Hugs For Life raises suicide awareness

Event raises suicide awareness
Hugs for Life aims to get word out about an issue that 'affects everyone'
By Pomera M. Fronce
Close-Up Correspondent
Article Last Updated: 10/25/2007 11:29:53 AM MDT

Sheri Thomas will always remember the phone call.

The news she received was devastating - the kind of news no one should ever have to hear. Her 19-year-old nephew, Jonathan Hickam, had committed suicide.

"It was the worst feeling I have ever felt," Thomas recalls.

She remembers being in shock and adrenaline overdrive at the same time because she was trying to be strong for her sister.

Thomas wanted to turn back the hands of time, but realized she couldn't. Instead, she turned her grief into action and established a suicide prevention and awareness organization called Hugs for Life.

Members of the organization work tirelessly to get the word out that suicide is not an option. They believe that education and communication are key in reducing the number of suicides in Utah each year.

"First, we try to help people understand that suicide knows no boundaries," Thomas says. "It affects everyone regardless of race, religion, gender or economic status. Second, we encourage people to talk about suicide openly and honestly."

In the past, Thomas adds, it was almost deemed unacceptable for anyone to talk about feeling suicidal and to seek help. And when it was too late to intervene, family members may have talked in hushed tones about the suicide, but rarely outside of the home.
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