Resources


Christian Resources



Devotionals Social Resources
            Huntingdon County Employee and Community Services  https://www.huntingdonchamber.com/
           Center for Community Action 1-800-323-9997  https://www.centerforcommunityaction.org/
           Huntingdon County United Way 1-814-643-3142
           211 Get Help  Website


Suicide and Mental Health
            Suicide Prevention Hotline:  1-800-273-TALK  www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
            Juniata Valley Crisis Intervention:  1-800-929-9583
           Student Suicide Prevention Guide:  https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/college-suicide-prevention/

Addictions
           Saint Joseph's Institute:  www.stjosephinstitute.com/


Are You Ready to Leave?
We do not know when our time here on earth will be over and our Father God calls us home. Saying that, are your papers in order so that your family can transition to life after you? Make sure your paperwork at home and at your work place is up to date. Have a will drawn or updated as needed. Store your documents (insurance - even those policies that come with memberships like AAA, wills, bank and savings account info, investment info etc. along with who to contact for each account) where your family can get them.

Finally, and most importantly, get yourself straight with God if you haven't already.  A life lived serving God is much more rewarding than a self-serving life.  And yes, you can give of your time to your family, friends, etc., and still be serving yourself.  Being a good person and helping others does not get you a free pass to God.  That was done on the Cross of Calvary 2000 years ago.  God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to die for our sins (John 3:16).  Because of His love and grace, we can be forgiven and can live a life that pleases Him.  Follow the steps given in the here (http://www.cbn.com/stepstopeace/) to see what it takes to follow Christ.

How to Help a Hurting Friend: How to Help Grieving People
Relatives, friends and neighbors are supportive at the time of a death, during the wake and funeral. Food, flowers and their presence are among the many thoughtful expressions. After the funeral, many grieving people wonder what happened to their friends. They need their support and caring even more when the reality begins to hit and the long process of grief begins: Their help is essential, since immediate family members have their hands full of grief and may find it difficult to give support to one another, or may not live nearby. Your help and understanding can make a significant difference in the healing of your friend's grief. Unresolved grief can lead to physical or mental illness, suicide or premature death. A grieving person needs friends who are willing to: LISTEN; cry with them; sit with them; reminisce; care; have creative ideas for coping; be honest; help them feel loved and needed; believe that they will make it through their grief. Ways of helping grieving people are a limitless as your
imagination.
1. All that is necessary is a squeeze of the hand, a kiss, a hug, your presence. If you want to say something, say, "I'm sorry" or "I    
        care".
2. Offer to help with practical matters; i.e., errands, fixing food, caring for children. Say "I'm going to the store. Do you need bread,
        milk, etc.? I'll get them." It is not helpful to say, "Call me if there is anything I can do."
3. Don't be afraid to cry openly if you were close to the deceased. Often the bereaved find themselves comforting you, but at the
        same time they understand your tears and don't feel so alone in their grief. 
4. It is not necessary to ask questions about how the death happened. Let the bereaved tell you as much as they want when they are
        ready. A helpful question might be, "Would you like to talk? I'll listen."
5. Don't say, "I know just how you feel."
6. The bereaved may ask "WHY?" It is often a cry of pain rather than a question. It is not necessary to answer, but if you
        do, you may reply "I don't know why."
7. Don't use platitudes like "Life is for the living," or "It's God's will." Explanations rarely console. It is better to say nothing.
8. Recognize that the bereaved may be angry. They may be angry at God, the person who died, the clergy, doctors, rescue
        teams, other family members, etc. Encourage them to acknowledge their anger and to find healthy ways of handling it.
9. Be available to LISTEN frequently. Most bereaved want to talk about the person who has died. Encourage them to talk about the             deceased. Do not change the conversation or avoid mentioning the person's name.
10. Read about the various phases of grief so you can understand and help the bereaved to understand.
11. Be PATIENT...Don't say, "You will get over it in time." Mourning may take a long time. The bereaved need you to stand by them for         as long as necessary. Encourage them to be patient with themselves as there is no timetable for grief.
12. Accept whatever feelings are expressed. Do not say, "You shouldn't feel like that." This attitude puts pressure on the bereaved to         push down their feelings. Encourage them to express their feelings- cry, hit a pillow, scream, etc.
13. Be aware that a bereaved person's self-esteem may be very low.
14. When someone feels guilt and is filled with "if onlys", it is not helpful to say, "Don't feel guilty." This only adds to their negative             view of themselves. They would handle it better if they could. One response could be, "I don't think that you are guilty. You did
        the best you could at the time, but don't push down your feelings of guilt. Talk about it until you can let it go.
15. Depression is often part of grief. It is a scary feeling. To be able to talk things over with an understanding friend or loved one is
        one factor that may help prevent a person from becoming severely depressed. 
16. Give special attention to the children in the family. DO NOT tell them not to cry or not to upset the adults.
17. Suggest that the bereaved person keep a journal.
18. The bereaved may appear to be getting worse. Be aware this is often due to the reality of the death hitting them.
19. Be aware of the physical reactions to the death (lack of appetite, sleeplessness, headaches, inability to concentrate). These affect
        the person's coping ability, energy and recovery.
20. Be aware of the use of drugs and alcohol. Medication should only be taken under the supervision of a physician. Often these only
        delay the grief response.
21. Sometimes the pain of bereavement is so intense that thoughts of suicide occur. Don't be shocked by this. Instead, try to be a
        truly confiding friend.
22. Don't say, "It's been 4 months, 6 months, 1 year, etc. You must be over it by now." Life will never be the same.
23. Encourage counseling if grief is getting out of hand.
24. Suggest that grieving people take part in support groups. Sharing similar experiences helps. Offer to attend a support
        group meeting with them. The meetings are not morbid. They offer understanding, friendship, suggestions for coping and HOPE.
25. Suggest that the bereaved postpone major decisions such as moving, giving everything away, etc. Later they may regret their
        hasty decisions. It is best for the bereaved to keep decision making to a minimum.
26. Suggest exercise to help work off bottled up tension and anger, to relax and to aid sleep. Offer to join them for tennis, exercise
        class, swimming, a walk, etc.
27. Practice unconditional love. Feelings of rage, anger and frustration are not pleasant to observe or listen to; but it is necessary for
        the bereaved to recognize and work on these feelings in order to work through the grief, rather than become stuck in one phase.
28. Help the bereaved to avoid unrealistic expectations as to how they "should" feel and when they will be better. It is helpful when
        appropriate to say, "I don't know how you do as well as you do." 
29. Don't avoid the bereaved. This adds to their loss. As the widowed often say, "I not only lost my spouse, but my friend as well."
30. Be aware that weekends, holidays and evenings may be more difficult. 
31. Consider sending a, note at the time of their loved one's birthday, anniversary, death, or other special day.