Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Phone Number: 988
Jonathan with his father David in Tacoma, Washington, July 2007
The World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, with the theme “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”. I believe we all can help in some way. At the end of this post, are a few of the national websites for suicide prevention if you want to get involved.
In the book, Relentless Solution Focus, the author Dr. Jason Selk clearly states, “There is ALWAYS a solution. ALWAYS.” While this book isn’t about suicide prevention, the same principles apply to this world-wide crisis. As I was listening to my song, “There’s a Reason to Live,” this thought came to me: “There is ALWAYS a reason to live. ALWAYS.”
I often say, “It’s better to do something than to do nothing.” If you have a thought or feeling to reach out to someone, just do it. A smile, a wave, a handshake, a pat on the back, a few thoughtful words, or any other little act of kindness can mean a lot to someone else. Most people are having a hard day. Even if you are having a hard day, take a moment and do something nice for someone else. You might be saving a life.
Please read the following two stories about my son Jonathan and my nephew Tony.
Jonathan
This is a short excerpt from my memoir, "Freedom from Addiction: A Mother's Story of Hope," which is about my son, Jonathan, who lived a struggling, unselfish, heroic life before dying by suicide on March 5, 2010, at the age of thirty-five.
Heart Of Gold
What I learned through Jonathan’s life and death is that we are all fragile human beings. We all have insecurities. Life is hard, but life can also be full of joy and happiness. It’s what we choose to do with the myriad challenges and opportunities we are faced with each day that determines who we become. Despite his adversities, Jonathan became the best he could be.
Jonathan wanted to change the world. Did he accomplish his goal?
Yes.
Jonathan changed a small part of the world. He changed me; he changed his father; he changed his brothers and sisters; he changed all his relatives; he changed all his friends; he changed beggars on the street; he changed fellow prisoners in jail; he changed lost souls in psychiatric hospitals, he changed angry acquaintances at drug rehabs; he changed cynics at church; he changed strangers at 12-step meetings; he changed everyone he came in contact with throughout his life.
How did Jonathan change all of us? He changed us with his friendship, with his kindness, with his smile, with his compassionate service, with his warm handshake, with his enthusiastic high fives, with his cheerful, “Hey, what’s up?”
Jonathan had a heart of gold.
He changed us with his love.
Tony
This is a tender article written by my nephew, Tony Litster, at my request. He told me this story many years ago, and I always remembered it. In preparation for a Suicide Prevention Seminar, which my husband and I put on a few years ago in Cody, Wyoming, I asked him to put his story in writing. I read Tony’s story at the end of the seminar, and many people told me how touched they were by it, too. I hope it will touch your heart, too.
Tony’s Story: How A Wave Saved My Life
I had someone I really admired when I was growing up. His name was Greg Lords. Words cannot do justice to describe the essence of Greg. Greg was magical. Not in the sense that he was superhuman, but there was a spark about him that was contagious. Anyone that ever knew him will attest to this. Greg was a few years older than me and was an extremely gifted athlete. He was the quarterback on the football team, the point guard on the basketball team, and played on the baseball team. He was not very tall, but he was an extremely gifted athlete. Now, it wasn’t his success in sports that made Greg special. He got a lot of attention because of his abilities on the court or field, but it was what he did off the field that was truly remarkable.
Greg had a desire to include other people in whatever activity was going on. He was known to approach someone that was sitting alone at an event and invite them to participate. Once he stopped to help a family whose car had broken down. He found out they didn’t have any food, and he brought them home to his parents’ house and fed them. His parents were always good sports, since they had taught him generosity by their example. When he was home from college, he spent his day with his little brother selling raffle tickets for his basketball team. Greg was known to go around a room and ask each person their name and welcome them to the event. This is how I met Greg. He made me feel like I was his best friend, and I don’t think he knew my name. I started following his games and reading about him in the paper. Each time I met him, I was intrigued by his kindness. His warm, accepting smile, the way he nodded his head when he made eye contact with me.
