From Grief - Action and Change - 2 Stories
I wanted to share these two stories with you. They show how two people had channeled loss and grief into actions that create change - change that can help others.
Becoming an Activist after Sister’s Suicide
Antonia Clifford’s sister Jenine was being treated for bipolar disorder, and this combined with issues of sexual identity (Jenine revealed to Antonia that she was bisexual) created a lot of stress for the teen.
Then, as these things were wont to unfold, Jenine killed herself after what seemed like a happy family vacation.
According to National Institute of Mental Health, there are data linking higher suicide rates amongst highschool students and homosexuality or bisexuality issues. Antonia became active in the community through her grief. She cowrote a play on homophobia and started collecting petition signatures to start a diversity club at her highschool that would address gay rights, environmental, and social issues.
Diana Heil writes about Antonia’s story in The New Mexican.
Memoir About Son’s Depression and Suicide
When Oregon senator Gordon Smith called his college-age son Garrett, he got a greeting that said, “I’m not feeling well, please don’t call me anymore.” Then Mr. Smith was visited by the police, who informed him that Garrett had committed suicide.
Mr. Smith wrote a book called, “Remembering Garrett; One Family’s Battle With a Child’s Depression” and described Garrett’s depression, bipolar disorder, and suicide. It wasn’t until depression and suicide struck home that Mr. Smith realized how many young people in Smith’s Utah state have killed themselves - in fact, Garrett was 1 of 8 students there who committed suicide. Until then, Mr. Smith also knew little about depression, bipolar disorder, or the warning signs of suicide.
Susan Whitney of Deseret Morning News writes about Mr. Smith’s story.
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