“If I die, I can’t be a surgeon” Mady Schmidt Age: 17 School: Kelly Walsh High School in Casper, Wyoming Loss to suicide: My brother’s name was Evan. He was 8 years older than ...
Tag Archives: loss survivor
Losing his only son
The way I grew up was fast and furious. You live hard and die young. It’s ingrained in us from early on. But now, at age 55, I’m thinking how am I going to live when my only son died by suicide? ...
No one is immune
Just like most Wyoming residents, Garrett Bardin’s parents never considered their only son could die by suicide. “This does happen. It’s a real possibility in all families. Whoever you are, you ...
Casper contagion
Three student suicides in Casper, Wyoming since October 2003 have moved school administrators to seek new ways to counter this tragedy by teaching suicide prevention. This represents positive ...
Legislative pioneer
U.S. Senator Harry Reid on suicide prevention As a survivor of the suicide loss of his father, Sen. Harry Reid calls on a very personal tragedy to influence mental health policy in our nation A ...
Postvention support
Louisiana survivors of suicide loss reflect on how self-inflicted death inflicts torment on others EDITOR’S NOTE: These quotes are from survivors of suicide loss, some of whom participate ...
Cultural disparities
Disproportionately high rates of poverty, unemployment, substance abuse and suicide have plagued Native Americans for decades. On some reservations unemployment is as high as 75 percent, and ...
Judy Collins on loss
Dispersing stigma American folk singer Judy Collins is dispelling the stigma of suicide through song, speaking engagements and inscribing the story of her only son’s self-inflicted death. Her ...
High cost of service
Some reflections from those who lost loved ones who served in the military to suicide: THE FRIEND: Thomas Cook, 35 “I believe he never left Vietnam in his head because he always talked ...
In his words
To my family: I don’t understand how a loving God would allow my head to be filled with such terrible thoughts all the time. Ever since coming out of the hospital the world has seemed like ...