Our LAX2LIVE Program was started to communicate the importance of mental health for high school lacrosse players. This year’s program reached record high numbers of student athletes, students, family members, and friends. LAX2LIVE focuses on the importance of one’s mental health, the need to reach out for help if you or someone you know is struggling, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – a resource that can save the life of someone who is in crisis.
Participating lacrosse players wore their LAX2LIVE t-shirts to school on game days, school administrations shared the purpose of the program to school communities and the players engaged in mental health conversations with their classmates throughout the day. The attention the student athletes gave to the program and to our conversations with them is a testament to the on-going and increased need for mental health discussions.
It is also a testament to the knowledge and understanding teenagers in our community have for the mental health crisis that exists in their age group as well as in society as a whole. Having approximately 1,000 student athletes’ undivided attention during our postgame discussions was truly amazing. Their head-nodding acknowledgements during our discussions and post-discussion thank yous were appreciative and heartfelt. They clearly understood and will benefit from our main message of, “It’s okay to not be okay” and, “It’s okay to ask for help.”
Thank you to the coaches, school administrations and most importantly the players from the 35 area high school lacrosse teams for the most successful LAX2LIVE season to date.
We encourage you all to be LAX2LIVE ambassadors for the wellbeing of yourselves and those in your lives.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Sharing the challenges millions of who are faced with their mental health challenges each and every day. Check out the Mental Health Foundation’s ultimate guide to mental health.
Thoughts on Mother’s Day
Sending love to all who are hurting with the thoughts of Mother’s Day.
For those who struggle with infertility, have lost a pregnancy, lost an infant.
Or lost a child at any age. The pain and grief can be overwhelming.
And my heart goes out to anyone missing their mom today.
Holding all of you close in my heart in the days and weeks ahead.
Other Updates
Now that spring is in full bloom, we are excited for what is happening at Healing Hearts. The cottage renovation is well underway (see our social media for updates!) and we look forward to hosting support groups and events there later this year.
Warmly –
Ann and the Brian Dagle Foundation Family
Dear Brian,
Without fail, almost to the day, every year at this time, the memories flood my heart of that early April day when you arrived, shadowed by the darkness when you left. Why am I surprised that the twelfth birthday without you should be any different? How do I accept what is unacceptable?
So, I search.
I search for you in the people and the places you loved. I search for you in the sky, in the stars, and in the sunsets. And I search for words to describe you. I try to describe how you loved with an intensity buried deep your gentle soul, reminding me of the words for Starry, Starry Night: “This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you”.
I search for an understanding of why life is this way, and you are there and me here. How do I accept the unacceptable?
Happy 31st birthday Brian.
No need to accept the unacceptable because we both know you’re still here with me and with all who love you.
Love,
Mom
Here we are in February. Heart health month. I wanted to share a message from my heart about your heart.
Many people who walk through the doors at Brian’s Healing Hearts are seeking help for their broken hearts. We talk about the strong connection between grief and health. The body understands when a heart has shattered. It undeniably responds with physical exhaustion, pain, illness, and sometimes heart disease.
Grief can be confusing because the heart and the brain are not always in sync, leaving you feeling like you’re losing your mind. The mind may understand that your loved one is not coming back. But the heart is usually slow to grasp onto reality, thinking your loved one is simply out of town or at work and will be home soon.
It’s ok.
In your own time, the reality sets in.
Rest, hydrate, try to eat healthy, and listen to your body.
Follow your heart, it will let you know what you need to heal.
This journey of love and loss is a constant reminder that – for better or worse – a broken heart still beats.
January 2023.
It will take some getting used to.
Another year, ready or not, life moves forward.
It still surprises me to be able to say that despite Brian’s death, eleven years ago, that my life has moved forward. And it’s beautiful. I am deeply grateful.
Many of you had something to do with that. You’ve touched my heart in a way that leaves me speechless.
To the person who walks through our doors, I see you. I remember that feeling of walking into a room filled with strangers, seeing the tears in their eyes, thinking, how did this happen? Is this really my life? A grief group?
In time, your time, I know I will begin see a glimmer in your tearless eyes, the light is slowly returning. And I know, somehow, you’ll be ok.
I’ve received hugs, condolences, and thank you’s from kids, parents, and professionals for sharing Brian’s story and for giving them the language and skills they may need one day to say to someone, “I’m worried about you, how can I help?”
I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for all of you- supporters, volunteers, and generous donors. Because of all of you, the Brian Dagle Foundation continues to expand beyond our wildest dreams as we reach thousands of people seeking support.
I’m grateful for the beautiful, broken-hearted souls who walk into a support group in search of hope. And for the people who are willing to learn to start the hard conversations about suicide awareness and mental health.
You are the inspiration that drives our mission.
So, join me: take a moment as the new year begins to breathe it all in.
Breathe in the beauty, the messy, the love, and the grief. When you’re ready – if you haven’t yet – start.
Start where you are, and you will begin to discover the grace you need can be found when you unearth
who you were meant to be.
Happy New Year-
Ann
As we settle into the darker, colder days of early winter here in New England, with the holidays on the horizon, I wanted to share a few thoughts as we navigate the weeks ahead.
Remember, it’s ok to set limits on your productivity at work or at home.
