Category: Suicide

Firearm retailer refuses to make a sale on gut feeling

Richmond, VA–Video by Judy Wolf of FACES, a member of the Chesterfield Suicide Prevention Coalition

I am not going to argue on the second amendment. Efforts on either side of that subject are very political and have not resulted in a lower suicide rate.  This post is “Switzerland” on that subject.

No firearm retailer wants to find out that the firearm he or she sold was used for a suicide. In Virginia, 55% of deaths by firearm are not homicides but suicides.* Imagine the number of suicides we could prevent if we could educate more firearm retailers on what … Read more...

Honoring Ronnie Lewis Farrow with ‘The #URockProject’

Ronnie Lewis Farrow urock-project

by Jon Farrow

As much as I would like to, I will never forget March 16th, 2014.

My now wife and I had just started dating when I texted to tell her that we wouldn’t talk for a few days. I’m sure it put her on edge, but her response was she hoped everything was okay and that she was there if I needed anything.

As I drove around in my car alone, I felt the pain and emptiness crawl up from within me. I pulled over and texted her to ask if I could call because I needed someone … Read more...

I wear the face of a clown. When is the smile not real?

I posted David Matthews story about his daughter Allison and for that post, I searched for a photo on Google.

The suicide was highly publicized.  She died by suicide shortly after moving to California due to PPD, Postpartum Depression. No one knew about it.

I think new moms in particular feel intense shame for their suicidal thoughts. After all, this is supposed to be the happiest time of your life, right? Lack of sleep is likely a contributing factor. And right after having a baby is a particularly tough time to move because your support system vanishes and feelings of … Read more...

ASQ Suicide Screening Tool Meeting with NIMH

Amy Goldstein; Maryland Pao, M.D., Clinical Director, NIMH, Melissa Ealey BN; Anne Moss Rogers, Pres of Beacon Tree Foundation,; Lisa Horwitz, PhD, MPH NIMH; Liza Lanzillo,
Amy Goldstein, Psychologist, Child and Adolescent Mental Health ABG Strategies, LLC; Maryland Pao, M.D., Clinical Director, NIMH; Melissa Earley RN, BSN; Anne Moss Rogers, Pres Beacon Tree Foundation; Lisa Horowitz, PhD, MPH NIMH; Liza Lanzillo, Postbaccalaureate IRTA, Office of the Clinical Director, NIMH; Deborah Snyder MSW-LCSW-C, NIMH

The ASQ Suicide Screening Tool is an evidence-based 4/5-question suicide risk screening tool for ages 10-24. The tool has been used in emergency rooms and pediatric hospitals in the US.

Locally, Dr. Ted Abernathy has been using this tool in his pediatric practice on wellness visits for ages 12 and up.

Parents unaware … Read more...

Mile marker heart— #griefheart number 250

milemarker-heart
Mile marker heart

My heart feels like it has traveled a thousand miles. At moments, I feel I’m at the beginning of the trail. Other days I realize how far I’ve come since losing my son to suicide.

It’s been a long, painful journey–two steps forward, one step back and then forward again.  As the landscape has changed, I have adapted sometimes begrudgingly. Along the way, I’ve met others who have supported me and fed my soul. I’m moving forward. One step at a time. That is quite literally, a #griefheart journey.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my … Read more...

Bernie Madoff’s son’s suicide. And why I think Bernie committed fraud

wizard of lies

I recently saw the HBO special, Wizard of Lies–the story about Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. It’s a HBO movie based on true facts.

I had some thoughts on Mark Madoff’s suicide as well as what drove Bernie Madoff to commit the 65 billion dollar fraud of the century.

The media

Any time there is a scandal, the media go into full throttle feeding frenzy. The national media has become ratings whores. It gives them permission to sensationalize, and to go on air without having all the facts right. (Gone are the days of Walter Cronkite.)

Living through that would … Read more...

My daughter, Allison Goldstein, died from post postpartum depression

by David Matthews

Allison Goldstein died by suicide after suffering PPD just weeks after moving

It’s said that in combat you never hear the rifle shot that kills you. When learning of the loss of a loved one, however, the opposite is true – the phone rings, you answer it and then nothing – you just go numb.

We received the call that our daughter, Allison Goldstein, had taken her own life before we read the email she sent– the suicide note with “Things I Couldn’t Say” in the subject line.

