The author first grappled with suicidal thoughts at the tender age of four, influenced by their mother's struggles following the loss of her baby.

By eight years old, the author attempted suicide, and by ten, they witnessed their father's emotional distress and suicidal ideation.

Tragically, the author's father died by suicide in a car crash when they were fifteen, which further deepened the family's mental health issues.

The lack of mental health resources during their childhood, such as crisis hotlines or stabilization centers, profoundly affected their family's ability to cope with suicidality.

Despite improved access to mental health care for the author's children through insurance, their mother was denied necessary care and ultimately died by suicide.

After experiencing their own challenges and becoming a parent, the author sought to address mental health proactively for their children, recognizing intergenerational patterns of trauma.

The author learned about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and later, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), which became crucial in managing their family's mental health.

The author advocates for teaching emotional regulation skills and ensuring affordable mental health care for all, to break the cycle of trauma and promote resilience in society.

The narrative emphasizes the importance of community resources, such as the 988 suicide prevention hotline, and the need for accessible mental health care to prevent further tragedies.