HARRISON — The number of suicides has steadily increased since 2022, and since the focus often is on the people who took their own lives, we rarely hear what it’s like for loved ones left behind.
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Heidy Westdrop is a suicide awareness advocate making a mark in her Harrison community by speaking openly about suicide and the effects it leaves on families and friends left behind.
Her connection to the topic is personal: Within 10 months she lost her father and her son to suicide.
“I can’t explain to everybody the trauma, the pain, the suffering you go through. I don’t wish this on anybody,” Westdrop said.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, there are signs you can look for to try and prevent suicide.
But also keep in mind not everyone outwardly displays warning signs, she added.
“I had never seen my dad as a depressed person,” Westdrops recounts.
Heidy described her son as a certified prankster. She recalled a time he played a joke on her for his social media. She said he was the kind of guy who had an infectious laugh while being quick to lend a hand.
“He was such a kind and loving person. He would have done anything for anybody. He would go out of his way to help people,” she said.
Years later, the effects of losing two loved ones to suicide were starting to grab hold and push Heidy into depression.
Before she suffered the same fate, she decided to take control and reach out for help.
“I was in a very dark spot for a long time because I did focus on how he passed, and I tried to figure it out,” she said.
Heidy asked herself some tough questions.
“Do you want to live like this the rest of your life, depressed, not wanting to be here because your son’s not here? Or do you want to honor his memory and live your life the way that he would want you to?” she said.
If you are depressed or considering suicide, Heidy wants you to know this: “There’s somebody that loves you. Everybody has somebody that loves them. You just have to learn to reach out to people. It’s not cowardly, you shouldn’t feel ashamed. It’s very brave to be able to reach out to somebody and say, I need help.”