She lost a struggle with Postpartum Depression we … Read more...

Maggie Music

maggie moyler
Maggie Moyler

by Charlotte Moyler

Music has various effects on my soul. Since my daughter died, I find some songs unbearable to listen to. Several songs bring emotions that I feel ill prepared to experience.

You’re Beautiful by James Blunt came on my car radio as I was driving this morning. When I recognized the tune, I almost changed the channel. It was popular when Maggie was in high school and she loved to mimic Blunt’s unusual voice.

She would belt it out, right out of nowhere and have whomever was around, laughing.

Maggie did that very well, made us

… Read more...

Hard Granite. Nicholas Anderson’s suicide by Sandy LaSalle

From Anne Moss: Nicholas was on the autism spectrum. There does seem to be a connection between mental illness and autism which increases the odds of suicide.

Nicholas Robert Anderson, 23
Nicholas Robert Anderson, 23

by Sandy LaSalle

It has now been over 1.5 years since my son Nicholas died by suicide. What a shock! We saw him just days before and he seemed “on top of the world” with great plans for his future.

Together with family, we awaited his arrival home following his graduation from Virginia Tech with a degree in physics, yet he never arrived.

We waited.

Then the call … Read more...

It’s official. I am certified for suicide prevention intervention!

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a 2-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. The emphasis is on Safe For Now and is supported by an evidence-based protocol. There is considerable role play to put what you learn into practice.

ASIST is widely used by healthcare providers, however you don’t need formal training to attend the workshop. Anyone 16 and up can learn and use the ASIST model. Thanks to AFSP, American Foundation … Read more...

April 17–When my Girlfriend Killed Herself

by Aidan O’Connell, Ireland. The love of his life, Laura, was also Irish

laura
Laura

I am not sure how to start this, how to write this.

In 2007, I was in the middle of my ten-year career as a VIP in Copper Face Jacks, a popular night club in Ireland, and had become separated from my friends (easy to do in a club with 2000 drunk people). To anyone who’s ever been there, you cannot move an inch.

I was sitting on the speakers and downing the drink in my hand when this gorgeous dark haired girl with a crazy … Read more...

Overnight walk for suicide prevention. A journey of healing and awareness

overnight walk
Shirley, Bethany, Rashida, Anne Moss, Amanda, Wendy & our driver

This is part of my crew at Midnight Snack–mile 10.1 at the Overnight Walk. The American Foundation of Suicide Prevention Overnight Walk is a 16 mile trek through a city in support of suicide prevention. We are encouraged to honor the struggles of those who died by suicide, support those who have survived an attempt and raise awareness in general for the topic of suicide.

There are two of these Overnight Walks per year–one on the west coast and one on the east coast. This year, the east coast event … Read more...

Telling my story after 19 years. In memory of Brett Marshall Hunter

Brett Marshall Hunter
Brett Marshall Hunter

by Leah Osgood

I have been asked several times to share my story and to be honest, I always hesitate. To me, my story is getting pregnant at 19, going through a divorce in my mid 20s, remarried at 28, surprise twins at 30, spontaneously opening a boutique in my late 30s and the list goes on.

It has chapters dealing with decisions, growth and sleepless nights. It is filled with both sadness and joy.

And, although it mentions suicide, that is a chapter I tend to skim. It is the only chapter that I protected and … Read more...

The day after I died

I wanted someone to ask me. I wanted someone, anyone, to stop me.

You didn’t ask. Probably because you didn’t know to ask. I wanted you to come get me. Save me from myself.

I know I didn’t say it. I know you didn’t know where I was.

Why didn’t I ask you? Why didn’t I tell you?

I was alone for days. I hated how I was living.

I didn’t tell you any of that.

I didn’t want those feelings of suicide. I didn’t want to leave you and Dad. I loved my family. I loved my dog. I … Read more...

Here’s how you can ‘Share and Save Lives’

I’m mobilizing the Emotionally Naked members so we can work together more effectively– reach more people, save more lives and erase stigma. Your sharing thus far has done just that and as of June 14, 2017, this site has had 200,000 visitors since February 1, 2016.

There are simple things you can do to spread the messages on this blog and since I am digital marketing expert, I wanted to share those simple tips with you.

As you’ve seen, I’m publishing stories from my loyal readers and will continue to do so mixed in with my usual.  These stories are … Read more...