Survivors of Suicide Loss Greater Fort Hood Break Silence

Local organization fights mental health stigma one story at a time
Killeen Daily Herald
By Lauren Dodd
Herald staff writer
August 1, 2015

“I couldn’t even say the word suicide, but my body screamed it. Five years ago, I would not be telling people about an event like this. I could not even say the word.”

MIKE BARTOSZEK
Suicide Prevention Fundraiser
SOS Greater Fort Hood founders, Janet Sutton and Clarena Tobon stand side by side during a fundraiser in support of suicide prevention held at Stillhouse Wine Room July 31st 2015

The word suicide, for good reason, typically evokes dark emotions of sadness, grief and loss. But Clarena Tobon-Guevara, co-founder of Survivors of Suicide Loss Greater Fort Hood, wants the community to know there is life after suicide.

“Suicide does not have to be dark and sad. The people that we lost — how do we carry on their lives, their names and their legacies — if we think about it as a dark place?” Tobon said.

“Of course it’s upsetting. I’ll never forget that day, seeing my mom, but the reality is that’s how she ended, that’s not how she lived.”

At the Stillhouse Wine Room in Killeen on Friday night, dozens of people gathered to share stories, raise suicide awareness and money for the upcoming Out of the Darkness Walk through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in October.

Survivors of Suicide co-founder Janet Sutton explained how important it is for her to share her own story as well.

“The day after (my son) Christopher died, I set up my first memorial fund and we raised $5,700. I swore that his death would not be in vain and that I would not keep it secret. I felt if I kept it secret someone else’s family would get hurt, someone else would die,” Sutton said.
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