The Carson J Spencer Foundation Blog

Lights in the Darkness and the Symbol of the Star

2010-07-17T16:53:00.000-06:00

Just weeks after my brother died in 2004, our family and his friends from across his lifespan started holding conference calls as we brainstormed our vision for the Carson J Spencer Foundation. The calls were as therapeutic as they were productive. While all of those participating loved him, not all of the friends knew each other at the beginning of our planning since they were acquainted with my brother at difference ages and places in his life. As we shared stories and ideas, we came together in our grief and our shared mission.

One of the early tasks of the group was to come up with a logo for the organization. Because Carson was such a prominent business man in Denver, the Rocky Mountain News, one of Denver’s main papers, interviewed several family members for a featured obituary following his death. The article closed with a quote from Carson’s mother-in-law, “he was a star who shone so brightly that he just burned out too quickly."

[Photo courtesy of bm01 via Flickr]

Indeed, my brother was a star in many ways. A shooting star who rose quickly as an entrepreneur in his industry and gained the admiration of many. He also had the ability to light up any room with his charming smile and pee-in-your-pants humor. His spirit was brilliant. And when stars die, their light shines on in the darkness.

One Yale professor once speculated, “…starlight, traveling in space forever, could be interpreted as an expression of immortality….long after stars have ‘died,’ photons of their energy – i.e., their light – continue to exist….It has been said that humans are made of the same stuff as stars – and we share the same energies.” --Schwartz, Garry (2002). The Afterlife Experiments. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc.

We wanted the Carson J Spencer Foundation to be the light of his legacy, carrying on his goodness and his spirit. Carson’s expressed legacy before he died was to help young emerging entrepreneurs get to college, so we started the Rising Star Scholarship to honor that wish. As we also acknowledged his gift of helping others and our desire to prevent what happened to him from happening to others, we began a number of programs in a social entrepreneurial spirit that are designed to prevent suicide, promote mental health, and assist those bereaved in our community. His light shines on.

The idea of stars in the dark is also the message we are trying to extend to those suffering in silence. Many have told me that being depressed feels like being trapped in a dark place with no way out. Loving, caring people can provide those inspiring points of light in the dark by offering connection and support as they hold the hope for the hopeless. Sometimes, those who are suffering can’t feel the warmth of the glow of these supporters initially, but they can be reassured by their presence and the realization that others care.

For these reasons, we have called our annual gala “Shining Lights of Hope” and we aim to recognize those individuals and organizations in our community who support the work of suicide prevention and provide compassionate assistance to those in pain. Each year we award those who have stood above the others as stars. The “Shining Lights of Hope” award goes to an individual or group that has been bereaved by suicide or who has experienced a mental health crisis and has turned that suffering into a passion to make a difference. The “Shooting Star” award goes to a organization that has selflessly gone out of their way to help our cause. Our “Volunteer of the Year” award celebrates the volunteer who has contributed significantly to moving us forward, and of course, our “Rising Star Scholar” is our chosen high school entrepreneur who receives our scholarship to help with four years of college tuition.

It’s been five years since Carson’s death, and many of us still feel the pain of his loss on a daily basis. We are comforted in part, knowing that we are living in the light of his legacy and that we are bringing forward a galaxy of stars who shine their light in the darkness for others.

…and lights shine on.

Working Minds Contest -- Celebrating Mentally Healthy Workplaces in Colorado

2010-07-01T17:20:00.001-06:00

With so much focus on toxic workplaces and the stress of the economy on the employee, the Carson J Spencer Foundation decided to do something a little bit different: focus on the workplaces that are getting it right. While we know many workplaces are suffering under intense pressure resulting in bullying, depression, and dissatisfaction among the ranks, other workplaces have found ways to not only survive this rough spot, but to help their staff thrive. In recognition of this, the Carson J Spencer Foundation is hosting a contest to acknowledge mentally healthy workplaces, application due date is July 22, 2010.

Criteria:

Must be a Colorado workplace (nonprofit, for-profit or governmental)
Innovative and effective approaches that promote mental health at work

New and creative methods
Positive outcomes

Contest Guidelines: Submit 500-word essay that answers the question: How is mental health promoted at your workplace? What do you do and how do you know that the strategies are effective (case studies and statistics are both welcome as evidence)? Consider the following questions:

How do you educate your workforce about mental health as part of overall wellness?
What are the practices and policies that minimize distress at work?
How does the workplace support those who are experiencing mental illness, trauma or bereavement?
How does the workplace promotes a sense of purpose and belonging?

