Author: Mary Esther Rohman
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Tell Mass. legislators to step up funding for suicide prevention
A field of pinwheels represent suicide victims. Photo: Flickr Creative Commons I was recently asked to address a group of volunteers who wanted to talk to their representatives and senators about ensuring a small increase in the state budget’s line item for statewide suicide prevention in 2018, which is being discussed in the legislature now.…
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Letter to the Editor Regarding Trump’s Presidency
I was one of the millions of people who did not vote for Donald Trump. In fact, during the inaugural event, I was discomfited as the “historic” crowds of supporters were described, since Trump lost the popular vote by about 3,000,000 votes. Be that as it may; the die is cast. The question is what…
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National Suicide Awareness Week: How to Save a Life
National Suicide Awareness week took place between Sept. 5 and 11. We saw yellow ribbons tied around trees in memory of people lost to suicide, candle light vigils, community rides, walks and runs. The Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention, a group of suicide prevention agencies across the state, offered information on local events and resources…
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HAND UP: Report surveys Spare Change News' vendors
Spare Change News under the Homeless Empowerment Project (SCN/HEP) umbrella has always prided itself on helping the homeless by giving them a hand up rather than a hand out. By giving the homeless an opportunity to become self-employed, the homeless get more than a job with a wage. They are given the support of a…
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OPINION: Need a life? Try saying 'yes'
Some time after 1984, life was good and I was on a roll. I had successfully completed graduate school where they presented me with a shiny new Ph.D. I was on the road to recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. I had a great job, where I wore suits every day and made more money…
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Linda Larson: Rise and Shine
The poems printed here were selected from Linda Larson’s most recent book, Rise and Shine, published by Wilderness House Press. Larson writes with exquisite talent and soul. She reaches into her past to give the reader stunning portraits of a kaleidoscope of feelings and situations, from a doorway in Cambridge on a cold winter night…
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Transitions
Have you ever been tempted to deck someone who responds to a struggle you were having by saying “every time God closes a door, he will open a window?” Arguments about the gender of God notwithstanding, you know how useless that advice is. Say you just lost a job, or a relationship,or a place to…
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A Matter of Life and Death
Someone once stopped me from taking my life by telling me his story, and I was encouraged to start giving back. Much has been given to me. I am 66 years old, and I am happy. Eleven years ago I married my soul mate. In January, I retired from a wonderful job I held for…