Monday, March 10, 2008

The Importance of Making Hope Visible

Brenda Martin, a Canadian, who is now on suicidal watch after her court date was missed once again in Mexico, reminds us how important hope is to our survival. Friends quoted on CBC radio today explain how Brenda has lost hope. Hopelessness can be manifest in suicide ideation (Beck, Kovacs, & Wiseissman, 1975). Brenda's story reminds us of the connection between hopelessness and suicide. What does this have to do with learning to hope you ask?

I believe Brenda's story reminds us that it is incumbant upon those of us who interact with children and youth to ensure we are uncovering and connecting to a child or youth's hope as well as feelings of despair. It is important that we create opportunities to make hope visible and accessible (for more information the 'Nurturing Hopeful Souls: Hopeful Practices and Activities for Children and Youth' will be available at the Hope Foundation of Alberta April 15, 2008).

Brenda Martin does not have control over her current situation which has brought on feelings of hopelessness and concerns for her safety. Hopefully things will take a turn for the better for her. I believe the media is using a hopeful strategy of informing the public of her situation as a way of making a difference for her. Finally, I believe her story reminds us of how important it is to find ways to connect to and uncover feelings of hope and hopelessness so that suicide is not the only option one sees in times of deep despair.

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