Note from Mary...

Yesterday, I sent you a profoundly transformational movie about the Power of Acknowledgment to not only transform lives, but possibly to save lives.

This short movie has been viewed millions of times. I have watched this movie several times each month, and every time I do, I still get hit in the gut with a sense of urgency to reach more and more people.

If you have already seen it, I invite you to watch it again and then reach out to whoever comes to mind who could use a word of encouragement from you. If you missed it yesterday, please turn on your speakers and "take 5" to watch now at: www.AcknowledgmentMovie.com

We welcome you to use this movie and Acknowledgment Ceremony in whatever ways will be of greatest service to your community. It is our hope that this movie positively impact as many lives as possible.

I am writing today to ask that you join me in making a highly personal commitment to Making a Positive Difference this year; to make it a point to reach out each and every day to acknowledge a minimum of 3 people, so neither you or I will ever have to feel the pain of being "too late"... because we just never know when someone needs what we could offer.

It's not my intention to be a downer this close to Valentines Day, but to be instead a motivator; to courage us ALL to be even more mindful about all those people who do not feel loved or believe that they matter to anyone, regardless of what "special" day we socially celebrate 2/14.

DID YOU KNOW?

· Suicide claims approximately 1 million lives worldwide each year, a rate of one suicide every 40 seconds.

· Suicide and suicidal behavior affects individuals of all ages, genders, races and religions across the planet.
According to https://www.nmha.org/go/suicide

· Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for more than 1% of all deaths.

· More years of life are lost to suicide than to any other single cause except heart disease and cancer.

· 30,000 Americans die by suicide each year; an additional 500,000 Americans attempt suicide annually.

· 30% to 40% of persons who complete suicide have made a previous attempt.

· The risk of completed suicide is more than 100 times greater than average in the first year after an attempt - 80 times greater for women, 200 times greater for men, 200 times greater for people over 45, and 300 times greater for white men over 65.

· Suicide rates are highest in old age: 20% of the population and 40% of suicide victims are over 60. After age 75, the rate is three times higher than average, and among white men over 80, it is six times higher than average.

· Substance abuse is another great instigator of suicide; it may be involved in half of all cases. About 20% of suicides involve people with alcohol problems, and the lifetime rate of suicide among people with alcohol-use problems is more than three times the average.

It is also important to know that:

No single therapeutic approach is suitable for all people considering suicide or suicidal tendencies. The most common ways to treat underlying illnesses associated with suicide are with medication, talk therapy or a combination of the two.

PREVENTION is about bringing transformational programs into our schools, places of work and churches that effectively build skills and much needed understanding to create a sense of community and belonging. KNOWING that we are here to Make A Difference is essential!

HEARTFELT ACKNOWELDGMENT IS THE KEY!

SO...In celebration of this story and the life it saved and the lives it has transformed over the past 30 years, I wanted to take a moment out of my day to let you know...

YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Reaching out...

Co-Creator of the Acknowledgment Movie
makeadifference.com/Acknowledgment

PS... Click Here and watch the Introduction Video and then click the UTRAIN® Program for Education graphic below the video.