Awards:
First, second and third place awards given. Recognition at our Shining Lights of Hope Benefit Auction Evening on August 28th at LeMay Auto Museum. Awards include: complementary seats at our event, one year membership to the Working Mind Network, a free Working Minds Toolkit and training, and recognition as a "mentally healthy workplace" in local media outlets and on the Working Minds website.

Applications:
Applications should be sent electronically to Sally Spencer-Thomas: Sally@CarsonJSpencer.org. For more information or to get an application call 720-244-6535.

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Working Minds: Gaining Momentum for Suicide Prevention in the Workplace

2010-06-25T16:35:00.000-06:00

“The workplace is the last crucible of sustained human contact for many of the 30,000 people who kill themselves each year in the U.S. A co-worker’s suicide has a deep, disturbing impact on work mates. For managers, such tragedies pose challenges no one covered in management school.”

Shellenbarger – Wall Street Journal

In the suicide prevention field a gap exists: the majority of people who die by suicide are men of working age, and yet very little prevention work is targeting this demographic. While 85% of middle managers believe part of their responsibility is to identify and help employees with depression, only 18% of those managers had received training that would prepare them to do so. Since we noticed this gap, the Carson J Spencer Foundation has been on a mission, and in 2010 our vision is quickly gaining momentum.

When we formed the Carson J Spencer Foundation in 2005, our goals were two-fold, to honor the life of the man who was the foundation’s namesake and to help prevent others from going through the unimaginable mental anguish he faced as he battled a mental illness that ultimately proved fatal. When we spent 18 months or so examining the needs of the field and our unique position to fulfill them, we discovered a much-needed niche to be filled: suicide prevention in the workplace. We then spent the next couple of years developing the “Working Minds” program – a multifaceted suicide prevention program for employers. And now, as we face our 5th year anniversary, the program is gaining momentum at every turn.

The goals of the Working Minds program are three-fold:

to increase awareness that suicide is a public health issue that is preventable and that workplaces have a responsibility to respond and a vested interest in prevention and mental health promotion
to increase skills related to suicide prevention, intervention and postvention in the workplace
to offer models of recovery at the individual level and mental health promotion at the organizational level

The program components include an interactive website (www.WorkingMinds.org), a toolkit for managers, and a network of organizations that are focused on promoting mental health at work. The Working Minds Toolkit, a cornerstone of the program, offers employers an off-the-shelf curriculum to begin to change the conversation workplaces are having about mental health and suicide. The toolkit, published in November 2009, is available on Amazon and through the Working Minds website.

In 2010, we continue to see the momentum for the Working Minds Program build:

The Anschutz Family Foundation funds the Working Minds Program implementation among organizations that serve homeless populations.
Mountain States Employer’s Council, the go-to organization for HR training in the Rocky Mountain Region, agrees to offer Working Minds training to its members.
The Working Minds Toolkit is accepted to the Best Practice Registry after being reviewed by national experts who determine that it adheres to standards of care
Presentations are made at the Navy’s Suicide Prevention Conference and other national and regional conferences touching leaders in the military, risk management and suicide prevention fields.

With the increasing strain of economic hardship and the challenges of reintegrating returning military from active combat into a civilian workforce, mental health concerns will continue to confront employers in many ways. The Working Minds Toolkit helps give them skills to proactively address these problems rather than just react to them.

How is your company promoting mental health and preventing suicide?

Suicide Prevention in Colorado – Together We Are Better

2010-05-02T19:37:00.000-06:00

Suicide Prevention in Colorado – Together We Are Better

When suicide makes the news, many of us cringe because the coverage – often sensationalized and overly simplistic – can increase the risk that vulnerable people may act on suicidal thoughts as a result.

Today was different.

Today was a milestone day for the suicide prevention movement in Colorado – our story made the front page of the Denver Post’s Sunday edition, complete with pictures and graphs that demonstrated both the deep need in our state and the exceptional efforts being made to save lives.

Like many of the Rocky Mountain states, Colorado’s suicide rate continues to be high despite the dedicated efforts of many suicide prevention organizations. Kevin Simpson, the Denver Post reporter, spent more than a month collecting information for this article. In this article he highlights the fact that while many are fighting this war against suicide, our resources are continually stripped, making this challenging work even more difficult. By interviewing so many of us who consider ourselves foot soldiers in this battle, he did another important thing – he helped to show how our field is becoming united in our efforts.

As competition for scarce resources increases the risk for internal conflict, suicide prevention groups in Colorado are finding creative ways to collaborate because we know that “together we are better.”

