“Those who expect you to get over grief have never suffered life-altering loss.” – Lisa Appelo
This blog is difficult for me, as I am trying to navigate writing this in my professional self and my personal self, so here’s a little bit of both. This November 29 will mark 6 years since I lost my brother, Kyle, to suicide.

According to a study by Adams, etc. in 2000 with 177 participants, 30% of pet owners experienced severe grief from losing their pet, while the remaining participants reported some impact with loss of their pets whether it was emotional, physical, or even social. People are impacted by pet grief as we often consider them a part of the family.

This is a topic most don’t want to think about, let alone talk about. However, that may be some of the problem. Not only is it important to acknowledge the problem, but educating yourself on signs and symptoms of poor mental health and suicide risk behaviors can help minimize the loss of life. If you know a child, in any capacity, this post is for you.