In Memoriam: Rest in Peace US Air Force engineer Aaron Bushnell. Young people of conscience please reach out. We need you. 26th Feb 2024
[Updated 28th February, 2024)
I wept when I witnessed the video of US Airman Aaron Bushnell setting himself on fire in front of the Israeli Embassy in America in protest at the Gaza War, and later passing away from his injuries. It cannot not be spoken of. It has been so public, so traumatic to witness, we must express to process this, even when we see different things. Above all, my deepest sympathies to his family & friends, his parents if they are alive, who are surely in the deepest shock and grief.
I felt that to not watch it would be like ignoring the pleas from Gazan children or their lifeless bodies held by their parents. I agree with Bushnell’s view of the world, but I don’t want us to keep losing beautiful human beings like him who see the truth, feel it deeply & speak out. What cuts through my own emotions is a real need to plead to everyone angry, frustrated and hurting out there - please reach out and connect with others, and to young people of conscience, please don’t leave us. We need you more than ever.
We know only some of what drove Aaron, and clearly there was political conviction. We are seeing a lot of people who didn’t know him assume to understand him. It shatters me to think that young people inside countries of the US-alliance are being ignored, persecuted and driven to extreme choices by political and media language and imagery that is cruel and intentionally misrepresenting communities hurting. That fact doesn’t diminish our convictions against this war. It acknowledges the complexity & brutality we face when advocating for peace.
My way of healing remains making art, but it sure isn’t for everyone. I also agree that political and spiritual crises doesn't always fit into the category of a mental health crisis. There is some ugly commentary from anti-war progressives demanding that mental health be obliterated from discussion while promoting suicide as a viable political strategy.
After forty years of being engaged in social change I can tell you that any form of activism exposes us to dark thoughts; and not all social activists are balanced people. Same goes for every tribe. People that are hurting badly. It’s so bad right now, and when we are overwhelmed we lose our 20/20 vision. There are different ways to be politically effective and we fail others when we don’t help them to learn that lesson.
I know not everyone shares my spiritual faith. It makes sense that if we lack any positive experiences from organised religions that platitudes of “thoughts and prayers” mean nothing to us. In fact, they offend us. As a person of faith, I understand that, because I don’t speak regularly to a God who I see as is a superficial dick. He/She presents as a deeply loving, practical and intelligent friend. I believe psychological services are very much part of God’s plan to help us. In my own community my faith mentor always reminds me that God is in everything - “the animate and the inanimate”. So, help can come from anywhere, without any particular politics, religion, gender, race, it can just be, you know, help!
Not everyone watching an incident will see the exact same things. There is a powerful fog of mental war in play. We don’t want to lose any more good people. Please don’t knock back help because it doesn’t validate other people’s political arguments, or worse, discourage others who need it from getting help.
Below are some contact numbers for suicide support lines in the AUKUS countries (Australia, US and UK) where citizens are experiencing public political and media discourse that is extreme and even abusive to peace-loving people right now. I’m sorry to tell you this, but it’s going to get worse. Please don’t allow the political to frame every part of your ‘mental fight’ in this world. Don’t let it stop you from fulfilling your spiritual path or helping to build a hopeful and loving future.
Finally, some self-disclosure. My family has experience with a close family friend who died by self immolation. It was horrendous on their family and deeply affected ours. I attended the room in the hospital with my parents and saw the wounds, dressing and equipment treating severe burns. I also work with religious & ethnic communities where self immolation is part of their culture, history and philosophy. I am well aware of the ideas various media analysis are using in discussions right now. My experiences have made me value all life. It has taught me that in conflicts ‘good guys and bad guys’ change costume. Deeply felt activism of any length and kind can both energise and destroy us. Politics and activism is by nature opportunistic. Keeping that in mind may help us to care for ourselves so we can care for others.
With the resources below, I focused mainly on Australia, the US & the UK - (AUKUS countries where our leadership lacks commitment to the welfare of communities-of-conscience). The resources below are not exhaustive, but the helplines are public resources with links. Use them or send them to a friend (or not).
United States (USA)
The US states have many diverse health services options, but below is the US National Suicide Helpline which is designed to put people in touch with psychological or medical services in their local areas.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988 connects callers to a network of trained counselors: The 988 lifeline will connect people to the existing network of more than 200 local crisis call centers around the country. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's 10-digit number — 1-800-273-8255 — will remain active, but calls will be routed to 988. (see NPR citation in link)
Australia
Australian Govt list of services for people who need support with depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-helplines:
Lifeline provides 24-hour crisis counselling, support groups and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or chat online.
Suicide Call Back Service provides 24/7 support if you or someone you know is feeling suicidal. Call 1300 659 467.
Beyond Blue aims to increase awareness of depression and anxiety and reduce stigma. If you or a loved one need help, you can call 1300 22 4636, 24 hours/7 days a week or chat online.
MindSpot is a free telephone and online service for people with anxiety, stress, low mood or depression. It provides online assessment and treatment for anxiety and depression. MindSpot is not an emergency or instant response service. Call 1800 61 44 34.
Head to Health gives advice and will connect you to local mental health services. Call 1800 595 212.
MensLine Australia is a professional telephone and online counselling service offering support to Australian men. Call 1300 78 99 78, 24 hours/7 or chat online.
United Kingdom (UK)
Mental health crisis helplines: If you're in crisis and need to talk right now, there are many helplines staffed by trained people ready to listen. They won't judge you, and could help you make sense of what you're feeling. (this list comes from publicly listed page on MIND UK’s website)
Samaritans. To talk about anything that is upsetting you, you can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call 116 123 (free from any phone), email jo@samaritans.org or visit some branches in person. You can also call the Samaritans Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7pm–11pm every day).
SANEline. If you're experiencing a mental health problem or supporting someone else, you can call SANEline on 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10pm every day).
National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK. Offers a supportive listening service to anyone with thoughts of suicide. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK on 0800 689 5652 (6pm to midnight every day).
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). You can call the CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight every day) if you are struggling and need to talk. Or if you prefer not to speak on the phone, you could try the CALM webchat service.
Shout. If you would prefer not to talk but want some mental health support, you could text SHOUT to 85258. Shout offers a confidential 24/7 text service providing support if you are in crisis and need immediate help.
The Mix. If you're under 25, you can call The Mix on 0808 808 4994 (3pm–midnight every day), request support by email using this form on The Mix website or use their crisis text messenger service.
Papyrus HOPELINEUK. If you're under 35 and struggling with suicidal feelings, or concerned about a young person who might be struggling, you can call Papyrus HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141 (24 hours, 7 days a week), email pat@papyrus-uk.org or text 07786 209 697.
Nightline. If you're a student, you can look on the Nightline website to see if your university or college offers a night-time listening service. Nightline phone operators are all students too.
Switchboard. If you identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, you can call Switchboard on 0300 330 0630 (10am–10pm every day), email chris@switchboard.lgbt or use their webchat service. Phone operators all identify as LGBT+.
C.A.L.L. If you live in Wales, you can call the Community Advice and Listening Line (C.A.L.L.) on 0800 132 737 (open 24/7) or you can text 'help' followed by a question to 81066.
Helplines Partnership. For more options, visit the Helplines Partnership website for a directory of UK helplines. Mind's Infoline can also help you find services that can support you. If you're outside the UK, the Befrienders Worldwide website has a tool to search by country for emotional support helplines around the world.