In many ways, Colorado is seen as a leading state in the effort of suicide prevention. Thanks to pioneers like Deanna Rice and others who testified before the state legislature in the 1990s and helped create our Office of Suicide Prevention, we became one of the first states to have an official state strategy for suicide prevention. Other pioneers like LaRita Archibald (founder of HEARTBEAT support groups) and Vivian Epstein (founder of Parents Surviving Suicide) started support groups for families bereaved by suicide long before most people realized the unique challenges of suicide grief. Hotline support has evolved through the steadfast dedication of Eleanor Hamm and others out of our crisis center for decades. And of course, there is the far-reaching work of the Emme family and the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program, whose message lets youth know that “it’s okay to ask for help.”

More recently, we have seen the explosion of the incredibly effective work of Jeff Lamontagne and The Second Wind Fund, who are helping uninsured and underinsured youth at-risk for suicide link to qualified help. Sheila Linwood in Mesa County, Ronna Autrey in Routt County, Dana Lindsay in Larimer County, Nancy Harris in Otero County, Susan Marine in Boulder County and many more – are all finding ways to learn from each other to save lives in Colorado.

"Long's Peak from North, Rocky Mountain National Park," Colorado.

From: U.S. National Archives’ Local Identifier: 79-AA-M16

Photographer: Adams, Ansel, 1902-1984

The reorganization of the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado is another piece of evidence of our pulling together. Knowing that our rural communities need as much (perhaps even more) support than the Denver metro efforts, we now use audio and video conferencing technology to engage communities statewide. When we have better knowledge of the strengths of each organization we are much less likely to duplicate efforts.

The 3rd annual Bridging the Divide Suicide Awareness and Prevention Summit (May 20 & 21, 2010 at Colorado State University) is still another example of successful collaboration. For this conference, clinicians, researchers, advocates and those impacted by suicide share knowledge and resources.

The impact of suicide often remains hidden to the world. The fact that we have such few resources to deal with this profound public health tragedy is a moral outrage. Kevin’s article helped shed some light on the deep need in our state and the potential for a different future.

Help those in a position of creating change pay attention – spread the word.

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Please take a moment to thank Kevin for his coverage by writing him a note: ksimpson@denverpost.com.

To join the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado – CLICK HERE

To register for the “Bridging the Divide Suicide Prevention Summit” – CLICK HERE

Reflections of the Family of Suicidologists

2010-04-25T18:37:00.000-06:00

When I arrived at my hotel on Tuesday evening, I was weary from a long flight from Denver to Orlando and looking forward to a quiet restful evening. No sooner did I drag my bags through the rotating doors when I was greeted by a half dozen other weary travelers with big smiles and warm hugs. I said, “I guess I am in the right place.”

Photo by edanley

You see, about 1,000 of us suicidologists traveled across the country, some as far away as Australia to come together for the annual American Association of Suicidologists’ conference. Even though most of us only see each other once a year, we are like a tightly knit extended family. In fact, it was difficult to get to all of our sessions in time because inevitably we would cross paths with at least two or three old friends every time we moved from room to room and the hugging and chatting would delay our arrival.

What makes this conference so special to me is that everyone works together. We have researchers working alongside clinicians. Families bereaved by suicide loss and suicide attempt survivors are working alongside those advocating for public policy change. People working for the military are listening to what is happening on our college campuses. We have support and compassion for people who have just recently lost a loved one to suicide, and we honor those who have dedicated their lives to the cause. Brilliant thinkers listen intently to understand so they can ask better research questions and understanding their findings. Passionate advocates and counselors soak up best practices to improve their efforts. And at the end of the day, we get together over a couple of beers and laugh.

Another reason this field inspires me is that we are a dedicated and scrappy group. With fire in our bellies we continue to try to figure out one of the most tragic human experiences. And we don’t give up. When funding gets cut, we get ultra-resourceful. When the media turn away from the good stories we have to tell, we keep knocking on the door. We are able to persist through hardship because of our unwavering commitment to saving lives and because of the support we get from one another. Even though we are in tough economic times, our association’s growth continues.

