Barbara Decker’s Post

If your loved one’s behavior has you dazed and confused Do you feel lost trying to help your loved one through their addiction or mental illness? Does it seem like no matter what you do, it's either not enough or somehow makes things even worse? Are you scared that you won't be able to reach them before things spiral out of control? Always worried about the “worst case scenario”? If so, please know you’re not alone. I've been where you are. As have countless other women. I tried everything I could think of to help my son, but nothing seemed to work. I was at my wits' end and knew I needed a fresh perspective. So, I decided to buck convention. Rather than trying to control or change their behavior, I focused on understanding and dealing with it. Plenty of people thought it was a waste of time. That I was going down a long, slow road to nowhere. Yet years later, Eric chose recovery in 2018. Our relationship has blossomed since then, and we’re closer than ever. He even helps me with the tech side of the work we do to support women who are ready to learn a new way to love. A way that doesn’t trigger the disease and gets right to the heart of things. Want to know how I did it? Read about Mind Diseases and how you can finally give your loved one the support they need: https://lnkd.in/es4ncxXB Or register to watch our newest free workshop — Empathetic Engagement. It’s available to watch right now, or choose a time that works for you and we’ll send you a reminder: https://lnkd.in/eAJrY4mT I genuinely hope it offers as much solace and understanding to your family as it did mine. Make sure to find a pocket of joy in your day, you absolutely deserve it! Barbara 🙏 #HopeAfterAddiction #SupportForRecovery #loveanotherway

🎈 Every Balloon Represents a Life Missed, Every Birthday Uncelebrated 🎈 Child suicide is a heart-wrenching reality that often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. Today, I attended a powerful exhibition where each balloon symbolises a precious child who lost their life to suicide — a reminder of every birthday they never got to celebrate. This exhibition is more than just a visual representation; it’s a call to action. Each balloon floats not just as a symbol of loss, but as a plea for awareness, compassion, and change. It urges us to listen more, to be kinder, and to take mental health seriously from the youngest ages. 💔 We can’t bring back the children we’ve lost, but we can fight to ensure others don’t follow. Let’s use this visual as a stark reminder: Check in on the kids in your life, be the safe space they need, and advocate for mental health resources in our schools and communities. Together, we can make sure these balloons remain symbols of hope, not loss. #ChildSuicideAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #EveryLifeCounts

Men, let's talk about the art of responsibility, of being present, and of lending a hand when it's needed most. In this portrait, we see a younger man, perhaps struggling in waters of life, desperate for guidance, for support. Yet, what strikes the heart is the figure of an older man, seemingly unmoved by the distress unfolding before him, doing nothing as the younger one struggles against the currents.Or maybe just worrying about how to assist. This artwork serves as a mirror reflecting the harsh reality of our society, where countless individuals find themselves drowning in the depths of various challenges – be it mental health issues, financial troubles, or personal crises. And in these moments of vulnerability, they often look to those who are older, wiser, more experienced, hoping for a lifeline, a word of encouragement, or simply a compassionate presence. But what happens when those we expect to help us remain passive, indifferent, or oblivious to our struggles? The consequences can be devastating, leaving scars that may never fully heal. It's a reminder that age does not automatically confer wisdom or empathy, and that true masculinity is not measured by stoic indifference but by the willingness to extend a hand, to listen, to empathize, and to take action when it's within our power to do so. So, let this artwork serve as a call to action for all men – young and old – to cultivate a culture of empathy, compassion, and responsibility. Let's not be bystanders in the lives of those around us, but active participants in their journey, ready to offer support, guidance, and love when they need it most. After all, it's not just about saving someone from drowning; it's about lifting each other up, one compassionate act at a time. #mentalhealthawarenessmonth

June is dedicated to #MensHealthMonth, but we proudly stand in solidarity with our community year-round, committed to lifting the veil and reshaping public perception about men's physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.💙 For too long, men seeking health care has been a topic of shame to be shelved or buried until it becomes too serious to ignore. Rather than "toughen up" or "pull up your bootstraps," we're encouraging all men and their loved ones to take that first, second, third, seventh step, especially concerning depression, substance abuse, and suicide. Because, we'll say it as many times as we need to before you believe — seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Let's make men's health a priority, today and every day. #EndTheStigma #MentalHealthMatters #YouNeedToHearThis #JFlowersHealthInstitute #SeekHelp #TakeTheFirstStep #SuicidePrevention #Addiction #SubstanceAbuse

Invisible struggles should not lead to invisible solutions. Today, countless children and young people are waiting months – sometimes even years – for the mental health support they desperately need. For every day they wait, the impact on their lives and futures deepens. This isn’t just a problem; it’s a crisis. We believe it’s time to do more than talk about the mental health gap – it’s time to close it. On #WorldMentalHealthDay we’re shining a light on what’s hidden: the long waiting lists, the lack of accessible support, and the silence that too many families endure. But awareness isn’t enough – we’re taking action to bring care to those who need it now. Our first step? Eradicating queues for children and young people needing help. Through radical transparency, technology and collaboration, we’re fighting to transform how mental health support is accessed. This is more than a campaign. It’s a movement to build a world where every young person receives the care they deserve, without delay. We stand for #CareNotQueues. This is bigger than us, Kry. It’s about rewriting the future of mental health for an entire generation. 💜 Join us in making the invisible visible, and let’s demand better. https://www.kry.se/osynlig #MentalHealth #HealthcareInnovation #InvisibleMovement With thanks to media partners Bonnier News HD-Sydsvenskan Expressen Dagens Nyheter who are starting the conversation with us today. Login to the news sites today and find out more.

