Suicide Prevention and Awareness: A Grieving Mother Speaks Out After Loss

When Patty Kijawa’s teenage son Jack died by suicide, her world was shattered. Through unimaginable grief, she has found the strength to speak openly—hoping her family’s story might save another.

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Patty shares her journey as a grieving mother, the subtle changes and warning signs she wishes more families knew, and why teens often open up to friends rather than parents. Her message is one of both heartbreak and hope: that through awareness, compassion, and open conversations, we can prevent other families from experiencing the same loss.

If you’ve ever wondered what suicide warning signs to look for, or how to support a struggling teen, Patty’s voice offers both painful honesty and life-saving insight.

If you or someone you love is in crisis, please call or text 988 in the U.S. to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Primary Topics Covered:

• A mother’s story of losing her teenage son to suicide
• Why grief after suicide is uniquely painful and complex
• The subtle warning signs parents may miss
• Why teens often share their struggles with peers, not adults
• How one mother turned tragedy into suicide prevention advocacy
• Bringing awareness to schools and communities
• Faith, resilience, and finding meaning in loss
• Crisis resources and the importance of reaching out

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and suicide awareness message
 01:41 – Patty shares her son Jack’s story
 03:18 – Their last family conversation before his death
 04:37 – A mother’s final goodbye
 05:56 – Speaking about Jack at his memorial
 07:39 – What Jack wrote to encourage others
 08:12 – Private struggles revealed in his diary
 09:08 – Why suicide warning signs are easy to miss
 09:53 – Friends noticing changes before adults do
 10:39 – Red flags and behaviors parents should watch for
 10:58 – Patty shares her message in schools
 11:31 – Faith and finding purpose through grief
 12:23 – Suicide prevention resources and support

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