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Dese’Rae L. Stage
Dese’Rae L. Stage.Vince Lattanzio
Ahead, meet some of the survivors Stage has photographed and hear their stories in their own words.
02of 05Nancy NettlesNancy Nettles.Dese’Rae Stage/LiveThroughThisThe 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.”
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Nancy Nettles
Nancy Nettles.Dese’Rae Stage/LiveThroughThis
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.”
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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.”
04of 05Susan MeansSusan Means.Dese’Rae Stage/Livethroughthis.orgThe 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?'”
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Susan Means
Susan Means.Dese’Rae Stage/Livethroughthis.org
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?'”
05of 05Jack ParkDese’Rae Stage/Livethroughthis.orgNow 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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Jack Park
Dese’Rae Stage/Livethroughthis.org
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.”
source: people.com