At this time in my life, some of my friends were getting involved in gang activity. They were stealing and causing trouble. I was somewhere in limbo between what I knew was right and wanting to be accepted. And the protection and camaraderie that groups like that offer was very enticing. I’m so grateful that I chose a different path. My best friend from the group is in federal prison today on drug charges. The phrase: there but for the grace of God, go I comes to mind…
When I was 15, I was in a really dark place, wondering what the point of life was and feeling unimportant and unwanted. Anyway, it was the last day of my ninth-grade year. A bunch of the kids were talking about which party they were going to. I tried unsuccessfully to get myself invited to one of the parties where all of the “cool people” were going. It didn’t happen. The cool kids were getting in their cars, and no one noticed me as I walked by. I felt like a nobody. Like I didn’t matter one way or the other. I felt miserable.
Then my life changed forever as I walked home that day. I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was walking down the street, and a late 70’s Ford truck turned the corner and headed in my direction. It was green with a white camper shell, and behind the wheel sat Greg Lords. I could tell it was him from a block away. I looked towards him, hoping in my heart that Greg would remember me. And then it happened. Greg smiled and waved at me. He nodded his head too. I quickly waved back. He took a risk there. He didn’t know me too well. He had only seen me around a few times. Yet he was willing to offer a friendly wave. That wave changed my life. It set me on fire right then and there. All of a sudden, I knew I was someone, because Greg Lords told me so. I remember walking the rest of the way home that day feeling great. I thought about that moment all summer. I decided, if I could accomplish anything in high school, it would be to be like Greg. My mantra for the next three years was: “Would Greg do this?” I looked for ways that I could be like him. I did the things I had heard he did. My self-image was transformed that day with a wave. I decided to write him a letter and tell him that he was my hero. He was surprised and grateful that his actions had helped someone else. I never told him about the wave that saved my life.
Greg died in a swimming accident shortly after I graduated from high school. He was playing on the Boise State University basketball team at the time. I wrote the following letter to the editor, and it was printed in the newspaper:
Tribute to Greg Lords
As an insecure 15-year-old, I trudged down Allumbaugh Street on the last day of my ninth-grade year. I hadn’t been invited to any parties, and the popular crowd had left me behind. Greg Lords turned the corner in a green pickup and took the time to wave at me, an obscure boy he’d seen at his basketball games, whose name he didn’t even know. That wave changed my life. At the time, it told me I was someone. Since then, it has taught me the power a kind word or deed has in the life of someone who is struggling. From that day until the end of my senior year I regularly asked myself: “Would Greg do this?” when considering doing something good, or bad. He inspired me to look for those who are hurting, and to give them a helping hand. Greg Lords is more than a basketball player. Greg Lords is my hero!
I wrote the song, “There’s a Reason to Live” a few years ago, and it was inspired by my son Jonathan. Both the lyrics and the music came to me in an unusual way, which helped me feel very connected to Jonathan! Such sweet experiences….
Reason to Live Suicide Prevention Website
This is a website that was created during the time I was preparing for our first Suicide Prevention Seminar in Cody, Wyoming. There are many links to inspirational stories and other resources that are available.
National Resources for Suicide Prevention
988
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Phone Number
IASP
International Association for Suicide Prevention
World Suicide Prevention Day—September 10, 2025
Theme: Changing The Narrative on Suicide
Changing the narrative on suicide is about transforming how we perceive this complex issue. It’s about shifting from a culture of silence and lack of understanding to one of openness, empathy, and support.
SAMHASA
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
This month is dedicated to recognizing the warning signs for suicide, encouraging open conversations about mental health, and connecting people to proven treatment and resources. When we stand together in strength, dignity, hope, and purpose, we can make a difference—we can help save lives.
NAMI
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Start a Conversation. Be the Difference.
With one conversation, asking someone how they’re really doing — and being ready to truly listen — can save lives. Because here’s what we know: No one has to face this alone. Help exists. Healing is possible. And all it can take is for one person to start a conversation.