Time to make a difference. Our now is our next. With so many children, and families, waiting too long for mental health support we need to ask ourselves whether traditional services are leaving children behind? If we were to redesign mental health support today for our future generations what would access look like? Digital fluent young people represent a third (33%) of the UK population, yet they are expected to access frontline GP services in the same way as their parents and grandparents. Is it time we changed this? #carenotqueues #worldmentalhealthday #WMHD2024

Sometime I Feel… Want an excellent book full of fabulous feeling words to help you talk to your kids about what’s going on in their world just now? Yes? Then read on Macduff! Sometimes I Feel… is a book I wrote especially to help adults help children give words to their feelings. Reading together is a great way to start conversations with children that otherwise might’ve felt alien or inappropriate. Stories give opportunities to have safe conversations about tricky stuff - if it’s ’just a story’, being read with a trusted adult in a safe place, there’s little to no risk for the child to speak openly. There’s no question we need to talk to our children about what’s happening in their communities right now - the good AND the bad - but deep-rooted cultural racism isn’t an easy topic to discuss, even with sentient adults! Sometimes I Feel… offers children and their adults lots of child-friendly words to describe their feelings - I expect most of us could identify with feeling ‘spiky’ or ‘fizzy’ just now as easily as we can identify with feeling shocked and horrified. PLEASE talk to your kids about the current situation in the UK, they need to know, in an age-appropriate way, what is going on and why it’s unacceptable. What they’re witnessing is traumatic and the antidote to trauma is connection. What better and quicker way is there to connect with children than to read with them? If you’d like some help from the Feelie Beans to do this, you can buy the book here: https://lnkd.in/e-wmgzne Happy Darn Thursday LinkedIn 💙 Sometimes I Feel… is illustrated by Gary Nightingale Creative

You can make a difference. Many people believe they aren't successful enough to share their story or feeling embarrassed by others' opinions. To them, I say: just do it. Instead of waiting for change, seize the opportunity to catalyse positive transformation in your community 💪 Whether, like me, your passion is breaking taboos around grief, loss and cancer, or for you it might be advocating for mental health, supporting youth, or other life experiences you have gone through. You can use your voice to make a difference. These actions create a ripple effect that have the power to motivate people and to inspire the next generation 🌍 Personally, I'm committed to helping those affected by cancer and grief. Through my book, speaking engagements, workshops, grieving walks and my social media advocacy to dismantle these taboos because every effort matters, no matter how big or small. If you're passionate about creating change together or have ideas to dismantle these taboos on grief, loss and cancer, let's talk. #MakeADifference #SocialImpact #MariskaJourney #BreakTheTaboo #MentalHealthAwareness

I once heard this idea that within a suicidal person, there are two parts of a whole: one that loves, which is inborn, and one that hates, which grows with time. Yes, like the guarding angel and the uninvited demon, each sitting on the shoulder and giving advice. Fighting over the immortal human soul until one of them wins. Sounds very Biblical, yet it was said by a crisis counselor working on a suicide hotline. Who’d seen some shit going down. And it’s not that far from the truth, by the way. Introjection, as a defense mechanism, enables us to adopt what comes from our significant others, be it good or bad. Eventually, it turns into — using the concepts of Eric Berne’s transactional analysis — our inner Parent. Now, imagine if a biological parent was ever-criticizing, ever-blaming, ever-gaslighting, and ever-abusing? Something like this never goes away. It stays because this is the only way for a child to survive in such an environment and keep being in a relationship — to merge with the aggressor. Who’s — I remind you — a parental figure at the same time. Over time, a child grows up. The Parent does, too. Ever-hateful and ever-attacking. Eventually, it gets so big that there is no escape. Except for death. Anything not to hear that voice in your head, repeating that — let’s say, for example, — you’ll never be any more than a piece of shit. As a result, a child commits what their parent didn’t have the balls to do — murder. As in — finishes the job started by the parent. “Can it be prevented?” many would ask. I think the better question is, can we butt in between the child and the Parent in their head? Isolate the Parent and show a whole new world to the child where there is hope, love, and whatever else is needed. Until it’s too late. #suicide #suicideprevention #socialpsychology #mentalhealth #crisisnegotiations

Understanding your family health history is like having a roadmap to your well-being. It provides invaluable insights into potential health risks and enables proactive measures for a healthier future. Don't underestimate the power of knowing where you come from—it could save your life. Here are a few questions you can use to get started [begin with your grandparents, parents, and siblings]: 1️⃣ Are there any chronic illnesses or health conditions that run in our family? 2️⃣ Have any family members experienced significant medical events or surgeries? 3️⃣ Are there any patterns of mental health issues or substance abuse in our family history? #familyhealthhistory #healthandwellness #generationalwellness #healthequity #workplacewellness