Tag Archive for suicide resources

Emotional Healing: The Benefits of Honoring Emotions

John Lennon quote | Dianna Bonny Photography

I used to love driving my kids to and from school. Elementary school was fairly close, but for middle and high school, I was one of those parents who chose schools that required going the distance. As it turned out, those long drives were encapsulated moments of amazing connection and discovery. The time was precious — we were enclosed in…

Suicide Chat: Making the Topic of Suicide Less Taboo

Dianna Bonny Lotus Icon

“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because…

Suicide Awareness: Thinking and Speaking of Suicide

John Lennon quote | Dianna Bonny Photography

As suicide rates continue to climb, I have to think that perhaps the way we think and talk (or not talk) about it are not working. Having spent the last four years acclimating to being a part of this culture, I have fully experienced its taboo nature and the way people emotionally retreat in its presence. It is, without a…

Suicide Resources: Section 504 Support for Children

proust quote | Dianna Bonny Photography

If you are navigating the aftermath of a parent suicide and have school age children, I strongly recommend pursuing Section 504 accommodations as a safety net for them. Simply put, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act guarantees certain rights to people with disabilities and applies to any agency receiving federal funds, such as a school. A child dealing with the…

On Courage, Casseroles and Expressing Sympathy After a Suicide

expressions of sympathy flowers

I felt very loved during the first few weeks after the suicide. Friends and family flew in from near and far; even the best man from my wedding, who lives in Belgium, came to visit. People brought an overwhelming bounty of food and flowers and wine. I would arrive home and find breathtaking floral arrangements and casseroles on the outside…

Life After Suicide: Reflections on Healing & the Suicide Epidemic

be kind quote | Dianna Bonny Photography

The news has been full of rather grim stories lately. Although I’m not one to watch much television, I got hooked a couple weeks ago trying to learn a bit more about Oscar Pistorius. After a week of obsessing over the mysterious disappearance of the Malaysian jet, my thoughts have turned to the family of L’Wren Scott. I have to…

How to Talk to Children About Suicide: The Power of Conversation

hug connection

When I dreamt of becoming a mother, I never imagined that one day I would look into the eyes of my children to begin a discussion about their father’s choice to end his life. But that is exactly what happened. As I searched their faces for clues during those first few days, I realized I was going to have to…

Coping with Suicide: A Poem About Loss

Dianna Bonny Lotus Icon

This poem was sent to me by a woman I know whose son recently took his own life. She received it from a friend and found great solace in the words. I can understand why and wanted to share it with you.   There is a brokenness out of which comes the unbroken, a shatteredness out of which blooms the unshatterable.…