The Journey

Welcome to the Brian Dagle Foundation. We’re glad you’re here.

This Foundation was created as a way to share and continue Brian’s immense love – his love for life, for family and for friends. Brian died by suicide in November of 2011.

On that devastating day, our family, Brian’s friends and the community in which we live felt as though we were hit by a tsunami, and in many ways, we were.   We were plagued by the question of how this seemingly happy, friendly, smiling young man could take his own life.  But we now know that behind his warm, infectious, beautiful smile was a young man suffering in silence from depression and anxiety; a young man who didn’t realize that it was okay to ask for help.

In the early weeks, months, and even years after Brian’s death, I was searching for a way to survive my devastating loss.  My crippling grief and feelings of isolation were further complicated by the lack of grief support resources in Southeastern Connecticut.  In 2014, my family and I opted to channel our grief into a purpose, and we established the Brian Dagle Foundation. Our goal was to fill the gaping need for grief support services for anyone struggling after the loss of a loved one and to provide education and training on suicide awareness and prevention. 

I am beyond proud of the work of the Brian Dagle Foundation and Brian’s Healing Hearts Center for Hope and Healing.  It has become a safe place in our community for people to begin and continue the long road of healing through support groups for the loss of a spouse, a child, loss by suicide, dedicated resources for young adults, among others. The Foundation has also become a resource for suicide prevention and awareness with evidenced-based program implemented throughout our region & school systems. 

Today, there are many lessons I’ve learned on this journey. Perhaps the most important one is the certainty that love never dies.

I’ve learned that although I will never “recover” or “be all better” from the loss of Brian, that it’s ok to be happy, to feel joy, and to feel and give love. Brian will forever be a part of my life, my soul. I am who I am because of him.  It is my hope that others who have lost a special person in their life or struggle with mental health, that you, too, will learn to live the life you were put on this earth to live.

Wishing you moments of peace –

Ann
President and Co-founder of
The Brian Dagle Foundation