199 Despair Doesn’t Have To Mean Defeat w/ Eric Jorgensen

At the moment, there is a big rise in “diseases of despair.” These are things like substance abuse, alcohol dependency, suicidal thoughts and behaviors. As a matter of fact, according to the medical journal BMJ, diseases of despair have soared in the United States over the past decade, rising 68% between 2009 and 2018. The study also shows suicidal thoughts and behaviors were up 70%. And all of that was of course before COVID.

However, despair doesn't have to mean defeat. Our guest today, Eric Jorgensen is an extraordinary man. His son, William was born with significant disabilities. What you're about to hear is the extraordinary tale of how Eric's life turned to tragedy, the horrible suffering that he endured and the painful events of Eric and William's life. You'll also hear how this real American hero transformed, unbearable despair into triumph.

Bio:

Eric has been helping families with intellectual and developmental disabilities since his retirement from the Navy in 2012.

He was widowed the same year he retired.

At the time his 12 y/o autistic son, William, was completely dependent on his wife for everything.

It was his frustration with the difficulty of figuring out what to do and navigating services for his son which led him to found Special Needs Navigator.

Eric created the category of Special Needs Planning to help families, individuals and caregivers connect the dots when working with attorneys, financial advisors, and other professionals.

His specialty is helping them identify what they don’t know and provide clarity. He works with his clients around the country to develop individualized solutions best suited to their circumstances.

In addition to working with clients one on one; Special Needs Navigator has a blog, YouTube channel and podcast. Eric uses the blog to do a deep dive every week into subjects like ABLE accounts, Special Needs Trusts and other topics families frequently have questions about.

The podcast and YouTube channel focus on benefits, resources and services families may not know, or want to learn more, about.

Links:

Website: Special Needs Navigator

Podcast: ABC's of Disability Planning

Facebook: @SpecNeedsNav

Twitter: @NeedsNavigator

Trends in the diagnosis of diseases of despair in the United States, 2009–2018: a retrospective cohort study

A New Study Found ‘Deaths Of Despair’ Soared Over The Past Decade

At the moment, there is a big rise in “diseases of despair.” These are things like substance abuse, alcohol dependency, suicidal thoughts and behaviors. As a matter of fact, according to the medical journal BMJ, diseases of despair have soared in the United States over the past decade, rising 68% between 2009 and 2018. The study also shows suicidal thoughts and behaviors were up 70%. And all of that was of course before COVID.

However, despair doesn’t have to mean defeat. Our guest today, Eric Jorgensen is an extraordinary man. His son, William was born with significant disabilities. What you’re about to hear is the extraordinary tale of how Eric’s life turned to tragedy, the horrible suffering that he endured and the painful events of Eric and William’s life. You’ll also hear how this real American hero transformed, unbearable despair into triumph.

Eric has been helping families with intellectual and developmental disabilities since his retirement from the Navy in 2012.

He was widowed the same year he retired.

At the time his 12 y/o autistic son, William, was completely dependent on his wife for everything.

It was his frustration with the difficulty of figuring out what to do and navigating services for his son which led him to found Special Needs Navigator.

Eric created the category of Special Needs Planning to help families, individuals and caregivers connect the dots when working with attorneys, financial advisors, and other professionals.

His specialty is helping them identify what they don’t know and provide clarity. He works with his clients around the country to develop individualized solutions best suited to their circumstances.

In addition to working with clients one on one; Special Needs Navigator has a blog, YouTube channel and podcast. Eric uses the blog to do a deep dive every week into subjects like ABLE accounts, Special Needs Trusts and other topics families frequently have questions about.

The podcast and YouTube channel focus on benefits, resources and services families may not know, or want to learn more, about.

Website: Special Needs Navigator

Podcast: ABC’s of Disability Planning

Facebook: @SpecNeedsNav

Twitter: @NeedsNavigator

Trends in the diagnosis of diseases of despair in the United States, 2009–2018: a retrospective cohort study

A New Study Found ‘Deaths Of Despair’ Soared Over The Past Decade