Suicide Archives - Life Unadorned

How to Help a Friend Who’s Lost a Loved One to Suicide

I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. To loss a loved one to suicide. So what do you do when a dear friend losses someone they love? You want to be there for your friend, and help them in their time of grief. But it can feel so overwhelming knowing what to do to support […]

Do we smile at this kind of event? #SuicidePrevention

Filed Under: Charity Events, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Suicide

Sunday was our big community walk for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention here locally in Seattle. You may know I’m on a Board of Directors here in Washington State, so I was there as volunteer event staff, a new position for me. At last year’s Seattle walk I was a volunteer handing out honor beads to […]

Be a Superhero #EndSuicide

Filed Under: Mental Health, Mental Illness, Suicide

These people are real live superheroes. Each one has survived intense suicidal thoughts and/or suicide attempts. They all have an illness that’s symptoms often include intrusive thoughts of wanting to die. And that is so so very scary and sad and frustrating, but no matter what, they continue to fight. So to me that makes them superheroes, even if […]

Seattle Seahawks Recognize Suicide Prevention

Filed Under: Mental Health, Suicide

Friday night our American Foundation for Suicide Prevention chapter was recognized at the Seattle Seahawks preseason game. My fellow board member Heather and I were there on the field and up on the jumbotron sharing the message of suicide prevention. It was such a thrill to reach so many people about our cause! Because I know its […]

Avoid the Media and Reach Out

Filed Under: Media, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Self Care, Suicide

There is so much sadness all over the internet today–as well as ignorance about mental illness and suicide–for me and for many who have either lost loved ones or who struggle themselves, it’s really hard to read. The loss of a beloved public figure like Robin Williams is heartbreaking. We all feel as though we […]

Spontaneous Combustion

Filed Under: Charity Events, Mental Illness, Suicide

I always burn out after a big event. Sometimes I think of it as a hangover, but this year its definite burnout. So its taken me several days to write this. After months of fundraising and planning, last weekend was the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Overnight Walk, bringing suicide out of the darkness. This […]

Honoring Loved Ones Lost

Filed Under: Charity Events, Mental Health, Suicide

Next month I’ll be walking in the Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk in Seattle. And I’d like to honor your loved ones lost to suicide. Last year in DC I walked wearing this shirt. I’ll be honoring these beautiful very-loved people again this year but have been given a few more names and plan […]

My story is not over; and neither is yours.

Filed Under: Mental Health, Mental Illness, PPD, Suicide

A semicolon represents a sentence the author could have ended; but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life. Today is April 16th, which is the day of the Semi Colon Project. A day when those who have struggled with grief, or been suicidal, or self harmed, or lived with […]

Our Stories Are Not Over #SemicolonProject416

Filed Under: Mental Health, Mental Illness, Self Image, Suicide

I recently read about the Semicolon Project on Healthy Place. It really spoke to me, and when I shared the information in my mental health blogs group on Facebook, many of my fellow advocates responded to the campaign; especially as writers living with mental illness. I just love the imagery and personal statement of this awareness […]

The Life Saver

Filed Under: Charity Events, Mental Health, Mental Illness, PPD, Suicide

I stayed up past 3am drawing something… I was so inspired and moved to be creating it that I just couldn’t stop. I know some of you (but definitely not all of you) know I’ve been struggling in a manic phase. I saw my doctor just under 2 weeks ago and she completely revised my […]

Social Media Butterflies: Suicide Prevention Fundraiser

Filed Under: Blogs, Charity Events, Mental Health, Suicide

. Right now I’m in the middle of a very important project. I’m raising funds for suicide prevention. For the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to be more specific. I’m sure you’ve heard me talking about it, but if you haven’t, a couple months ago I created some original art that I titled the […]