Grief is painful and heavy. But it can also inspire you to go in a direction you would have never gone and inspire a new sense of passion. To honor Charles’ memory, I will no longer be silent about suicide. Silence kills.
I have submitted this video in my application for a TedXRVA talk. If you want to help, please nominate. Description is below.
Thank you Melanie Murray for suggesting this title: Suicide, the silent serial killer
Short description of the topic would be:
Suicide. The silent serial killer
Title: Co-Owner, Impression Marketing. Board member, Beacon Tree Foundation. VP Sponsorship AMA Richmond (American Marketing Association)
Description: Suicide is a subject that needs to be discussed. Depression needs to be discussed. If we don’t, we’ll suffer more deaths by suicide. It is the #1 leading cause of death for college students in the US and suicide rates have tripled since 1950 with a big increase in ages 15-25. We need to break the tradition of silence so we can save lives and save families the agony of a loss to suicide. It’s time we honor those who have died by suicide instead of carrying their memories around with shame. It’s time to start a conversation and not sweep this important topic under the rug because our silence is killing people. In memory of a talented artist, Charles Aubrey Rogers.
I lost my husband 6 months ago to suicide. I know the pain that you are going through. My husband was also a charismatic person, who loved his children and me very much. Mental illness unbeknownst to us took over his whole being, slowly crippling him and eventuating in his suicide. I refuse to stay hushed about his suicide and I am extremely open with people, I agree there has to be open dialogue that mental illness and depression is not something to be embarrassed about, it may be the thing that helps people reach out for that much needed help. Break the stigma associated with suicide and end the silence.
I am sorry. Peace and comfort to you from the one and only God who guides us through. Our family, also from Virginia, became members of “the club” two years ago today when our Ryan, my brother, died by suicide at 34 after long-suffering with mental illness. I couldn’t agree with you more about people needing to understand that depression is a sickness and not a lifestyle choice. Thank you for lending your voice and your family’s story to this painfully important topic.
Thank you so much for speaking out and sharing your story. It does inspire me to keep going.