Daybreak Powers doesn’t want Nationwide Suicide Prevention Month to grasp its devastating impression. She has lived with it since 2011.
However as a psychological well being specialist and Psychological Well being Navigator, she additionally is aware of the best way to speak to others about it. Her work is a part of her therapeutic, too.
Her husband took his personal life in 2011. He had an untreated bi-polar dysfunction, which was made worse by the recession for the previous New York financier. After transferring to Southwest Florida in 2008, his temper and conduct have been so unstable and worrisome that Daybreak stayed near dwelling. She and her husband each grew up considering that suicide or ideas of suicide have been to not be mentioned, so addressing a few of her issues was troublesome.
She by no means believed he would take his personal life, however he did. From that second on her life modified endlessly.
Transferring Previous Trauma and Grief
After her husband’s demise, Daybreak devoted herself to her youngsters and centered on her household’s therapeutic. She and the youngsters went to counseling to assist transfer by their trauma and grief. Like many who’ve been by dropping a liked one to suicide, they proceed to battle together with his favourite holidays, his birthday, the anniversary of his demise, and their wedding ceremony anniversary.
Daybreak discovered she and her household weren’t alone. She did some analysis and discovered that from the start of 2011 to the day her husband died on Jan. 14 that 12 months, one particular person a day died by suicide in Lee County.
Turning into a Psychological Well being Navigator
In time, Daybreak determined to return to highschool to learn to supply assist to others dealing with psychological and behavioral well being points. She graduated with a bachelor’s diploma in psychology in 2018 and after working with the Lee County Division of Well being for a number of years, she started her “dream job” as a Psychological Well being Navigator in June 2024.
Psychological Well being Navigators, a program launched in 2020 that’s supported completely by philanthropy, helps high-risk youngsters and susceptible households get psychological well being providers. Households are referred to this system by their faculty’s psychological well being crew in Lee and Collier counties. As this system has expanded, Psychological Well being Navigators are additionally serving at Healthcare Community and Golisano Kids’s Hospital. At the moment, this system has 10 navigators and hopes finally to have one in each Lee and Collier counties public faculty. Positions have been funded by Suncoast Credit score Union, Collier Group Basis, Clark Household Basis, NCEF and different beneficiant donors.
Navigators have their very own lived experiences coping with psychological and behavioral well being points, typically by a member of the family. They assist assist households referred to this system by connecting youngsters and fogeys with psychological well being remedy providers; serving to households turn out to be self-sufficient in assembly their psychological well being care wants; securing funds for buying primary wants, resembling meals, toiletries and garments, in addition to serving to with auto repairs for work-related functions, and serving to households apply for Lee Cares help. The thought is to get rid of limitations between what the affected person wants and what limitations they’re experiencing that maintain them from carrying out their targets.
Providing Hope to Others
Navigators know first-hand the frustration of getting applicable assist for his or her liked one and navigating obstacles. Daybreak seems ahead to serving to others who’re struggling and providing hope by her personal expertise.
For Daybreak and her youngsters, therapeutic was a journey, however she is pleased with what they’ve achieved. Her daughter graduated with a grasp’s diploma in 2023, is a instructor and lately turned engaged. Her son obtained his bachelor’s diploma in advertising and marketing in Might and is working within the monetary trade identical to his Dad.
It’s also possible to supply assist to others. Be taught how one can assist and assist increase the Psychological Well being Navigator Program.
Suicide Sources
The Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being Companies Administration presents a number of assets to assist stop suicide: Be taught the warning indicators and threat components for suicide, the best way to assist somebody contemplating suicide, and familiarize your self with the 988 Suicide & Disaster Lifeline.