Highlights on the conference include:

• Asking two of my friends to sign books they had written that were just published within the last month (Thomas Joiner, The Myths of Suicide and Michelle Linn-Gust Rocky Roads: The Journeys of Families through Suicide Grief)

• Seeing the Clinician-Survivor task force take off – integrating the divisions of research, bereavement and clinical practice to open the conversation of how mental health service providers cope with the impact of suicide loss, personally and professionally

• Presenting with colleagues on topics we care about such as:

Reaching men at risk for suicide who don’t seek help
Assimilating the benefits of spirituality into suicide prevention, intervention and Postvention
Looking at the challenges and opportunities of working in systems like college campuses, workplaces and the military
Helping those bereaved by suicide become “survivors in action”

[Picture is of the memory quilt made in honor of my brother Carson Spencer (1969-2004)]

On our last evening of the conference, those who had lost loved ones to suicide gathered in a circle in reflection. Memory quilts lined the walls around us as we “lit” battery powered candles (the hotel was afraid of the fire hazard of lighting real ones) and Iris Bolton led us in a ritual where we said the names of our loved ones out loud. We cried, held hands and were witness to each other’s grief. Never forget. Never give up. See you next year.

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If you were at this conference with me over the last five days – please share your highlights in the comment box.

If you want to learn more about joining the American Association of Suicidology: CLICK HERE

Suicide Prevention as a Social Justice Issue

2010-04-11T17:46:00.000-06:00

A new social movement is emerging, and it’s gaining momentum. As I speak at conferences and on campuses from coast to coast, I find that audiences first tilt their heads with intrigue and then nod with enthusiasm as I explain what it means to position suicide prevention as a social justice issue.

We can easily understand that suicide is a mental health issue. When authorities report that an estimated 90% of people who die by suicide suffer from some diagnosable mental illness or substance abuse condition, we can clearly see the link between the two. However, if we only view suicide through the mental health lens, we will be very limited in our ability to create systematic change. When we look at suicide prevention through this lens, the change agents are the mental health service providers, who work with individuals who are suffering; one on one, one at a time.

In order to take a more “upstream” approach to this, we need to think more broadly and conceptualize suicide prevention as a public health issue. When we view suicide through this lens, we can plainly see that many systems are involved in creating change – schools, workplaces, healthcare systems, justice, faith communities and more. Everyone can play a role in suicide prevention. We can also learn to appreciate that change begins through an emphasis on bolstering protective factors like social connections and resilience as much as it does on medication and treatment.

But, I would argue, even this perspective falls short. Because if you haven’t been touched by suicide directly, you are usually unaware of its widespread and devastating impact and therefore, less inclined to allocate your energy toward targeting this particular health issue over others. What is needed is a social justice approach to suicide prevention. We can take notes from the breast cancer movement that has modeled for us how to create a tipping point of change by bringing the strength of community solidarity to engage a wider circle. Breast cancer survivors are bolstered by others who cheer their courage and stand with them through their struggle. Those who have lost their battle to breast cancer are remembered with honor. Many who have not been touched by the impact of breast cancer are moved by the energy of the large walks and moving testimonies of healing and recovery and want to know how they can help.

So what are the aspects of injustice we need to fight against? For one, we have a grave imbalance in the way we treat mental health conditions and the way we treat other physical disorders. Because of this imbalance, people with mental health conditions often have a terrible time accessing adequate care. There are too few mental health treatment options and most of them are too costly for the average person. As my colleague Dr. Doug Johnson once said to me, “We have a psycho-social injustice problem. We have Americanized mental illness – by looking for quick fixes and ignoring the emotional impact of marginalization.”

In addition, we have developed dysfunctional narratives in our country about mental health conditions that get reinforced in careless media reports and lead to further isolation and hopelessness. People are genuinely afraid to reach out to get the help they need to survive – if that is not a social justice issue, I do not know what is.

For more information about how we all can get involved:

http://www.peoplepreventsuicide.org/ -- a clearinghouse of resources for college campuses

http://www.workingminds.org/ -- suicide prevention for the workplace

http://www.carsonjspencer.org/ -- sustaining a passion for life through suicide prevention, social enterprise and support for emerging leaders

NOTE: Balloon picture is from a recent "Out of Darkness Walk" in Denver, Colorado. Hundreds of people gathered together in solidarity to honor loved ones lost to suicide (remembering each with a balloon released in silence) and walked to raise money for suicide prevention.

Enter Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric’s $12,000 in 12 Months Giveaway!

2007-11-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

Here is an easy way in which you can help The Carson J Spencer Foundation further their cause and help reach people in need. Nominate CJSF for the $12,000 in 12 Months Giveaway (use the link below or click on the next line).

Enter Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric’s $12,000 in 12 Months Giveaway!

To enter your favorite local nonprofit group to receive $1,000 scroll down to the bottom of this page and Leave a Reply. Please include the name and contact information of the local nonprofit organization you are nominating to win $1,000.

We will be accepting nominations here on the web or through the mail. There will be a new drawing every month for 12 months, so be sure to nominate your favorite local nonprofit organization today. This is a random drawing and only one win is allowed for a local nonprofit group during this 12 Month program. Winners from our previous Crazy $12,000 in 12 Months programs are eligible to win again.

