Stories

Deric’s Story

By Allison Sampite Eleven years ago when Deric met Brian in person for the first time, they casually discussed over coffee the reality that beginning a relationship with each other …Continue Reading

by Allison Sampite As the chaplain of the Medical Examiner’s Office in San Diego, Joe Davis, 62, has many responsibilities. They include aiding Medical Examiner investigators with investigations, following up …Continue Reading

Kim’s Story

Kim Bozart serves as the President of the SOSL Board of Directors. Kim has served on the board for over 4 years, is the Field Operations Supervisor for the Psychiatric …Continue Reading

Cheryl’s Story

by Allison Sampite Unanswered messages: May 9, 2016. It was a Monday and the day after Mother’s Day. It was also the day Sean Petro would have begun his fourth …Continue Reading

Allison Kristen Sampite

Today the words “mental illness” have a similar negative connotation that “cancer” and “HIV positive” had decades ago. The difference to me is that mental illness has existed the longest, …Continue Reading

Life was Good

Life was good. Envision a backdrop of huge beautiful trees with summer-green leaves, soft grass, lovely flowers, blue skies and being embraced by glorious Georgia sunshine. My husband and I …Continue Reading

Jessica’s Story

My story begins on December 27, 2011, when I received a call from my older sister notifying me that my father had taken his life. The emotions that ran through me …Continue Reading

Lindsay’s Story

I became a suicide survivor on July 27, 2011, when my Dad, Tom, decided to end his life. He rode his bike down the block to a park and shot …Continue Reading

Becky’s Story

The summer of 2011 will always be defined as the best and worst of my life. Two months after saying “I do” to my husband in a quiet lakeside ceremony, …Continue Reading

A Piece of Healing: Gratitude Speaks

I have a stack of journals in my bedside table, “blank books” that are no longer blank. Some of the handwriting is indistinguishable, because they were written in hurriedly, often …Continue Reading

A Short Letter – From an SOSL Legacy

Dear Family (and we are a family) of SOSL,

Since you are so important and special to me, I wanted to write you a letter to tell you a little about me. I was born on Feb. 1922 in my Grandmother’s home in Iago, Texas. I am from a family of 4 including my parents and two brothers (one died at age 2 and the other at age 56). I met my husband, Richard, (Dick) Wentz at a Berachah Bible Church in Houston, TX.

A Sibling’s Journey

It’s been two years since my only sibling shot himself. June 2, 2010 is a day that has forever changed my life. I miss him every day! I’ve found out there is such a thing as a broken heart. I’ve gone through so many different emotions. I thought there was something wrong with me because I wasn’t getting over the loss of my brother.

Ready to Talk, Ready to Stand

I am ready to stand in my truth: I lost by brother to suicide. Joey died on April 17, 2009, and it is only recently that I am able to even utter those words out loud.

Loss of a Son and a Brother

Camille joined the SOSL Board quietly and cautiously in 2005, just months after she lost her son, Brett, to suicide. Camille lost her brother, Joseph, to suicide in 1977. As she became more comfortable about us and what we do, she soon discovered her niche: The Speakers’ Bureau.

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