Just under three years ago, my mother took her own life. She was the funkiest, most awesome mum ever, she even took me to NYC for the first time!
Unfortunately, suicide is one of the most under-recognized causes of death. Following my mum’s death the proper support groups were not in place, even in our large hometown. Support groups are vital for the grieving process; one out of six people will attempt suicide within one year of a family member’s suicide.
Once our story started spreading, more and more individuals wrote and called to tell us about their experiences with suicide. As a result, my family decided to get intimately involved in a small local support group (with just five members, when my sister joined) and, along with several other families, raised enough money to open a suicide prevention center in our home town. Nicknamed CARES (Community Awareness in Recognizing and Education on Suicide), this suicide prevention center presents anti-suicide messages to local schools, organizes free support groups, and coordinates with the local police department to visit local families after a suicide has occurred.
For more information, check out the CARES website, which serves the greater Lee County (Florida) area. For more information on suicide prevention, please check out SAVE, or call the National Suicide Hotline. These non-profits always need volunteers, so definitely check out whether a similar organization is working in your area.
