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Tag: #stopsuicide

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...

What’s a teen to do?

A friend of yours is depressed,
Cutting, binging, purging, drugging,
Suffering suicidal thoughts,
And you don’t know what to do.

You’re not supposed to fix this,
But you also can’t dismiss it.
You have ears,
I know you do,
I’ve seen them attached
To your hairdo.
I know you’re able to listen,
It’s so easy to do!

You can encourage that peer
To tell an adult that she holds dear.
It might just be a mother,
A sister or a brother,
A teacher or a preacher,
Or the aunt with a hair transplant.

Then there’s always cousin Ed
who wears … Read more...

Love remains— #griefheart number 219

love remains

Despite the fact Charles has left this earth, my love for him remains. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to put it and it makes me ache.

This photo a gift from my friend Dani. She spotted 25 feet away while walking in the woods.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by#griefheart category.

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Family Matters – a rap by Charles Aubrey Rogers

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Dishwasher heart— #griefheart number 216

This one was hiding in my friend Jenny’s dishwasher. Emptying the dishwasher was the first chore I ever texted to either of my kids. Back when all the moms and dads were complaining about their kids texting instead of calling, when text messaging was new, I was sending chore lists to my kids because they got done!

Well, in Charles’ case, almost done. He’d always leave a couple of things in the top rack and some rogue glass in the bottom rack. Like he was just done with it and had to go. It was hard enough to get Charles … Read more...

Remembrance heart— #griefheart number 198

Remembrance heart

My friend Shirley Ramsey, the Virginia Chapter President of American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, runs a support group for suicide loss survivors. They lit these candles in honor of their loved ones for the holidays– remembering them forever.

As long as I live,
You will live.
As long as I live,
You will be remembered.
As long as I live,
You will be loved.

Thank you SOSL-RVA (Survivors Of Suicide Loss, Richmond VA)

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by… Read more...

Following my heart – #griefheart number 180

Since Charles’ death by suicide, I’ve not been the same. As a result, I am following a new path–one carved by my heart.

Deep breath. I can do this. Yes I can.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by#griefheart category.

Get updates to this project by subscribing

You are great parents

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Colorful heart – #griefheart number 178

Charles always had a lively and colorful personality. He could make anyone laugh. I think that’s why so many couldn’t believe he suffered from depression. He didn’t get the chance to understand that it could be treated or that the world was not a better place without him in it.

This one from Margaret via Beka. Thank you!

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by#griefheart category.

Get updates to this project by subscribing

9 Things I no longer tolerate since my

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Worn out heart – #griefheart number 176

leaf-heart2

Grief can wear you out. There are some days it just uses up everything you have and it drains you of color. It’s during those times you have to remember that there are days your heart is bursting and you feel light as a feather.

This one from a new friend, Elizabeth. I met her on the Out of the Darkness walk for suicide prevention and she works for the organization. We outfitted her with a t-shirt and adopted her right away on Team Charles.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #… Read more...

RIP heart – #griefheart number 169

rip-heart

This heart is made with some small shells and has RIP written inside. Someone else lost a loved one and memorialized them with this temporary heart on the beach. But since Esther took a picture and sent it to me, it’s now a forever #griefheart.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by#griefheart category.

Get updates to this project by subscribing

Grief. Is there a heaven?

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Falling heart – #griefheart number 168

I was walking the dog today and saw the leaves turning and it made me think about the fact that I am witnessing another season change which makes me feel just a little farther from my child that died by suicide.

The world keeps turning, lives keep moving forward but his has stopped and that concept is so hard to accept sometimes.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by#griefheart category.

Get updates to this project by subscribing

Video: Forgive me momma

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Neon flashing heart – #griefheart number 156

After 6 years of mental health advocacy, speaking out, being on TV and radio interviews, doing presentations, videos, writing articles, starting this blog, risking rejection by speaking out and all but throwing myself in the middle of the street with a neon flashing sign, we are seeing change. I am referring to understanding that mental health and addiction are illnesses. It’s the collective effort and sharing of millions who are tired of the stigma surrounding substance abuse disorder and mental illness.

Not that we are done. But more people are speaking out and things are starting to … Read more...

Oyster heart – #griefheart number 152

Oyster heart
Oyster heart

This oyster heart reminds me of all the family beach trips we took over the years at the Outer Banks. The last trip we took, Charles was suffering a depressive episode and it was hard to get him out of the basement room. He always denied suffering from depression which makes you truly feel helpless and even question if it’s your imagination. I would gently nudge him about coming outside and he’d come out and skim board for a bit and then go back in the basement.

When we went shell hunting, Charles would pick up any shell. He wasn’t … Read more...

Waterspot heart – #griefheart number 151

This heart will disappear in the hot sun. The love for my son who died by suicide will never disappear.

Thanks to Bethany for seeing this and snapping a picture before it vanished.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by #griefheart category.

Get updates to this project by subscribing

Don’t talk me out of my tears

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Beaded heart – #griefheart number 150

These are the beads from the Out of the Darkness walk. Each color strand represents a particular loss. I was part of the bead ceremony which is an opportunity to honor our loved one and our loss. Here’s what the strands represent.

White – Lost a Child
Red – Lost a Spouse or Partner
Gold – Lost a Parent
Orange – Lost a Sibling
Purple – Lost a Relative or Friend
Silver – Lost First Responder / Military
Green – Struggled Personally
Blue – Support the Cause
Teal – Friends and Family of Someone Who Struggles

I really enjoyed my … Read more...

Mutt love – #griefheart number 148

Who knew animals had so many hearts on their fur! Charles loved dogs. Any breed from pedigreed pooch that came over on the Mayflower to the ugliest mutt you’ve ever seen.

He loved all animals really. Except spiders. He had an unnatural fear of them. Like his mom. Miss my boy who died by suicide and all his quirks. This one from my friend Melissa.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by #griefheart category.

Get updates to this project by subscribing

Why

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