Previous winners include: Hope House, The Wheat Ridge Foundation, Lost & Found, Colorado Freedom Memorial, Metro Food Bank, Josh & Gus’s Run for Reason, the Jefferson Symphony and many more.

http://applewoodblog.com/?p=79

A Victory for Hope

2007-08-09T10:48:00.000-06:00

Wonderful article in the High Timber Times...

A victory for hope: Two area women fight for expanded coverage of mental disorders

By Pamela Lawson
08/02/2007

Once a month on a Monday night, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas and a handful of friends share their memories of Sally’s brother, Carson, a talented, charismatic 34-year-old who took his own life in 2004.

They do so by conference call, from various states — for they are all board members of the Carson J Spencer Foundation, which was formed after his death.

Nowadays, conversations are about the progress of the foundation, a growing nonprofit that promotes mental health awareness. But in the months that followed Spencer’s death, the conversations were about immense loss.

“I couldn’t believe he did it. We loved him so much; we were a really close family,” Spencer-Thomas said this week. “I was really mad at him, mad at the mental health system, mad that people were not listening to me when I was screaming that we needed to get him help.”

Spencer-Thomas, who lives in Conifer and serves as director of leadership development at Regis University in Denver, is one of two area women who worked to support legislation signed in May by Gov. Bill Ritter that requires insurance companies to cover more mental health disorders.

The second, Evergreen resident Jeanne Rohner, was heavily involved in promoting the bill, Spencer-Thomas said.

The passage of Senate Bill 36 expanded mental health insurance coverage to include nine additional disorders: post-traumatic stress disorder; drug and alcohol disorders; anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa; social phobia; panic disorder; general anxiety disorder; agoraphobia; and dysthymia and cyclothymia (both depressive disorders).

The bill affects any entity regulated by the Colorado Insurance Commission, which includes government agencies and private companies in the state. Also covered are children whose parents do not have insurance but make too much money to receive Medicaid.

“It’s a huge thing for us and the whole mental health community,” said Rohner, president and CEO of Mental Health America of Colorado.

“I have been to a few (bill) signings, but this one — it was a major celebration. There were probably 100 people in the rotunda of the Capitol, a huge splash,” Rohner said.

The legislation was a long time coming, Rohner said.

In 1997, a bill was passed requiring equal status for six biological-based mental illnesses. But it took 10 more years to expand on that despite repeated attempts, she said.

As of Jan. 1, 2008, health insurance companies that offer insurance to businesses with more than 50 employees must offer policies that cover the additional illnesses. But a lot of workers still aren’t covered.

“Our next big hurdle is to get this implemented to users of all insurance — it makes good business sense to cover mental health and substance abuse issues,” Rohner said. “There are so many people in the workplace that have these issues — it comes into play in absenteeism and loss of productivity.”

The new law ensures that people with mental illnesses will not be treated differently than those with a heart condition, as far as co-pays and number of visits, Rohner explained.

Coverage for substance abuse is an important piece of the bill, Rohner believes. Addictions can be very progressive, affecting families and jobs, she said.

The mission of her nonprofit organization is to lead in the promotion of mental health, to transform systems of health care and expand access to services.

Rohner herself is no stranger to the topic. Years ago, she and her husband adopted a 2-year-old child that had severe mental health problems.

“We literally paid thousands and thousands out of pocket to get him the treatment he needed,” Rohner said. “Luckily, we could, but many people are not that lucky.”

Rohner gets calls at her agency frequently from people frightened that their children do not have the necessary insurance coverage during life-threatening situations or the necessary information or support.

Spencer-Thomas knows that feeling well.

By the time her only sibling, Carson, who had bipolar disorder, died in 2004, he was the father of a 2-year-old daughter and had become highly successful in the insurance business.

He was passionate about developing new ways for employers and health care providers to offer coverage for uninsured workers, and he formed a company to that end during the last year of his life.

But he could not save himself. When he began making erratic decisions in 2004 — severing ties with friends and family and spending wildly — a million-dollar loft, an $80,000 car, laptops for friends — his parents and sister knew something was terribly wrong. They went on round-the-clock watch and sought help any way they could find it, but it wasn’t enough.

Senate Bill 36 may be a small step, but it is one more step, Spencer-Thomas believes, toward demystifying mental illness. And so is scientific research that is uncovering biological connections and other components to mental health.

