Let me tell you how suicide has touched me. When I lost my closest ally and best friend in this world, my mother, at age 13 from cancer--- I wanted to join her. I didn't want to suffer the loneliness and pain the world kept throwing at me. It was dark days and dark times 15 years ago. Then I stumbled upon this website. I met wonderful people on the other side of the fence. I empathized with their pain and connected the dots. I persevered and kept pushing. "Never surrender" I was told. "This too shall pass" I was encouraged it'd get better. Turn 18 and become an adult, reach for your dreams and look to the stars. Make a wish and dream big. And so I did. Soon my name will have Dr in it. I work daily with trauma survivors and I've made a mission to instill hope in those that are hopeless professionally. This forum did that for me. Social support did that. Effort and not giving up. Love, more love, and trust in others. Talking about loss is the key to healing. Sharing our stories with others, whether on this side of the fence or that encourages us to continue. Suicide touches everyone.

I hadn't looked back on these dark days until they resurfaced a couple years ago. The struggle was real, the darkness awful. Stress made it worse. Treatment and help is available, you just have to ask and not give up. I knew that so I did it, despite it being challenging anyways. I learned this summer my great aunt that I always heard wonderful things about but never met, committed suicide decades ago. She was also in a helping profession. Her death was and had always been kept a secret until now. This touched me even though I didn't personally meet her. I knew it influenced my grandmother and pained her. I know I have to keep going. There is no other option.

That is my story. Despite hearing stories over and over all day. No one hears mine. But that's ok, I know it and that's all that matters. And now you do too.