Give yourself permissions to say no thank you to holiday invitations.
Maybe we should follow the path of Mother Nature this time of year.
Winter is not the time of growth but a time to reflect and find stillness in the darkness.
Many of us get melancholy this time of year. You many need to hold onto the traditions of your past or you’re ready to create new rituals honor the person you’ve become.
There is no right or wrong way to manage the holidays.
Find a moment to be still.
Listen to your heart.
It will always guide you in the right direction.
Every November since I began writing a newsletter, I try my best to share my thoughts about Brian and the emotions surrounding date he left this earth, November 12, 2011.
Eleven years.
Thinking about that day, really thinking about it – I question how I survived.
It feels like a lifetime.
It feels like yesterday.
My mind wanders a lot in the days leading up to November 12th.
Remembering, questioning, wondering about the days and weeks before. It wanders to the future that didn’t happen for him. For the person he didn’t grow to become. For the hugs I can no longer receive.
But I must believe Brian is here with us. I feel it. I know it in my heart. What other reason could there be for me being here.
I trust and believe that Brian’s story doesn’t end. He is not physically here with us but Brian is with every person he knew and loved. I see him within the hearts of his brothers. I see him in the unbreakable bond of his cousins and friends. In our own way, we live and love for him and all that he was. His story continues through each one of us.
Today and every day I promise to continue his story, to make a difference because of him. We will touch lives because of him. He is my reason for everything I do.
And to all who have followed my journey or have come into my life because of your loss and for those who have heard our message on suicide awareness: gratitude doesn’t describe the emotions within my heart. You have trusted me with your heart. I only hope that I continue to earn your trust as we walk together one step at a time.
With love and gratitude-
Ann
September has been a whirlwind of events to promote National Suicide Awareness Month. Talks, presentations, interviews, events, and fundraisers for both the Brian Dagle Foundation and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. I’ll be honest, it’s been exhausting, both physically and emotionally. But we continue to do it for Brian and for all the others out there who didn’t know how to share the depths of their darkness.
For parents, I pray never have to know the pain of losing a child to suicide.
For anyone struggling, you are not alone.
It’s been incredible to see people engaging in the conversation about suicide prevention. People want to learn the warning signs. They want to educate themselves on how to have a conversation if they’re concerned about someone. They want to know how to make a difference and save a life. I see them, united at walks and community conversations, ready to make a difference.
Eleven years ago, I didn’t know anything about suicide or mental health. I didn’t know the warning signs or have the language to talk to my son. Maybe if I had known, the trajectory of my life would be very different.
Brian is my reason for standing taller, and speaking louder.
Grateful for everyone’s continued love and support!
As the summer winds down, the Brian Dagle Foundation is preparing for National Suicide Awareness Month beginning September 1st.
This is the month that I stand a little taller, speak a little louder, and be the voice for the more than 46,000 people we lose to suicide each year.
The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher. In 2020, an estimated 12.2 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.2 million planned a suicide attempt, and 1.2 million attempted suicides.
This is the month I share, I educate, I advocate, and do whatever I need to be heard. Eleven years ago, I didn’t know depression could be fatal. I didn’t know the warning signs of suicide or who was at risk for taking their life. I often share if I did know, maybe my life would be on a much different path. I do this for my son, Brian. I do this so we can prevent other families from experiencing that tragedy our family experienced.
Each year the Brian Dagle Foundation partners with the Connecticut Chapter for Suicide Prevention for the Southeastern Connecticut Out of the Darkness Walk at McCook’s Beach in Niantic. This year it’s on September 24th at 10am. On this day we are joined by fellow survivors of loss, people who’ve attempted, family members walking in honor of their person, others walking because they struggle with mental health, and many are there to support the cause. It’s a day of healing and hope for everyone participating in the walk.
We are grateful for the support of our community: the schools, the town and state leaders, businesses, and people. You have helped elevate our voice, share our mission, and understand the need talk about and take action on suicide awareness and prevention. I’ve seen a shift happen since I started sharing this message. People are now ready and willing to have to conversation.
But it’s just the beginning. This month we invite you to share in the conversation, educate yourself, and make a difference.
On July 16, 2022, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK (8255)) is becoming the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. In Connecticut, the United Way of Connecticut/211 (UWC) Health and Human Services Contact Center is the only provider answering calls for the NSPL/988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The 800 line and 211 will not go away in the event people need to call and aren’t familiar yet with 988.
It will take time for people to learn about 988, and using a “no wrong door” approach is imperative to support timely crisis response. The UWC Contact Center services a person receives are the same at the call center level regardless of which number they use as the access point.
The UWC Contact Center has built its capacity and is ready to receive 988 calls. It is well staffed and has a high answer rate. Text and chat services have not yet been initiated for 988, so any 988 texters/chatters will be served by a national text or chat center.
Given that the call, text and chat services are part of a national and statewide telecommunications and crisis care system still being developed in some states and enhanced in others, there will be challenges needing to be addressed in the first year, the “soft launch” test period. Therefore, at the national level the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) leading this initiative has asked states and territories to hold off from releasing large 988 promotion campaigns until July 2023; however, we see that the media coverage is already increasing use of the NSPL/988.
