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'It Could Be Any One of Us:' Suicide Survivors Share Their Stories in Hopes of Helping Others

Lottie Casas October 17, 2019

Dese’Rae L. Stage

The Philadelphia-based photographer drew on her own history of depression and attempted suicide to create Livethroughthis.org in 2010. The site features more than 200 interviews with suicide survivors, all photographed by Stage, to help end the stigma around attempted suicide and provide hope to others. “We’re coming out of the shame closet,” she said. “Despair is a basic human experience – it could be any of us. I want people to see us and not look away.” Ahead, meet some of the survivors Stage has photographed and hear their stories in their own words.

The Philadelphia-based photographer drew on her own history of depression and attempted suicide to create Livethroughthis.org in 2010. The site features more than 200 interviews with suicide survivors, all photographed by Stage, to help end the stigma around attempted suicide and provide hope to others. “We’re coming out of the shame closet,” she said. “Despair is a basic human experience – it could be any of us. I want people to see us and not look away.”

Ahead, meet some of the survivors Stage has photographed and hear their stories in their own words.

Nancy Nettles

The 53-year-old student advisor recalls a period of homelessness that brought her to her lowest point. “I jsut felt like my kids would be better off without me. I tried three times in one year. Afterward I started getting treatment at a community mental health center. I owe my case manager my life. She saw light in me when I saw nothing but darkness.”

The 53-year-old student advisor recalls a period of homelessness that brought her to her lowest point. “I jsut felt like my kids would be better off without me. I tried three times in one year. Afterward I started getting treatment at a community mental health center. I owe my case manager my life. She saw light in me when I saw nothing but darkness.”

Shelby Rowe

The 47-year-old said her job as a suicide prevention program manager gave her “a false sense of safety. I didn’t pay attention to warning signs or ask for help … But if I was an oncologist who had cancer, would I be scared to tell my colleagues? No! … Nobody else expected me to be as perfect as I thought I needed to be. I’m kinder to myself. I haven’t been at risk for a long time.”

The 47-year-old said her job as a suicide prevention program manager gave her “a false sense of safety. I didn’t pay attention to warning signs or ask for help … But if I was an oncologist who had cancer, would I be scared to tell my colleagues? No! … Nobody else expected me to be as perfect as I thought I needed to be. I’m kinder to myself. I haven’t been at risk for a long time.”

Susan Means

The 65-year-old retired entrepreneur said telling the story of her four suicide attempts on Live Through This was “the turning point for me … It was a catalyst to find people like me and try to help. Any of us can spot someone a mile away who is like us. I reach out; I ask, ‘Do you want to talk?'”

The 65-year-old retired entrepreneur said telling the story of her four suicide attempts on Live Through This was “the turning point for me … It was a catalyst to find people like me and try to help. Any of us can spot someone a mile away who is like us. I reach out; I ask, ‘Do you want to talk?’”

Jack Park

Now a mental health counselor, the 26-year-old lived through two attempts while at UPenn and now says he found an “ultimate purpose: Loving God and loving people. … For those whose minds are blessedly free from thoughts of suicide, please look around and listen to your friends’ hardships. Take the extra step. Depressed people don’t share their stories easily.”

Now a mental health counselor, the 26-year-old lived through two attempts while at UPenn and now says he found an “ultimate purpose: Loving God and loving people. … For those whose minds are blessedly free from thoughts of suicide, please look around and listen to your friends’ hardships. Take the extra step. Depressed people don’t share their stories easily.”

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