Dear Survivors & Friends,

It wasn’t until I became a survivor of suicide, that I realized how many lives suicide and depression touch on a daily basis. After my husband died by suicide I was amazed at the number of people who opened up and told me that someone in their lives died by suicide. Many of these people I had known for years; and others I had never met before; but because I was now a survivor, they felt comfortable sharing their stories with me. Although they may not have known it, their willingness to share their stories with me has given me the strength to tell mine.

My husband, Martin, was a loving, charismatic, charming man. I love him dearly and I know he loved me. He was a pediatrician that was highly regarded in our community and was loved and adored by his family, friends, colleagues and patients. We were married for 4 ½ years. Although it wasn’t a perfect marriage, I can honestly say that our good days easily outweighed our bad ones. Martin was diagnosed with depression and he died by suicide on March 7, 2007. Not only is that the day I lost my husband and my best friend, but that is the day I became a survivor of suicide.

As survivors, we oftentimes feel alone and think that there isn’t anyone who can understand the pain, guilt, anger and sadness we are experiencing. But the fact that more people die by suicide than by homicide in America –an extremely disturbing statistic- proves that we are not alone, we just don’t talk about it.

I refuse to be silent about this important issue. Suicide is claiming millions of lives throughout the world every year, and this year my husband was one of them, but I am not going to let my husband simply become a statistic. Yes, he died by suicide, but his death has also helped me find my purpose. Sunday Morning was a vision that God placed in my spirit a few months after Martin’s death.

After much prayer, research and many in-depth conversations with other survivors, I am launching this website on National Survivors of Suicide Day (November 17, 2007). The purpose of this website is to create a space where people whose lives have been touched by suicide can arm ourselves with information, share our stories and have open, honest discussions about this sensitive topic.

I realize that I am a fairly new survivor and that my journey has only just begun. Hearing the stories of other survivors has been extremely helpful for me. I recently talked to a woman whose husband died by suicide 10 years ago. I was honored just to meet her. And after talking to her I realized that my life isn’t over because of Martin’s death. I realized that, although the journey will be long and hard, I will get through this because I am a survivor. And if you’re reading this and you’re on the same journey, please know that you are not alone and that God will see us through.

My life has not been easy, but it has been blessed. And despite my husband’s death, I know that I am blessed to be a blessing. I pray that this website is a helpful resource for you. Please feel free to contact me with any suggestions, comments or to share your story. I would love to hear from you.

God Bless,

Nepherterra Skala
Founder
survivorsofsuicide@gmail.com