panic when they realised Ronan - who they assumed had taken a weekend trip to Dublin - was not coming home.

He said: "The initial reaction when he walked out the front door that day, he was an adult, he was 39 years of age, the immediate reaction is, look, hes going to come back.

"Hes only gone to Dublin for the weekend, he had a bus pass, he didnt have a passport so our immediate reaction was hell be back.

"By the end of the first week, we realised we had a serious problem, he wasnt coming home."

Ciaran then sprung to action printing posters and finding contacts in the gardai through family friends.

After a front page story in the Cork Echo, two weeks later a man contacted the guards to say he had seen Ronan in the airport and despite already checking CCTV footage, the man was right.

Ciaran and his family had to make the decision to contact the media for help on the matter - originally worried about public reaction due to the stigma of mental health issues.

He explained: "It was horrendous to be quite honest with you, because we were bringing our family story out into the public domain and said look, here we are, theres nothing we can do and we need your help.

He added: "It was as if the floodgates had opened.

"I think theres a stigma in this country, and in all countries around mental health.

"We had posted posters all over the city about Ronan, lots of people knew our story, lots of people knew we were looking for Ronan."

Despite their worries, Ciaran revealed that the media coverage allowed people to talk with the family about Ronan and offerhelp.

He said: "Once it went out in the media, once it was front page news, the floodgates opened and people came to us offering help, it was as if it was then okay to approach us and talk about it."

Ciaran revealed that when in London, they got a helping hand from a Kerry man in Scotland Yard and the family had to report Ronan missing to each individual police station.

Working day in and day out without sleep, he explained: "You don't sleep when this happens, you're waiting for dawn, you're waiting for light to come so you can start again."

After a front page piece in a London paper, Ronan was spotted and the brothers were reunited.

Ronan said: "He broke down, completely broke down and we broke down too to be honest with you.

"I think we plucked him from the abyss.

"That was the attitude we had going, we said, were going to go in there, were going to get him and were going to bring him home."

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Ciaran has written a book on the fantastic story of their families search and rescue of Ronan, with his full consent, named Bring Him Home: The Search for Ronan.

All proceeds made from the book will be donated to Cork Penny Dinners with Ciaran explaining organisations like them are "the real heroes of Irish society today".

He finished: "It's an Irish story, It's a true story, with a happy ending."

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Originally posted here:
Cork man recounts horrendous ordeal of mentally ill brother going missing for month before turning up in Lon - The Irish Sun

Commuting can be annoying and tedious yet many of us do it twice a day. Research has found that commuting can lower mood, heighten stress levels, and have a spillover effect. In other words, our commutes can impact how we perform and feel at work, at home, and in other facets of our lives. Its no wonder employees are seeking out more flexible work schedules or, at the very least, ways to make their morning and evening journeys less irritating and more productive.

We asked members of the Thrive community to share their tips for optimizing their commute time. Their strategies may even make you want to take the long way home.

Take a trip down memory lane

I dont have long commutes every day, but on the days I do, I like to scroll through pictures of my kids and loved ones. I take my favorites and write a little note about why they are memorable moments for me. Once a month, I batch all the pics, print them, and mail people the pictures with my memory note. Many times, I dont even need to mail them. I just leave the picture and notes on the kitchen table for my kids and husband to see in the morning.

Anjali Bindra Patel, lawyer, McLean, VA

Set a positive attitude

My commute is approximately 40 minutes each way by car. The usual suspects traffic, rude drivers, people driving at parade-float speed dont rattle me because I begin my day by setting a positive mental attitude. What we put into our minds manifests into the world. I fill my commute with podcasts, too. Dr. Tony Evans Impact Theory podcast and The Vic Feazell Show are some of my go-to sources for mental stimulation. By spending my drive time productively, Im ready to face my challenging work day with calm energy.

John Harrell, author and inspirational speaker, Austin, TX

Journal about the day ahead

Each morning on the subway, I journal. I get out any anxious feelings I have about the day ahead, reflect on all the things I am grateful for, and put down a mantra to repeat when things get stressful. My commute is an hour, and its all me time.

Lindsey Benoit OConnell, editor, New York, NY

Dive into a good book

My previous job was demanding. Besides long working hours, my commute was a long, arduous one. I spent a total of two hours a day on the bus. At first, I would aimlessly skim through my Facebook newsfeed a mindless activity just to pass the time. After a while, I realized I had to spend my time doing something more productive. I started downloading novels to my mobile phone, and I am proud to say that throughout that year, I read 25 books. I would say 90 percent of them were read on the bus. Reading made me look forward to my commute, because I wanted to know what happened next.

Basma Fawzy, freelance writer, Alexandria, Egypt

Find your inspiration

My biggest advice is to focus your thoughts and attention on what gives you inspiration and pushes you to thrive. For more than two years, I would take a train on Monday mornings at 6:30 for over three hours. Reading inspirational books about entrepreneurship and listening to business podcasts helped lift my mood after such a long train ride.

Diogne Ntirandekura, information technology consulting, Montral, QC, Canada

Throw on your favorite podcast

Depending on my mood, music or a podcast can save my commute. I have learned so much from the podcasts I subscribe to they make me look forward to hopping in my car. The first podcast I listened to was The Thrive Global Podcast. I was having a hard time in my job, and Arianna and her guests made it better by offering tools to deal with extreme burnout. I eventually left my job and did not look back. One guest on the Thrive podcast, Maria Menounos, really made an impact on me, so I started to listen to her podcast, Better Together With Maria Menounos, and I now look forward to Mondays!

Cristina Daniels, program manager, Woodland, CA

Set a soundtrack

I have an hour-long commute to work, so Im in the car for at least two hours every day. My best strategies for making this time pass is putting on a great soundtrack and carpooling when I can. Find a radio station with promising music that you can jam out to, or create your own on a site like Spotify or Pandora. My husband and I carpool and take turns driving, so neither of us becomes burned out, and we actually get to spend some quality time together this way.

Emily Woodruff, assistant project manager, Deford, MI

Connect with yourself

For me, commuting is a time to connect with myself. Its a time and place where theres minimal distraction that allows me to think about areas of life that need my attention, or just de-stress. By the time I reach my destination, I have solved at least one or two of my mental dilemmas.

Aakriti Agarwal, coach and facilitator, Hyderabad, India

Prep on the way there, unwind on the way back

I am blessed to be able to work from home most days, though one day a week, usually on Mondays, I go to a client site that is 90 minutes away. I use the time to do calls and mentally plan my week. On the way home, I turn up the music and spend the time completely letting go of the day. It is pure bliss!

Cindy J., executive search and HR consultant, Boston, MA

Rediscover storytelling through audiobooks

I have fallen in love with audiobooks! Unless Im on vacation, Ill usually read non-fiction personal growth books. I used to love reading fiction books, but struggled to find the time over the last few years then I found Audible. Now, I fill my commute with the works of my favorite fiction mystery and thriller writers. I cant wait to get in the car and hit play!

Tammie Kip, author, Toronto, Canada

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How to Make the Most of Your Morning and Evening Commutes - Thrive Global