What I Wish I Knew About Suicide Prevention Before It Hit My Family
Suicide Prevention Wasn’t Something I Thought My Family Needed
I never thought suicide would touch my family the way it did.
I had my own struggles with suicidal thoughts at different points in my life. And when I was young, a teen in our church attempted suicide. She survived, and the church was open about what had happened. I think that’s one reason I never associated stigma with suicide.
But even with that awareness, I never saw it coming for my husband.
I Didn’t See the Signs—But I Wish I Had
He had told me before that he had thought about suicide in the past, but to me, those thoughts seemed distant—far away, not part of our lives. But they were.
I wish I had known that suicide wasn’t something that only happened to other people. I wish I had understood that mental health struggles, including suicidal thoughts, don’t disappear in a marriage built on faith. I wish I had seen the signs.
But the truth is, I didn’t know what to look for. And my husband—out of fear—hid what was happening to him. The signs I did notice made me think our marriage was falling apart, not that his life was on the line.
What I Wish I Knew About Asking the Right Questions
There was so much I didn’t know. And there always will be. But at the very least, I wish I had known how to ask about suicide. I wish I had known how to listen—not just to his words, but to his silence. I wish I had known how to see what I was missing. I wish I had known where to turn for help.
Resources Like 988 Didn’t Exist When I Needed Them
At the time, resources like the 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline didn’t exist. Today, in Canada and the U.S., all we have to do is call or text 988 to get help in a crisis.
But back then, I had no idea where to turn. I had never heard of programs like safeTALK, ASIST, or Mental Health First Aid—training that teaches everyday people like me how to recognize the warning signs of suicide, have open and direct conversations, and create safety plans with those in distress.
I didn’t know these life-saving skills existed.
Not until after suicide intersected with my own life.
Suicide Prevention Training Can Save Lives
Today, suicide prevention awareness is the number one thing I talk about. It’s the work I do every day. And it’s why I wrote Breathe: A True Story About Marriage, Faith, and Attempted Suicide—to help others learn what I wish I had known before it was too late.
Start the Conversation Today—It Could Save a Life
If you’ve never had a conversation about suicide, start today.
- Learn the signs.
- Take a course.
- Be the person who knows how to ask, listen, and support.
Because the more we understand, the more lives we can help save.
📖 Breathe is available now for pre-order. (Official Release March 8, 2025)
Click here for the pre-order link Canada.
Click here for the pre-order link USA.