Preventing Disaster - article from Beirut

Beirut, Lebanon 2022 -

Preventing Disaster

“Yes, I have thought about suicide.”

“I am worried about my friend. She seems to have given up on life.”

“Yes, I have thought about suicide.”

“I am worried about my friend. She seems to have given up on life.”

Sadly, these words were shared at a Suicide Prevention workshop we were privileged to give at Beirut’s Haigazian University in November. These kinds of words are heard not just in Lebanon but all over the world. Suicide rates have escalated over the past two years. The pandemic, isolation, social media bullying, abuse…all have contributed to these feelings of despair to the point where more and more people are considering taking their life. My husband and I kept hearing this call for help…and this desperation in people’s lives led us to pursue becoming registered trainers in suicide prevention and trauma care so we could share Suicide Prevention and Trauma Care presentations wherever a door opens locally and worldwide. This topic causes people who have experienced this despair or who have been touched by the ripple effects of suicide to be very vulnerable as they listen and share. This often leads to opportunities to talk about truth and hope during individual conversations at breaks or after the workshops.

I have enjoyed traveling to Beirut 16 times over the past 11 years sharing with Lebanese Society for Education and Social Ministries (LSESD) in education, refugee work, children’s camps, and with medical teams. On this trip, my husband, Dale, came as well as Dr. Carolyn Bishop, President of Consortium for Global Education, and Dr. Jeff Moore from Anderson University. One of the main purposes of this trip was to provide workshops that dealt with the stress of life for university students, teachers, professors, counselors and social workers for Haigazian University and Beirut Baptist School. Dale and I taught about how to recognize the signs of suicide and not miss, dismiss or avoid them as well as what to do when you are concerned that someone has reached that level of despair. As an educator, I was especially concerned about the teachers and professors because I knew how difficult these past two years have been in Lebanon. We discussed “The Cost of Caring” and how their own caring hearts for their students have been wounded as they carried such a burden for their wounded students. Knowledge was given, hope was shared, and they were applauded for all they have done and continue to do. Dr. Moore and I were able to share thoughts about trauma healing from the aspect of how the brain handles trauma as well as how our heart reacts to trauma.

The Lebanese are amazing, beautiful people! They are weary yet they continue to live life through extremely difficult circumstances. Their resilience is strong but they need our prayers, our support and encouragement. It was a blessing to go and share life with them for a little while. Carolyn introduced me to Lebanon in 2011 and she and I have traveled there many times together seeking ways to serve alongside of our friends at LSESD. This was Dale and Jeff’s first trip but without a doubt, I am sure it will not be their last. Our four hearts came back to the States full of thankfulness for our friends there, for the work they continue to do for their people and the refugees in their land and eager to find more ways to support them.  

As doors continue to open under the umbrella of our partner organizations, Center for Global Strategies and Consortium for Global Education, Dale and I are thankful for opportunities to go locally and overseas to share this important information about suicide prevention and trauma care in hopes we can make a difference in people’s lives and give them hope.   

Brenda Brown, Ph.D

Good News In Vietnam

On October 5, 2015, the United States and 11 other countries, came to an agreement after 5 years of negotiations on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).  Some note that TPP, which still requires ratification in each country, is controversial among various constituencies. This is to be expected as with all trade agreements there are some who benefit greater than others.  Nonetheless, TPP provides a unique opportunity to demonstrate how engaging in trade also promotes mutual understanding, human rights, peace, and development.

One of CGS’ founding principles is that by building bridges, whether economic or friendship, developing countries will prosper and minimize the possibility that these countries might become instigators in the world’s conflicts.

Vietnam is not only one of the 12 countries as a signatory of the TPP, it is a country which CGS has maintained interest and engagement since its inception in 2005.  It is remarkable that this country has gone from being relationally and economically estranged from the United States 20 years ago to being on the cusp of participating in the most ambitious trade agreement ever with each other.

In the last 20 years, the US has grown to be Vietnam’s largest market and US exports to Vietnam are becoming a success story for many US companies.

Probably one of the most interesting recent facts comes from the Pew Research Institute’s study which notes that Vietnamese have one of the most favorable opinions of America in the world with an 80% favorability rating.

US Secretary of State John Kerry notes that no two countries have come further in their relationship in such a short amount of time compared to the US and Vietnam. This is a wonderful example of the value and success of many US citizens, companies, and organizations like CGS who have been consistently investing in Vietnam.

In a time when we are bombarded with bad news and negativity… enjoy some good news and thanks for your contributions to being a small part of the story.