“It sends a message,” Spencer-Thomas said of the bill. “I feel like mental health and suicide is where cancer was 50 years ago — people didn’t understand it. People are (beginning to) say, ‘Oh, OK, it’s a human condition. It’s not something evil or criminal.”

It is one more piece of hope for her — along with time spent, one night each month with friends, reminiscing about the moments when Carson made her laugh.

For more information about Mental Health America of Colorado, visit www.mhacolorado.org. For more information about the Carson J Spencer Foundation, visit www.carsonjspencer.org.

First lady steps up for mentally ill

2007-07-26T08:42:00.000-06:00

From the denverpost.com (use this link)

First lady steps up for mentally ill
By Diane Carman
Denver Post Staff Columnist
Article Last Updated: 07/25/2007 10:32:33 PM MDT

Jeannie Ritter still breaks into a sweat when the spotlight shines her way. Seven months after her husband took office as governor, the former teacher and mother of four gets a case of nerves every time she steps before a microphone.

She does it anyway.

"I have a great opportunity, and if I don't take advantage of it, it would be a huge loss," she said. So she musters her courage and faces audiences that she said have been "lovely and very forgiving."

For a vast community of people who feel neglected by the state that ranks 49th in mental-health-care funding, it's not just being polite. She's their hero.

Last week when a man in the throes of a delusional episode brandished a gun outside her husband's office, Ritter was on the road in northwestern Colorado, meeting with people who struggle to deliver mental-health services with severely limited resources. When she heard what happened at the Capitol, she canceled an appearance in Meeker to be with her family.

"It was hugely ironic, wasn't it," she said. "It made the discussions that are already poignant even more so."

For Ritter and other advocates for mental-health care, the incident also presented a challenge. A lingering prejudice against the mentally ill stems from the impression that they are prone to violence. In fact, statistics from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill show they are 2 1/2 times more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators.

It's just one obstacle.

The biggest hurdle, Ritter said, is to help people overcome the stigma that prevents them from seeking treatment.

"We're talking about a huge percentage of people who can be reached. There are resources" in schools and workplaces, she said, "if only they would use them."

Ritter told a story she heard about two ranchers who came into a Southeast Mental Health Services clinic with a folded copy of a poster in their pockets. Both were contemplating suicide and decided to seek help after they saw the picture of a local rancher on a poster for the mental- health clinic.

Produced under a grant from The Colorado Trust, it showed rancher and former County Commissioner Harry Doak leaning against a fence.

Over the years, Doak had known ranchers who took their lives when economic or family pressures overwhelmed them, so he volunteered to be the face of rural mental-health outreach.

"That guy should be championed," Ritter said.

While services often are more accessible in urban areas, tragedies here still are all too common. Ritter cited the suicide of Larry Manzanares last month as an example.

"We lost a good judge in our community," she said. "It's heartbreaking, but it's also another opportunity to raise awareness and push the heartache to the forefront."

Lives can be saved, she said.

"There are great services; the difficulty is getting people to use them. Why aren't we nudging each other more?"

Ritter is cautious about advocating legislative initiatives or government action.

"I'm not throwing words like 'policy' around," she said.

But she is working to get mental-health professionals, business leaders, politicians, law enforcement officers and health care advocates in the same room to exchange ideas and encourage one another to take action.

"At some point, something needs to be done with this information," she said. "It's not just a first-lady thing."

For now, though, she's satisfied with encouraging the dialogue.

On Saturday, Ritter will overcome her anxiety once more and take the podium to speak at a fundraiser for the Carson J. Spencer Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention and treatment for the mentally ill. (For information, call 303-458-4323 or go to CarsonJSpencer.org.)

She'll likely tell the story of a friend she's known for years who only recently revealed that her father took his own life. The memory had been buried deep in her psyche, a secret kept from almost everyone close to her.

"It's something we don't exchange information about," Ritter said. "But survivors need to tell their stories.

"If we can just listen and keep linking arms, we can make a difference."

Diane Carman's column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Reach her at 303-954-1489 or dcarman@denverpost.com.

Rising Star Scholarship Award Recipient Trent Lovell

2007-07-24T14:09:00.000-06:00

With funding coming from Beacon Risk Strategies, the company co-founded by Carson, the Carson J Spencer Foundation (CJSF), in partnership with the Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain (JARM) organization, awarded its first college scholarship to Denver high school Senior Trenton ("Trent") Lovell .
Trent will receive a $4000 a year scholarship from CJSF and JARM for each of the next four years at Denver University.

It was one of Carson's wishes to sponsor young people with such an award. The Carson J Spencer "Rising Star" Scholarship considers entrepreneurial spirit, motivation, and creativity in business and community as it's primary selection criteria.

