Remembering Those We’ve Lost.

Nearly one million people die by suicide every year—and for each life lost, there is a family and community greatly impacted. Suddenly, they are confronted not only with the loss of a loved one, but the persistent questions that fill their absence. The answers may never come—but we believe the questions themselves unite us and are reason enough to strive to change the numbers, to try to stop another life from ending. During National Suicide Prevention Week, we pause to look back so that we might better move forward.

HAVE YOU EVER LOST SOMEONE TO SUICIDE? HOW DID THAT AFFECT YOU?

“Yes, my cousin. I still don’t know why, and it still hurts. It also made me more determined to be there for anyone and to get the word out that this is a serious issue.”

“My brother was my first best friend. I still can’t understand how he is no longer here. It has been over a year, and it hasn’t gotten any easier. I never knew that he was so sad and felt so hopeless.”

“I spent high school and college sleeping with my phone beneath my pillow, constantly feeling like I had to be there as a lifeline. TWLOHA has helped me to help them, but to also seek the help that I needed for myself—especially when it came time for me to step back and connect my friends directly to help.” - Jessica, 22

 “I didn’t know him very well, if I even did at all, but my father’s brother killed himself. I can’t remember a face or a voice, or even a name, but the fact that he felt so trapped haunts me.” – AJ, 17

“Yes, not a friend, but more of an acquaintance. It knocked the wind out of me and put my life into perspective.”

“Losing Graham and Darryl sent me to the darkest corners of the universe, and brought me back to a place of hope and light and love. The contrast is unbelievable.” –Colleen, 21

“It affected me in a negative way for a time but in the end, it helped me realize how serious prevention is. Losing someone to suicide opens your eyes to the world of prevention, and really makes you want to help anyone who felt the way your loved one did, and to stop them from doing what your loved one resorted to.” – Emily, 14

“It left so many questions unanswered. “Why? Why? Why? What could I have done?” It made me realize how important it is that the silence be broken. And it made me realize that the only difference between me and them is that I’m still here. I have a responsibility to talk and share and to fight to stay here and to fight for others to stay here, too.”

 “He was the love of my life. It deeply impacted me emotionally. After I learned how to properly and safely cope, I try my best to tell people about my experience and help them through their own.” – Abby, 17

“I lost my father to suicide just 7 weeks ago. The news devastated me. The news turned my world upside down. I still don’t know how to cope with this loss. I miss him.”

“I just lost my friend to suicide. I knew that she had struggled with eating disorders and mental health, but I never was able to say anything encouraging to her. Her recent suicide gives me the realization that we need to talk about suicide. I’ve decided that I will be the friend that will be there for my friends when they are depressed. I will ask them the question that no one dares to ask, and I will tell them that they are loved.” – - Hannah, 18

“I have never lost someone to suicide, but I have had friends who have attempted suicide, and it’s made me view life as so precious. It’s made me put great importance on making sure myself, family, friends, peers all take care of themselves spiritually, emotionally and mentally.”

“My brother, the year before I was born. I never got to meet him, and I never got to have the overprotective big brother experience, and I never had a big brother to go to when I needed him.” – Sam

“My big sister took her life on July 29, 2011. A piece of me will always be missing without Teresa. She was a huge supporter of TWLOHA. I plan to do whatever I can to make a change in the schools, community, and in families in terms of how they handle those who suffer from mental health disorders.”

“I wish I saw Ryan’s Facebook post just a little bit earlier. I wish I knew. I know it isn’t my fault… but I wish I could have helped save him and Logan. I wish I could have shared my story with them.”

“I’ve lost my dear friend Jamey. It was the worst time of my life. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about him.” - Christina, 16

“I lost my cousin. He was only 16 years old and even though I hardly knew him, it broke my heart when I heard about what happened. It has made me more cautious when it comes to friends and others who are showing signs of depression and/or suicidal thoughts.” - Savanna, 16

“About four years ago I lost my cousin, who I considered a great friend, to suicide. This devastated me and affected me in a very negative way. I lived in darkness and solitude for months until I found out about TWLOHA and sought help. I went to therapy because I realized I didn’t want to end my life. Last week I lost a classmate to suicide, and it brought up the previous emotions. I just feel like I need to do more to help others…”

“A loved one slowly slipped away. She seemed like she was on top of the world and it suddenly disappeared. I think about her constantly and she is always on my heart.” – Annie, 20

“I lost my ex-boyfriend who was my best friend on my birthday a year ago to suicide. It was and still is one of the hardest things I have had to go through. I pray others never have to go through this.” - Elle, 28

“I have lost 4 friends to suicide, one during each year of high school. Each one affected me greatly…”

“I have never lost a loved one to suicide. Thankfully fate has intervened in each of our lives and kept those of us at risk, in tact. Although we probably continue to struggle more than we’d each admit, my loved ones are still here. It is amazing and devastating to me to think about how many people in my life have lost others to suicide.” – Erin, 22

“Four people in my family tree have committed suicide. Suicide has devastated my family; it makes me want to fight to stop it.”

“A friend of mine from high school committed suicide about two and a half years ago. Anytime my depression gets unbearable, I have to remind myself that the storm will pass and that it would devastate my friends and family. I don’t want them to have to miss me like we all miss her.” - Ashleigh, 26

“I lost a great uncle to suicide… I don’t want any other family to have to go through that.”

“A friend of mine has (lost someone to suicide). And I was there when she found out… It broke me, but it pushed me to want to spread life even more. And to spread life through the names of those who no longer live on earth.”

“A classmate. It has affected me by me wanting to be more involved in prevention and informing people that it is preventable.”

“My friend committed suicide November 12, 2010, two months before her 13th birthday. She was the first person I had known that died. I’m still hurt by it, but because of her, suicide prevention has become important to me.” – Alanna, 15

“Yes, my uncle. It’s so surreal. For a long time I held in my emotions because I had to be strong for my mom.”

“I lost my friends Louis and Macy to suicide… I know that I couldn’t have known the troubles that they hid from everyone, but I wish they could have talked to someone about their problem and got the help they needed desperately.” - Megan, 19

Have you lost someone to suicide? Share your story using the hashtag #NSPW12. You can learn more about NSPW and see how others are participating by following TWLOHA. 

#PleaseStayAlive.