by Jenna Malley
I woke up at 5:30am to go to the gym with my mom at 6am. Don’t ask me why – I must’ve been crazy or something – but I’d been going with her all week, so I figured, why not?
After the gym, we usually went to Dunkin Donuts for the much needed caffeine jolt, but she’d stayed late to talk to her trainer, so instead we just went directly home so she could get ready for work and I could… well sleep more. It was my summer vacation in 2014 and I was only working three … Read more...
Unisex and Women’s slim fit: $22.99, Long Sleeve: $25.99. The women’s slim fit runs small! This has been updated to be an “evergreen” shirt due to the popularity of the design. So there is no longer a date on the shirt.
This year’s conference was in Denver, Colorado and was my first one. Next year’s is in DC! I learned a lot, made a lot of connections and here are a few pictures from the event. … Read more...
I was so honored to have been asked to be on this podcast. So few in this space have the guts to tackle this subject. And Sara and I really connected. Please leave a review! You can listen right here on the page or at one of the links below.
Podcast Description: Sara Dean is the creator and host of the Shameless … Read more...
A pleasure to be on Matana’s podcast. Please leave a review!
It’s funny how my script was flipped after my son’s addiction and death by suicide. My definition of what success is was no longer defined in currency.
Now I don’t want you to think I’m willing to live in a cardboard box so I can support more nonprofit work. I’m not that altruistic. I just want to make a living and make enough so that I can enjoy my family and give back in both philanthropic and an emotionally naked way.
My purpose is to prevent suicide and wash away the stigma by educating people on what suicide is, what … Read more...
by Jon Farrow
Sometimes it’s a feeling in the middle of the day. Sometimes it’s passing a restaurant we used to frequent or a song that comes on right as I’m about to reach a destination. Other times it’s a memory-inducing warm breeze on a mild summer day. No matter what brings him to mind, even after five years, I still feel the twinge in my heart.
No matter what I do, the feeling overwhelms me like the shadow caused by a setting sun, one that extinguishes the … Read more...
by Beth Tucker
Suicide is not always just an emotional or psychiatric issue. Sometimes it’s a physiological one too.
That means I have survived a suicide attempt. I’m also thankful to be in a much better place today, emotionally, psychologically, physically, and most importantly spiritually.
Four years ago I underwent brain surgery with extensive complications which resulted in a massive hemorrhage to the left temporal lobe of my brain. We hear so much these days about traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by things such as football-related concussions, military IEDs, as well as other brain … Read more...
NSA is National Speakers Association. I’m a member of the Virginia chapter. Fortunately, because of the Pat Asch fellowship, I can afford to go. I haven’t been to a conference out of town in years. That’s the thing about selling a successful business for a startup. Sacrifices.
So I will be in Aurora, Colorado and staying the first night with my friend, Tamara. Next month she is going on a big backpacking trip that is very intense. (Camping to me is staying in a bed and breakfast.)
So wish me luck. I’m meeting a lot of other speakers … Read more...
60 second video
Say tally ho, bon voyage, bye bye, auf weidersehen, addio, au revoir, 再见, addios, sayonara, to the word “committed” when it’s next to the word suicide. Jettison it from your vocab forever, throw it in a deeply dug latrine, say a final memorial, cover it with dirt and leave it behind forever. “Committed” screams shame and adds to the stigma.
We don’t say that someone committed a heart attack so why are we saying someone committed suicide? I’m not word-shaming you, just making you aware of the difference … Read more...
My friend, Lisa Horowitz, PhD is a scientist on suicide prevention at National Institute of Mental Health whom I met through Dr. Ted Abernathy about three years ago. We have since co-presented on the ASQ suicide screening tool.
While speaking with a panel of prestigious researchers on youth suicide prevention in Baltimore, MD at a Pediatric Conference (I was the one with lived experience), there was considerable buzz about a suicide study the group had just completed that showed a significant increase in youth suicide after the first season of 13 Reasons Why.
Netflix is in the process of … Read more...
This is a presentation to FABWomen, a Women’s Networking Group. I love the audience there and always feel so connected. The sound on this video is not the greatest due to a corrupt sound card. I’m often hired as a grief speaker for conferences and this local opportunity was the first time I had to get video.
Turning Pain into Purpose
Inspiring emotionally naked stories of saving lives by sharing and connecting with others. Stories of hope and healing, and finding purpose after loss.
Learning Outcomes
• Your greatest wisdom is often the result of your deepest wounds
• How … Read more...
Over time, Charles’ depression and addiction changed him. Depression sucked away his motivation and planted thoughts of suicide and by then his antidote was heroin.
The change was subtle, slow, and methodical. Laughter was less frequent. He slept really late. He was even more hyper social than usual.
More than once, I would wonder, “What’s going on?” Something was different. I would search his room after he left but it turned up nothing.
I would wonder why he always had to be with friends for every waking moment. I asked him about it and still remember the pained look on … Read more...
I need to start to build our tribe on Facebook so if you’ve not liked the page yet, please do so. Invite friends you think might relate or be part of what we are doing.
By myself I’m not all that effective. Together we are!
You can find it on: iHeart Radio, iTunes, Google Play, Cast box, and others.