Chosen from a group of over 60 extremely talented applicants, Trent impressed us with his social entrepreneurship founding "B.I.O.N.I.C." (Believe It Or Not I Care) which now involves 180 people from 9 elementary schools. BIONIC brings outreach services to children who are missing school due to sickness. They provide homework, tutoring and support to help boost spirits to keep the students functioning at their class level.

Trent also has an outstanding academic record, captained the varsity basketball team, was a "Class Senator" for the Student Government. and shows much promise as a future business leader and entrepreneur.

Please come to the Denver Benefit Auction Evening and meet this wonderful young man.

Music to Save Lives - Troy Gray Concert at Shining Lights of Hope Event

2007-07-24T14:07:00.000-06:00

Music to Save Lives: Concert to Benefit Suicide Prevention

Denver –July 24, 2007– “Music saved my life,” says Troy Gray, a Colorado Nuevo flamenco guitarist with a story to tell. Troy was only 19 years old when he attempted suicide after experiencing unbearable psychological trauma. “I would escape behind doors for hours and play guitar. It helped me express the anger, the sadness, the emotions.”

Now almost twenty years later, he is a musician with a cause. His new CD released this year is entitled, “A New Beginning” and it celebrates his recovery through his music.

All proceeds from Troy’s concert will benefit the Carson J Spencer Foundation, a nonprofit sustaining a passion for life through innovative mental health promotion programs. The concert is open to the public and will be held at the Wynkoop Brewing Company (1634 18th Street, Denver) on July 28th at 8:00pm ($10 pre-register on www.blacktie-colorado.com or $15 at the door; free to students with valid ID).
The concert follows a Benefit Auction Evening featuring Colorado’s First Lady Jeannie Ritter (5:00-8:00pm, also at the Wynkoop).

“This is not your typical mental health awareness event,” says Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, executive director of the Carson J Spencer Foundation who is a psychologist and survivor of her brother’s suicide. “Troy’s story is inspirational, and his music rocks. Attendees will have a memorable, meaningful and fun time.”
For more information, please call Sally Spencer-Thomas 303-458-4323 or visit www.CarsonJSpencer.org.

About the Carson J Spencer Foundation: Sustaining a Passion for Life
The Carson J Spencer Foundation, a non-profit organization, was founded in April 2005 following the suicide of Carson J. Spencer. The Carson J Spencer Foundation helps people live their best lives by shining a light of hope and offering guidance during difficult times. The Carson J Spencer Foundation promotes entrepreneurial ideals through venture philanthropy, innovative mental health programming/advocacy and scholarships to individuals showing entrepreneurial promise.

Rocky Mtn. News Article: Tragic End Didn't Dim Bright Star

2007-06-22T16:59:00.000-06:00

Sally Spencer-Thomas and The Carson J Spencer Foundation are featured in a great Rocky Mountain News Article from June 19th, 2007.

June 19, 2007

Massaro: Tragic end didn't dim 'bright star'

Sally Spencer-Thomas' brother was the one she looked up to, the one who could make her laugh until her sides hurt, the one who dared her to be great.

And then her brother, Carson J. Spencer, did something that broke her heart. He killed himself.

He had suffered from mental illness - bipolar disorder. And it finally overtook him.

Read the rest of this terriffic article by clicking here.

First Lady Jeannie Ritter Advocates for Mental Health

2007-06-11T09:03:00.000-06:00

Denver –June 6, 2007– With the recent signing of Senate Bill 36 by Governor Ritter to make coverage of mental disorders mandatory, the mental health community is ready to celebrate. The Shining Lights of Hope event will benefit the Carson J Spencer Foundation and honor all mental health advocates. Colorado’s First Lady, Jeannie Ritter will lead the charge. The event takes place from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Wynkoop Brewing Company, 1634 18th Street. The cost is $75 until July 20 and $100 at the door.

The law expands the number of mental health disorders covered to additional diagnoses including: eating disorders, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorders and more. Senate Bill 36’s sponsors Senator Moe Keller and Representative Debbie Stafford will be honored during the evening for their efforts to shine a light on mental health advocacy.

Festivities throughout the evening will include 9News anchor Cheryl Preheim as emcee, a sponsored microbrew tasting and an array of items featured at a live and silent auction.

“This is not your typical mental health awareness event,” says Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, executive director of the Carson J Spencer Foundation who is a psychologist and survivor of her brother’s suicide. “The First Lady has an incredible way of inspiring people to get engaged in the cause of mental health advocacy. Attendees will have a memorable, meaningful and fun time.”

