AFSP: Understanding and Preventing Suicide Through Research, Education and Advocacy
AFSP: Understanding and Preventing Suicide Through Research, Education and Advocacy.
Adam Szychowski 2/19/84 – 1/11/08
This site is dedicated to suicide prevention. Adam Szychowski was my son. On January 11, 2008, he left this world at his own hand. Adam was deeply loved. He was a man of many talents. The circumstances of his death are the subject of another post on this site. I miss him, and will miss him forever.
Each year at this time, I relive the sorrow and the trauma of losing him. The sheriff’s visit to me in the middle of the night is the most traumatic moment of my life. It is my hope that by supporting the efforts of the brilliant researchers and educators at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, we will find ways to prevent the tragic and unnecessary loss of those we love.
These are videos of Adam moving into his apartment at the University of Connecticut. It was a very happy day.
Out of the Darkness Walk 2011
This will be my fourth year walking to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. I can hardly believe that three and a half years have passed since my beautiful son, Adam died.
In this picture, I am holding my little five-month-old Adam. He loved to swim even at that age.
The love and hope that I had at that time is written all over my face. Age and pain have since left their mark. But my hopes and dreams for Adam were not unlike those of almost every new mother.
I wanted to give him a beautiful life. I wanted to spare him pain and suffering. I wanted to help him to have a full and satisfying experience. But something went very wrong.
I have contemplated his death by suicide very deeply. And I have concluded, as one of the AFSP researchers suggested that there was an underlying, untreated mental illness. Other factors converged: lack of sleep and alcohol – and thus the perfect tragic storm resulting in his death.
Mental illness is treatable. Very treatable. The obstacle is how we, as individuals and as a society look at it. We must remove the stigma – fight against denial – support each other as we strive toward mental health. The analogy is often given, a diabetic takes insulin because he must… why not treat our brain chemistry with the same, practical, dispassionate objectivity.
As a society, we must grapple with the increasing numbers of suicide victims, and work together to stem this tide.
Please walk with me if you can. If you cannot, please support me as I walk. We are all affected by suicide, and we must fight it together.
Thank you.
Out of the Darkness Walk 2010
Please enjoy this video of our walk on Siesta Beach in support of suicide prevention.
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2010 Out of the Darkness Walk
On Sunday, October 24 at 8:00 a.m. I’ll be walking at Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota, Florida. Siesta Key is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I’ve done this walk before. It is intense – partly because of the beauty which provides an elegant backdrop to a very deeply emotional gathering.
The walk is a fundraiser for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. This organization is studying the causes of suicide. They also provide support to the survivors of suicide. They produce materials to teach, train, support and illuminate – on a topic that has traditionally remained in the dark. Thus, the theme: Out of the Darkness.
My son Adam was a casualty of suicide. Suicide is preventable. Please support me in this effort. If you cannot walk , please donate. Even a small donation will help. It all adds up. Adam was important to me and to many other people. He was well loved. I walk in his honor and out of my love for him, and I walk to help prevent this tragic loss from happening to another mother. Please join me.
To sign up to walk with me: click here.
To donate: click here.
View Last Year’s Walk
