I think most who suffer from depression like animals, especially dogs. I actually think that therapy dogs would be a great idea for those with suicidal thoughts suffering from depression. After school shootings, therapy dogs help with grief and I know our dog has helped us deal with the loss of Charles by suicide. Charles adored his dog, Andy who thankfully is still with us.
I am an emotionally naked mental health speaker, and author of the Book, Diary of a Broken Mind and co-author with Kim O'Brien PhD, LICSW of Emotionally Naked: A Teacher's Guide to Preventing Suicide and Recognizing Students at Risk. I raised two boys, Richard and Charles, and lost my younger son, Charles to addiction and suicide on June 5, 2015. I help people foster a culture of connection to prevent suicide, reduce substance misuse and find life after loss. My motivational mental health keynotes, training and workshop topics include suicide prevention, addiction, mental illness, anxiety, coping strategies/resilience, and grief.
As talented and funny as Charles was, letting other people know they matter was his greatest gift. And now the legacy I try and carry forward in my son's memory.
Mental Health Speakers Website. Trained in ASIST and trainer for the evidence-based 4-hour training for everyone called safeTALK.
View all posts by Anne Moss Rogers
6 thoughts on “The face of love—#griefheart number 289”
Oh. my. gosh.
His big beautiful white heart on his face! I would have loved to see your face when you recognized this for the first time! He is so handsome!
I’m fortunate enough to work with dogs, and I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to be greeted every day by my favorite pups. They are ALWAYS happy to see me, a nice reminder that I am loved during hard times.
I agree with you about pets knowing when we aren’t feeling well. My pets through the years have given me comfort in bad times and been right by my side in the good times too. What a good example they set for us!
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Oh. my. gosh.
His big beautiful white heart on his face! I would have loved to see your face when you recognized this for the first time! He is so handsome!
This is actually not Charles’ dog but someone else’s. However, you should have seen my face when I saw it!
I’m fortunate enough to work with dogs, and I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to be greeted every day by my favorite pups. They are ALWAYS happy to see me, a nice reminder that I am loved during hard times.
That makes me smile
I agree with you about pets knowing when we aren’t feeling well. My pets through the years have given me comfort in bad times and been right by my side in the good times too. What a good example they set for us!
Such unconditional love they offer. No judgement. Dogs don’t care how thin or heavy we are, how bad or great our hair looks. They just love us.