A few years ago, we were blessed with an opportunity that felt both tender and important, to participate in a short video created by a Montclair State student who sought to honor the experiences of families grieving the loss of children to suicide. Through her thoughtful interviews, she captured not just our stories, but our love and struggles. You’ll see photos of our beloved John and other children lost by two other families, each face representing a life that mattered deeply to those who loved them. This video is our attempt to transform our private pain into something visible, something that says: we were here, they were loved, and we remain.
A Gift We Never Wanted
The loss of a loved one to suicide is an unfathomable grief, one that far too many of us know all too intimately. Yet from this devastation, something profound has emerged in our hearts. Each family who shared their story in this video has discovered what we might call an unexpected gift: the ability to reach out to others walking this same lonely path. Our eyes and hearts have been opened, and we’ve found ourselves called to give back to our communities in ways we never imagined. Through our survival, we’ve learned to advocate, support, and create awareness for countless others who understand this unique and isolating loss.
Breaking the Silence on Suicide Loss
With nearly 50,000 suicides in the United States each year, the impact of this tragedy touches far more families than many realize. By sharing our stories, we hope to break the silence surrounding suicide loss and help our communities truly understand its reach.
Finding Meaning After Tragedy
To those who grieve: you are not alone. There is life after loss. We are proof that survival is possible, that meaning can be found, and that love endures even in the face of unimaginable loss. We invite you to watch the video and join us in honoring those we’ve lost while supporting one another in our continued healing.
Other Posts You May Also Find Helpful
- Telling Your Story After Suicide Loss: A Guide to Sharing on Your Terms – Understanding when and how to share your story publicly, and what it means to transform private pain into visible testimony.
- Understanding Suicide Notes: Honoring the Whole Person – Remembering the fullness of who they were beyond their final moments, keeping their complete story alive.
- Finding Your People: The Healing Power of Support Groups – Connecting with others who understand this unique loss and finding community in shared experience.
- What Does Healing Look Like – Understanding how meaning and purpose can emerge from loss as part of the healing journey.
- Ritual and Remembrance – Creating meaningful ways to honor and remember the person you lost, keeping their story and memory alive.
- Something You Get Through: Finding Hope After Suicide Loss – Understanding that there truly is life after loss and that healing, while difficult, is possible.
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