Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
Today is International Survivors of Suicide Day 2013 (ISOS), which allows survivors to focus on the efforts they have made to honor their loved one(s), hear each others' stories and learn from experts the ways we can continue to grow and cope. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, ISOS Day started in 1999 when Senator Harry Reid, a survivor of his father’s suicide, introduced a new resolution to the United States Senate. ...
Fearing the worst became a natural reaction after my dad died by suicide. Shocked by the unexpected, life-altering news of his death, my brain instinctively shifted to a permanent state of high alert. When friends and loved ones don’t answer their phone, I start to panic that something terrible happened. If I don’t receive an e-mail from someone in a timely manner, I immediately wonder if I need to check in on them further. Dismayed by my dad’s ...
I wanted to include an essay from this past month’s LOSS (Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide) newsletter. I really struggled with being vulnerable with my feelings and being able to process them, understand what I was feeling and expressing them. With the holidays coming up, I think we have to be aware of this. We all grieve differently, and not everything works for ever person. For some people (definitely myself included), it's hard to ...
Several nights ago, I had my first dream with my Dad in it. He was only in there for a fleeting moment, but it was great. In the dream, I was walking somewhere – I think I was walking near the plaza of a downtown skyscraper, and I saw my Dad sitting on a concrete bench outside of the building. We made eye contact, smiled and waved as I walked by.
It was so short but I remember the smile on his face and he looked ...
I've become exceptionally inspired by celebrities who voice their connection to and struggles with being a survivor of suicide. This topic is so often avoided and veiled in stigma - I applaud stars like Melissa d'Arabian of the Food Network (and others) for using their public platform to elevate the conversation.
Frequently, Melissa posts about her mom and her efforts to raise awareness of suicide prevention with the AFSP on Facebook. In ...
