Sociological perspective the sociological imagination
Sociologist C. Wright Mills preferred to call the sociological perspective the
sociological imagination, and he saw it transforming personal troubles
into public issues. Let us begin our discussion this week by considering
suicide, which is thoroughly explored in your textbook reading for this week.
For the initial post, respond to one of the following options, and label the
beginning of your post indicating either Option 1 or Option 2:
1. Option 1: Do a little digging: What resources are there in your state
or local community for suicide prevention? Are the resources
adequate, in your view? Why or why not? How does the sociological
imagination help you decide whether or not the resources are
adequate?
2. Option 2: Is this a "downer" topic to start a course or a textbook? If
so, how would you explain the sociological imagination to a friend, in
a different way? If not, why is this an important topic to help you learn
about the sociological imagination?
Sample Solution
The Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative relies on generous contributions from community members like you to support our work. The fact is that persons who are impacted by mental illness or who need support for suicide prevention, suicide loss, or a previous attempt rarely come into contact with the public mental health system. Many go without treatment or support at all. To help communities, we must build and support locally available resources for those who may be at risk of suicide—and that’s the essential work of the Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative. Given the size of Texas, this task is challenging, but with your support, we can accomplish it—together.
Option 1: Suicide Prevention Resources in My State and Local Community
Suicide is a serious public health issue, and it is important to have adequate resources available to help prevent suicide. In my state, there are a number of suicide prevention resources available, including:
- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
- The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386
- The Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- The Jed Foundation: https://www.jedfoundation.org/
- The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/
- The Crisis Center of Central Florida: 407-223-TALK (8255)
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 407-223-4723
- The Mental Health Association of Central Florida: 407-893-8208