For more information, please call Sally Spencer-Thomas 303-458-4323 or visit www.CarsonJSpencer.org.

Troy Gray to play at the CJSF Auction Night Event!

2007-06-11T08:41:00.000-06:00

Troy Gray will be performing at The Carson J Spencer Foundation's Benefit Auction Event! This is great news, Troy is a wonderful musician! Check out Troy's MySpace Page .

Troy Gray

World Beat / Rumba / Nuevo Flamenco Guitar

Please help! Take a Short Survey!

2007-06-10T19:14:00.000-06:00

Please take 3 minutes to complete the survey below. Responses from this survey will help the Carson J Spencer Foundation build an effective suicide prevention website and DVD for the workplace. Responses are confidential and anonymous. Survey will be closed on Friday, June 15th.

Click Here to take the Survey!

Please pass on this link to co-workers or other lists of people you think may be interested in our project.

Thank you for your support.

GoodSearch and The Carson J Spencer Foundation

2007-06-10T19:00:00.000-06:00

What if The Carson J Spencer Foundation earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Well, now we can!

The Carson J Spencer Foundation has just been registered on GoodSearch, as seen in Oprah Magazine, ABC News, and The New York Times. Starting now The CJSF will receive a direct donation every time supporters use GoodSearch to search the Internet!

GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results.

Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter The Carson J Spencer Foundation as the charity you want to support. Just 500 of us searching four times a day will raise about $7300 in a year without anyone spending a dime! And, be sure to spread the word!

Please go to www.goodsearch.com or click to download the GoodSearch toolbar to get started now -http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbars.aspx.

GoodSearch is the search engine with a unique social mission. It’s powered by Yahoo!, so you get the same great search results. We donate 50% of advertising revenue to the nonprofits and schools selected by our users. Now you and your supporters can make a difference in the lives of many people, simply by using GoodSearch to search the Internet!

Carson J Spencer Foundation Golf Tournament July 30, 2007

2007-05-27T16:21:00.000-06:00

Carson J Spencer Foundation Golf Tournament
Benefiting The Carson J Spencer Foundation

Monday, July 30, 2007


Sponsored By:	The Carson J Spencer Foundation
Location:	The Ranch Country Club
Location Address:	11887 Tejon Street, Westminster, CO 80234
Parking:	Free Parking
Attire:	Proper Golf Attire - no cutoffs or tee shirts please
Starting Time:	7:15 AM Simultaneous start - promptly at 7:30am
Description:	This event is a Four Person "Best Ball" Scramble at a beautiful private country club. (See http://theranchcc.com/) Price per person includes green and cart fees, range balls, welcome gift, prizes and lunch at The Ranch Country Club. Note that Sponosorships of the event are also available. For more information, please contact Todd@CarsonJSpencer.org
	View Organization's Profile
Beneficiary:	Healthcare
Contact Name:	Carson J Spencer Foundation c/o Todd Krapf
Address:	P.O. Box 351418
City:	Westminster
State:	CO
Zip Code:	80035
Phone:	303-623-3546
Cost:	$125 per person
Email:	Todd@CarsonJSpencer.org
Online Tickets:	Click Here to RSVP or for Online Tickets
Organization Website:	http://www.carsonjspencer.org/

CJSF Event News - Benefit Auction Event July 28th, 2007

2007-05-27T15:31:00.000-06:00

The Carson J Spencer Foundation presents a Benefit Auction Event

SHINING LIGHTS OF HOPE

Please join Colorado’s First Lady Jeannie Ritter, 9News Anchor Cheryl Preheim and the Carson J Spencer Foundation as we celebrate Shining Lights of Hope, a benefit to support people living their best lives through mental health initiatives. Senator Moe Keller and Representative Debbie Stafford will be honored for their efforts to shine a light on mental health awareness. The evening’s festivities will feature a dazzling Wynkoop dinner, a sponsored Microbrew Tasting and an array of exciting items featured at both the Live and Silent Auction.

Spread the word! Register today!

Saturday, July 28 from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Wynkoop Brewing Company ~ 1634 28th Street

Cost is $75 until July 20 and $100 at the door.

Two ways to register:

www.blacktie-colorado.com/CJSF/auction
Events Calendar for July 28th (credit card)
Mail (check)

Checks should be made payable to The Carson J Spencer Foundation and sent to:

The Carson J Spencer Foundation

P.O. Box 351418

Westminster, CO 80235

Additional Information: Joyce Spencer at Bob@CarsonJSpencer.org

Sustaining a passion for life.