Suicide & Mental Health Awareness
Donation protected
This is my beautiful sister. Today is her 26th birthday. Sadly, she isn't here to celebrate with us.
On September 4th, our world changed forever. Time stood still as I held my baby sister's lifeless body in my arms. You see, my sister's struggle was REAL. Her pain was REAL. Her depression was REAL. Her loneliness was REAL. And she surrendered. Surrendered to life.
My sister, Breann, was brilliant, one of the smartest people I've ever met. She had a delicate way of putting a pen to paper which allowed people to travel to a different world, a world of untangled feelings and a new understanding, all through her words. Her laugh was contagious and her wittiness and sense of humor captivated everyone around her. A gentleness about her soul brought comfort to so many people. In her eyes, everyone was deserving of grace, except herself.
I promised my sister that I would fight this fight with her, by her side, and I did, and I will continue to do whatever I can for others who are struggling in the same ways that her and my family have over the last few years. She was so discouraged by our mental health system, the lack of appropriate resources and the overwhelming shame and stigma surrounding people that struggle with mental illness. WE as a family want to do our part in trying to change this. We believe that helping one person is better than helping none and more change comes from an army of love united than one person on their own.
Part of these funds will be going to a family that will always have a special place in my heart. The Chaplain who held my hand and comforted me for hours after I found my sister, also lost his father from suicide. Not only do we share the pain and understanding of losing someone who has passed by suicide, he also has a daughter who has struggled for many years with a mental illness like my sister did and because of insurance stipulations and lack of funds, has not been able to get the care she really needs. She was admitted into a facility a fews days ago and many of these donations will go to their family to help her get the treatment she needs.
The other part of these funds will go towards the non profit that I will be starting at the beginning of the year in honor of my sister, that will be sponsoring families like ours. The funds will help pay for necessary treatments, insurance deductibles and premiums, better medications that aren't covered by insurance, genetic testing, therapies for the families, and other necessary costs. We will also be fighting to raise awareness of suicide and mental illness. We will be sharing our stories, my sisters stories and encouraging people to share their stories as well, without shame.
Please stay turned for updates!
If you have a story you'd like to share or would like to a nominate a family for help, please email me at
[email redacted]
In the U.S approximately 1 in every 5 people, that is over 40 million people, will struggle with some kind of mental illness this year.
https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-By-the-Numbers
SUICIDE is the SECOND leading cause of death in the U.S for people between the ages of 15 and 34.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide/index.shtml
On September 4th, our world changed forever. Time stood still as I held my baby sister's lifeless body in my arms. You see, my sister's struggle was REAL. Her pain was REAL. Her depression was REAL. Her loneliness was REAL. And she surrendered. Surrendered to life.
My sister, Breann, was brilliant, one of the smartest people I've ever met. She had a delicate way of putting a pen to paper which allowed people to travel to a different world, a world of untangled feelings and a new understanding, all through her words. Her laugh was contagious and her wittiness and sense of humor captivated everyone around her. A gentleness about her soul brought comfort to so many people. In her eyes, everyone was deserving of grace, except herself.
I promised my sister that I would fight this fight with her, by her side, and I did, and I will continue to do whatever I can for others who are struggling in the same ways that her and my family have over the last few years. She was so discouraged by our mental health system, the lack of appropriate resources and the overwhelming shame and stigma surrounding people that struggle with mental illness. WE as a family want to do our part in trying to change this. We believe that helping one person is better than helping none and more change comes from an army of love united than one person on their own.
Part of these funds will be going to a family that will always have a special place in my heart. The Chaplain who held my hand and comforted me for hours after I found my sister, also lost his father from suicide. Not only do we share the pain and understanding of losing someone who has passed by suicide, he also has a daughter who has struggled for many years with a mental illness like my sister did and because of insurance stipulations and lack of funds, has not been able to get the care she really needs. She was admitted into a facility a fews days ago and many of these donations will go to their family to help her get the treatment she needs.
The other part of these funds will go towards the non profit that I will be starting at the beginning of the year in honor of my sister, that will be sponsoring families like ours. The funds will help pay for necessary treatments, insurance deductibles and premiums, better medications that aren't covered by insurance, genetic testing, therapies for the families, and other necessary costs. We will also be fighting to raise awareness of suicide and mental illness. We will be sharing our stories, my sisters stories and encouraging people to share their stories as well, without shame.
Please stay turned for updates!
If you have a story you'd like to share or would like to a nominate a family for help, please email me at
[email redacted]
In the U.S approximately 1 in every 5 people, that is over 40 million people, will struggle with some kind of mental illness this year.
https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-By-the-Numbers
SUICIDE is the SECOND leading cause of death in the U.S for people between the ages of 15 and 34.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide/index.shtml
Organizer
Mezra Naomi Kerr
Organizer
Medford, OR
