Anna's Challenge

Thank you for caring about suicide prevention. SpeakUp ReachOut opened up a critical conversation about suicide in our daughter’s middle school that profoundly impacted our family.

In 8th grade, our daughter Anna struggled with social anxiety and depression. She felt bullied at school and was desperately searching for connection on social media. Like a lot of teens, she would make cryptic comments and post messages that, as her parents, we didn’t always see or hear.

The Signs of Suicide program inspired a classmate to reach out and quietly tell Anna she cared about her.

The student told a teacher she was worried that Anna might hurt herself. Later that night, another student confided in her mom that Anna had been talking about a suicide plan in an online chat room.

That mom called 911. A co-responder team with a Hope Center therapist came to our home. The SpeakUp ReachOut training and partnerships brought together caring people in the community that interrupted Anna’s suicide plan.

Because of you, SpeakUp ReachOut’s suicide prevention training made a real difference in our family’s life. There may have been a quite different outcome that night. You helped keep our daughter alive. With your generosity, Anna connected with her peers and opened up about thoughts of suicide with a safe group at school. Because of your faith and investment in SpeakUp ReachOut, Anna is still with us today. Thank you for being there when Anna needed you.

We are forever grateful to you,
Louise and John, Eagle

Erin Ivie