I'm Always Here For You

Lisa participated in a WinterSpring grief support group at Ashland High School after the death by suicide of a friend and classmate. For Lisa, this was the fourth significant loss in eighteen months. Her older sister, Angela, was killed in a car crash. When Tulip, the family dog and Angela's close companion, died, the family felt the anguish of losing this living connection to Angela, as well as the loss of a loved pet. Only weeks after Lisa's friend shot himself, her beloved Aunt Chris died from complications of Multiple Sclerosis. Lisa describes the WinterSpring group as one of the elements in her ability to maintain her dreams, her straight A grade record, and an optimistic outlook on life despite the losses which might devastate a person of any age.

After Angie's funeral, Lisa received a card from her. Within the message was the promise, "Just remember, I'm always here for you if you need ANYTHING. I'm as close as a pen and paper away, and you can tell me anything you want." Lisa kept that vital correspondence after her sister's death by writing a journal of letters to her. In the WinterSpring group and within her family, Lisa has learned the value of memorializing her loved ones, and draws comfort from sharing with other family members, especially on the anniversary of her sister's death or birthday. "I honestly think I'm happier than other people, because small things don't bother me anymore. I want to be happy while I'm here, and live life to the fullest. Before, I didn't really know what was important."

School counselors requested the group. They were concerned about students who'd been especially close to the youth who died, knowing that adolescent suicides are often a precipitating factor in later suicides. Lisa, one of two girls in the group, says she appreciated "hearing what the guys had to say." She said having the group with a WinterSpring facilitator, "Helped us face it... After things like that happen there's so many things you want to say, and you want to say it to certain people in a certain environment, and it was perfect for that."