About the Host:

Dennis Gillan is the Founder and Executive Director of the Half a Sorrow Foundation. With a mission of providing support for those affected by suicide loss, Dennis channels his personal experiences into advocating for mental health and suicide prevention. He turned his profound grief over losing two brothers to suicide into a passion for helping others share their sorrows and find healing, embodying his foundation's motto: "A shared joy is a double joy. A shared sorrow is half a sorrow."

Episode Summary:

In this emotional and powerful episode, Dennis Gillan shares his heart-wrenching journey through the loss of his two brothers to suicide and his work with the Half a Sorrow Foundation. With raw honesty, Dennis recounts the devastating impact these losses had on his life and the path he took to become a beacon of hope for others suffering from similar tragedies.

Dennis reflects on the 30th anniversary of his brother Matthew's death by suicide, sharing the haunting details and the emotional aftermath that followed. He also discusses the pervasive guilt and pain that suicide leaves in its wake and the importance of addressing mental health and preventing access to lethal means. Through his experiences, Dennis emphasizes the critical need for support networks and the transformative power of sharing one's grief.

Key Takeaways:

• Anniversaries of Loss: Dennis shares the profound sense of grief and struggle that accompanies anniversaries of his brothers' suicides.

• Complicated Grief: The lingering feelings of guilt and shame that suicide survivors often carry, and the ways it impacts their lives.

• Gun Safety: The role of firearms in suicide and the importance of addressing this as a public safety issue.

• Coping Mechanisms: Dennis's personal journey towards sobriety as a part of his coping process with the loss of his brothers.

• Message of Hope: The importance of support, prevention, and reaching out to those who might be struggling with suicidal thoughts.

Notable Quotes:

"A shared joy is a double joy. A shared sorrow is half a sorrow."

"Some anniversaries just suck. They just suck. This one sucks."

"What was Matt thinking that night? And I wonder. I wonder if anyone who has ever died by suicide, all I can do is wonder, because they're not around to talk to them."

"If I prevent one family from having to bury one person, it'll all be worth it, every damn bit of it."

Resources:

Half a Sorrow Foundation: https://halfasorrow.org/

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