- i understand suicide is an effect of mental/brain health illnesses or pain.
- i understand mental/brain health illnesses are treatable and preventable.
- i understand stigma is the #1 reason why someone would not seek treatment for mental/brain health illness; education and awareness are vital to saving and changing lives.
- i understand reaching out to those who are suffering could save a life; let someone know you are available and treat them with respect and compassion.
- i understand most people who are suicidal do not want to die; they want their pain to end.
- i understand speaking out about suicide may empower others to share their stories.
- i understand feelings of guilt are part of the grieving process on the way to finding peace and acceptance.
- i understand those who die by suicide do make it to heaven.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
Providing compassionate comfort, hope, and understanding for those affected by suicide or mental/brain health illness and pain.
After-Loss Support
Join us as we navigate through the challenges and grief of life after a suicide loss.
Attend an Event
Join i understand in a judgement-free safe environment, to build a community of understanding.
Memorial Gifts
Offering comfort, understanding, and support during times of loss and grief with meaningful ways to honor our loved ones who have passed.
Programs
i understand programs are designed to support those who have lost a loved one to mental/brain health illnesses in a comfortable and understanding environment.
Change the Conversation, Change Lives
Love heals and can be found in unexpected places.
Vonnie Woodrick, founder of i understand, shares her passion for changing the definition of suicide and how her journey led to hope and understanding.
Voices of Hope, Every Voice Counts Sponsors
Suicide Prevention Hotline 988 – text or call 24/7
If you are having suicidal thoughts, are concerned about a friend or loved one, or would like to talk to someone, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.
Connect With Us on Social
Facebook Feed
💗Important read. Grief comes in many different forms…
A conversation in a group recently has stayed with me.
A young adult was listening as people shared memories of someone they had lost, stories about how loving she was, how generous she was, how much she gave to others, and how deeply she was loved by her community.
And through the tears came a very different truth:
“That wasn’t the person I knew.”
Imagine the loneliness of hearing everyone celebrate a version of someone you desperately wish you had experienced, too.
The tears weren’t necessarily because this young person missed her. They were grief for what they never had.
Grief for the love they watched others describe but didn't experience themselves.
Grief for a relationship they had hoped might someday become different.
And perhaps grief from realizing that some people may never be willing or ready to acknowledge that their experience was real, too.
That conversation reminded me how complicated grief can be.
When someone dies, we often tell their most beautiful stories. We remember their generosity, their accomplishments, the people they helped, and the love they gave.
Those stories can all be true.
But there may also be someone quietly sitting in the room carrying a completely different story.
Their truth does not erase anyone else's beautiful memories. And everyone else's beautiful memories do not erase their pain.
Maybe part of understanding grief is making room for both.
Because sometimes the person crying isn't grieving the relationship they lost.
They're grieving the relationship they never got to have.
💗Join us for our After Loss Support Group Wednesday, August 19th - 6:30pm - 8:00pm.
Branches
2172 East Paris, GR 49546
👉Please register:
iunderstandloveheals.app.neoncrm.com/forms/after-loss-support-group-registration-1
❓Questions? info@iunderstandloveheals.org
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