#133 Dani Bates-Telling My 3-Yr-Old About Her Dad's Suicide

Do we have difficult conversations or allow the silence of suicide to create stigma, shame, and isolation? 

Talking with her 3-year-old daughter about her father’s death by suicide was almost unthinkable. But to Dani Bates, a 29-year-old widow, not talking about it wasn’t even an option. 

"I don't want ‘suicide’ to be a swear word for my children. I want them to be able to say it and be okay with it, just like if their dad died of cancer."

COMPLETE SHOW NOTES

We must normalize conversations about suicide. It is the best way to help those currently suffering and prevent future trauma. Suicide is the 2nd-highest cause of death among teens and 10th-highest cause of death for all adults in the U.S.

Dani Bates is a 33-year-old mother of three who lost her husband to suicide four years ago. She is an advocate for mental health awareness and is passionate about educating the younger generations on the importance of mental health.

After experiencing abandonment by being given up for adoption, getting divorced, and then her second husband’s death by suicide, Dani Bates shares important lessons that have helped her cope with mental health, suicide, and abandonment.

 CW: This episode contains information about suicide.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, there are ways to get help. Call or text 988 for free, confidential crisis counseling and referrals.

For more information or help visit - 988lifeline.org