There are days that I become incredibly moved and feel such overwhelming feelings of love and kindness. My life has been forever changed . I am so thankful for the life that I continue to live and have learned to treasure it. My heart breaks for those who have left this world too soon, feeling that all hope was lost. There is hope, there is beauty just around the corner. Keep holding on, keep trying, and give yourself credit; because you are still here! I am still here! I am so lucky to still be here. This is my life, I want to live it!

Thank you to all those who have inspired me, taught me, and have never stopped caring. I know that I have not been a perfect person, but I am okay with that. I am just a person learning to live my life fully.

Thank you to Delicia Jernigan and the amazing gift she has given to so many. To ride across the country in memory of those lost to suicide and bringing hope to those left behind. She has touched my life in the most positive form possible.

www.somanyroadstour.com and http://somanyroadstour.tumblr.com/

SAVE's Named Memorial and Board of Honor Program

A SAVE Named Memorial is a memorial established to honor and/or remember someone who has lost his or her life through suicide. When your memorial reaches greater funding levels, the memorial is recognized on SAVE.org and on our Named Memorial Wall. The Board of Honor is a way to celebrate or honor an individual for other reasons at a variety of funding levels. Online fundraising gives you the opportunity to generate contributions in support of your memorial. Please help Delicia in her ride to honor her brother Anthony Porcelli, who lost his life to suicide in 2010, by making a donation of any size to Save. Donations are tax deductible and 100% of the proceeds will go to the suicide prevention hotline. Visit www.somanyroadstour.com to donate.

Anthony is still remembered and missed. There are too many lives that are destroyed when a cry for help goes unnoticed. There is not a day that passes that we wish suicide had not taken someone we love and adore, our way of coping is to reach out and help the lives of other survivors and hopefully change the mind of someone struggling with suicidal thoughts. Visit Save.org for more information.

Delicia has made her way to Idaho. She will continue her ride to Portland, Maine to raise awareness of suicide statistics and raise money for Save.org, a suicide prevention site. You can make a tax deductible donation by visiting www.somanyroadstour.com. 100% of the proceeds will go to Save.org and will save countless lives. This ride is in dedication to Delicia's younger brother Anthony who lost his life to suicide, and all others who have lost a loved one.

Steps to take.

Suicide prevention seems like a daunting task, especially because of the unexpected nature of the act. A suicide survivor can look back and see the signs, but to prevent a suicide means that one must recognize the signs before it is too late. Each case will be different and personal. One must be sensitive when approaching an individual that may be suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts. The sensitivity of the subject may be awkward to get past but there are steps a person can take to make a difference.

• Remain calm and talk in reassuring tones.
• Realize that you may have trouble communicating, ask simple questions and repeat if necessary.
• Don’t take words or actions personally.
• Say, “I’m here. I care. I want to help.”
• Never say,  “Get over it,” “Snap out of it,” or “Stop acting crazy.”
• Don’t try and handle the crisis alone. Gather support from family, religious organizations, or suicide prevention groups.
• Don’t threaten to call 911 unless you intend to. Use 911 only when you or someone else is in immediate danger.

Depression is not something an individual can just shake off. Depression is an actual illness where medication and counseling are necessary to ease the burden of sadness. Everyone in different points of their life will experience feelings of sadness. It is normal to feel sad. There is a difference in feeling sad and the feelings caused by depression. Depression is more intense and will last two weeks or longer. Depression will begin to interfere with life such as holding back your work performance, your desire to associate with friends, even making it difficult to get out of bed in the morning. These symptoms remain a constant feeling in the life of a person suffering from depression.

            Depression is treatable and an individual should not feel discouraged or afraid of telling someone about recurring feelings of sadness. Depression does not discriminate and can affect people of all ages, races, and social classes.  The most terrifying feeling when suffering from depression is the extreme hopelessness and feeling that suicide may be the only answer. Suicide is never the answer. Suicide is a permanent decision to a fixable problem. If you notice a change in a friend or family member, do not turn your head. Ask questions and offer support.

For additional information visit www.dbsalliance.org.

Ride Announcement

Amanda Ivory

Every 14.6 minutes someone in the U.S. dies by suicide. Nearly 1,000,000 people attempt suicide each year. There has been a steady increase of suicide since 2000. This is the highest rate in 15 years. www.save.org

On June 1^st, 2012, a group of ambitious young adults will be riding their bikes across the country in The So Many Roads Tour. From Portland, OR to Portland, ME, the group will be traveling via road bike, documenting their progress and sharing it with the thousands of people connected to their social sites and website. The tour was founded by Delicia Jernigan; a survivor of suicide wanting to create hope and raise awareness for suicide prevention.

The So Many Roads Tour is striving to raise awareness of suicide statistics, the survivors they leave behind, and bring inspiration to any that have suffered from depression and loss. Throughout the ride, they plan to meet with SOS and Suicide Prevention Groups in each state. The tour is hoping to raise funds for Outside In, a social service agency in Portland OR. Outside In works to address the needs of homeless youth and low income youth; last year sending 39 teens to college and helping 74 find employment. The organization provides medical care to more than 100 people daily. As a non-profit organization, donations are crucial for their survival.

The inspiration behind the tour stemmed from the tragic loss of Delicia’s younger brother Anthony to suicide. She began to channel her grief in a positive way, by long distance biking in the red rock mountains of St. George, UT; the benefits proved to be more than physical. She also sought out SOS (Survivors of Suicide) Groups, where she was able to connect with others and share her story. She realized the extreme importance of opening up and reaching out to help others.

Anthony Porcelli was only 21 years old when he lost his life to suicide; leaving family and friends in a state of heartbreak. Together they shared the overwhelming grief of losing someone they all adored and they shared the never-ending confusion of not knowing why. As survivors, they have found courage to share their story in hope that it will deter another from making the decision to take their life.  

Delicia and her team have made an effort to get their story out. By using social media, they have been able to connect with thousands of people. The blog and website have listed information where those struggling can find support. The ride was first announced on Delicia’s Facebook page to her friends and family, from there, word spread.  By the end of the day, survivors were sharing their stories on the blog page.

The persistence to push forward in life has been imprinted on Delicia’s life. When asked what she hopes to achieve, Delicia replies, “The ultimate goal is to create hope and to inspire those we meet to LIVE life in the most positive and conscious way that you can.”

Resources

Interview

http://somanyroadstour.org, www.save.org, http://outsidein.org