During depression the world disappears. Language itself. One has nothing to say. Nothing. Kristin experienced this misery, yet still managed to touch many lives and even in death continues to help others find help for their depression.
The Kristin Brooks Hope Center was created to help those in crisis find help and hope immediately. The site and her story gives you a raw, personal glimpse into depression, and how it affects those around you. In addition, you will find the only clear, step-by-step path for you to follow out of the darkness. There is hope and you can feel happy again! If you need to speak with someone right now call: 1.800.SUICIDE (1.800.784.2433)
POSTSECRET FOUNDER TEAMS UP with RAZOO to SUPPORT IMAlive.org VIRTUAL CRISIS CENTER!
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Geoff Livingston of Razoo.com and Frank Warren founder of Postsecret.com present giant check for $40,000 to Imalive.org founders Elena and Reese Butler. This was the combined donations and prizes and matching grant from the DC Cares event on November 10th called DC Gives to the Max. To read the press release click here.
The gift of life is so fragile, and being destructive or hateful says that one doesn't appreciate that gift. This is the realization that dawned on Morrie Schwartz, leading to his conclusion that "love is the only rational act."
Last year a tragedy hit my home town - a one-year graduate of our high school took his own life midway through his first semester of college. I'll be the first to admit that I didn't know him well, but his was a personality that made everyone smile. I had seen him a week prior to the incident, and he was just as joyful as ever. He was a friend to all, and a brother to many. The grief was tremendous throughout my community, and strangely enough the love was as well. I only wonder why he couldn't see just how many people cared for him.
I don't know why he took his own life; only he knows that secret. What I do know is that suicide is never the answer. After his passing I always try to reach out to a friend in need, because I would never want my inaction to allow them to slip into a state of mind in which they see no other option. Even the slightest sign that they are going through a difficult time is reason enough for me to try helping them. Now, however, I realize that I can do more.
I wholeheartedly believe that every person on this planet bears the same value, whether it is by man-made measures or otherwise. Therefore, I feel that empathizing with someone is always possible. When I heard about IMAlive, I knew I had to do it. The existence of such an organization is wonderful, and once I found out that I could get involved, the choice was easy. What IMAlive stands for is something I absolutely agree with: there's no reason that anyone should ever feel alone. We are all sentient, we all know hardship. All we need to learn is how to reach out more.
We held the 10th anniversary Reason to Live concert in Boston featuring Blue October and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus to break stigmas associated with mental illness and suicide.
We held seven whole day Alive! Mental Health Fairs - our suicide prevention program at college campuses http://hopeline.com/alivemhf.html
We took second place in Chase Commuinity Giving Contest to launch our virtual crisis center IMAlive in partnership with TWLOHA and PostSecret
We held two Pick Up The Phone Suicide Prevention Tourswww.putp.org
- 17 city, 23 day Spring tour on the East Coast and
- 21 city, 43 day Fall tour on the West Coast Thank you, Blue October!
We held two Press Conferences on Capitol Hill with Postsecret Founder Frank Warren , TWLOHA Founder Jamie Tworkowski , 1-800-SUICIDE Founder Reese Butler , Blue October lead singer and songwriter Justin Furstenfeld and U.S. Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA) to raise awareness about suicide in the military and outreach through music.
We held our Please Don't Jump Awareness event in San Francisco near the Golden Gate Bridge.
September 22, 2010 was officially recognized as Please Don't Jump Day by the State of California and City of San Francisco www.PleaseDontJump.net
We trained over 400 students at colleges in 1 hour Gatekeeper Crisis Intervention Course .
We helped 170 volunteers from the US, Canada and the UK get trained in 40 hour Online Suicide Intervention Specialist course to become IMAlive volunteers
We HOPE you like what we did in 2010.
To support a volunteer in training to become an Online Suicide Prevention Specialist – click here
To support any of our hotlines (which are free to the public) – click here
Thank you SO MUCH! We couldn't have done it without your support!
Reese Butler and the Hopeline Team
Please Don't Jump - Blue October acoustic act/awareness event
Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Hopeline at our Please Don't Jump Event in San Fransisco on September 22, 2010!
Pictures and video will be available shortly!
The Golden Gate Bridge is unfortunately a site of many suicides each year. On September 22, 2010, the Kristin Brooks Hope Center, founder of 1-800-SUICIDE, is asking you to join them at the bridge to fight suicide and ask people "please don't jump."
"On Tuesday, Supervisor David Campos introduced a resolution that supports the founders of a group known as 1-800-SUICIDE who have created an event known as “please don't jump,” and would recognize Sept. 22 as “Please Don't Jump Day” to raise awareness about suicide and prevention, and public health solutions, Campos said." Read more at the San Francisco Examiner.
Join the Kristin Brooks Hope Center, band Blue October, speakers from the Bridge Rail Foundation, and the friends and family of those who have lost someone on the bridge from 12-1 pm. There will be a live acoustic set by Blue October as well as several speakers and special exhibits.
Wednesday, September 22, 12pm - 1pm
West Bluff Amphitheater
Crissy Field
San Francisco, CA
World news: Last U.S. combat team has just left Iraq. Our deepest gratitude goes to the military men and women who have spent months and years defending our homeland. They are finally coming back home.
Sadly, many of the veterans have post-traumatic stress disorder and won't be able to adjust back to civilian life.
If you are a veteran or you know someone who came back from active duty and has trouble with memories and experiences of the war - please call our hotline at
1-877-VET-2-VET (1-877-838-2838).
If you are a veteran, and would like to support your fellow combatants by providing a few hours of online support every month , please email volunteer@hopeline.com . We provide free training and it will help dozens of men and women heal and go back to daily activities with their loved one.
For only 33¢ a day support our hotlines and help train peer to peer veteran volunteers .
Kristin Brooks Hope Center, and its programs:
National Hopeline Network
IMAlive crisis chat
Pick Up The Phone Tour
Alive! Mental Health Fair
and others
are funded solely by individual donors
Please Don't Jump
This postcard says:
I have lived in San Francisco since I was young. I am illegal. I am not wanted here. I don't belong anywhere. This summer I plan to jump off the Golden Gate.
Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Hopeline at our Please Don't Jump Event in San Fransisco on September 22, 2010! 
World news: Last U.S. combat team has just left Iraq. Our deepest gratitude goes to the military men and women who have spent months and years defending our homeland. They are finally coming back home. 
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