As Memorial Day approaches, let’s remember and honor the brave men and women who served in the military and tragically lost their lives to suicide. These individuals made tremendous sacrifices for their country, yet their struggles with mental health and the invisible wounds of war often went unnoticed. We often acknowledge members of our military […] The post Honoring Military Heroes: Remembering Those Lost to Suicide appeared first on Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors ..read more

A mother’s love Joined by cord Made of flesh Cut at birth Never separated Unbroken connection Woven in nucleus Wrapped by DNA Center of my heart Anchor to my soul. A mother’s love Vast as the stars That light up night Bright as daybreak That pierces dark Unshifting In winds, and rain Unfettered by storms […] The post A Mother’s Love appeared first on Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors ..read more

Yesterday, while searching through my old digital journals for something specific, I found a short piece written around two years after the loss of my child. I must have heard an interview or something because I was questioning if the woman was truthful about finding peace and acceptance of her son’s passing five years earlier. […] The post You Will Not Always Feel the Way You Do Right Now appeared first on Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors ..read more

They asked me if she was strong. And I said yes. I said yes without hesitation. Because I’d seen her pick her heavy heart up off the floor, even when it weighed a ton. Because I’d watched her claw her way back from rock bottom, even when it was a steep and treacherous climb. Because […] The post Strong appeared first on Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors ..read more

After we lost our son, we had no idea what we wanted to do in the way of a memorial/grave for his ashes/ or ??? We sold our house, figured out how to retire early, and spent a few months wandering around the city we had relocated to (with our son) and had found little […] The post Music In the Cemetery appeared first on Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors ..read more

“You will not always hurt like this.” These words are true. If they do not reach your heart today, do not reject them: keep them in your mind. One morning – not tomorrow perhaps, but the day after tomorrow, or the month after next month. One morning, the dawn will wake you with the inconceivable […] The post Note to Self and for Those Who Need to Read This Today! appeared first on Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors ..read more

Is suicide selfish? It’s a question I am asked frequently in my work as a trusted advisor within the military and veteran community. This question was posed to me during media interviews following the news of the tragic deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. “Suicide undoubtedly leaves behind a trail of devastation, profoundly affecting […] The post Is Suicide Selfish? Understanding the Suicidal Mind appeared first on Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors ..read more

Sometimes I cannot believe I am almost through the second year of grieving the loss of my handsome, clever, funny, first born son, Matthew. I went to a Buddhist day retreat seeking peace. Throughout the first year, I felt as if I was clinging onto the edge of my life, submerged in grief, my thoughts […] The post Survivor Experience: Closing In On Two Years appeared first on Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors ..read more

Ignorance is bliss … so they say. You don’t know … till you know. After being thrust into tragedy, a whole new world of knowledge opened up for me. Knowledge I, in some ways, wish I was still blissfully ignorant of. But knowledge that opened up my eyes, nonetheless. I finally understood the shallowness of […] The post The Things I Understood After Grief appeared first on Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors ..read more

WHY STAYING CONNECTED WITH A LOST LOVED ONE IS A HEALTHY WAY TO GRIEVE In the acclaimed Netflix comedy series After Life, Ricky Gervais plays Tony, a widower consumed by his grief following the death of his wife. Tony makes it his mission to alienate his friends and family but strikes up an unlikely friendship […] The post 5 Tips for Continuing Bonds with People We’ve Lost appeared first on Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors ..read more