Collateral Damage: Images of Those Left Behind by Suicide
http://leftbehindbysuicide.org/
End the stigma that surrounds suicide.
"Collateral Damage: Images of Those Left Behind by Suicide", will be a book of portraits and gallery exhibition of people who have had loved ones die by suicide. When I was 17 years old (I'm now 47) my father died by suicide. Although I never hid the fact that my father took his own life, I often felt that I was left dealing with my pain and recovery in solitude, social stigma and loneliness. Throughout my professional career as a Paramedic and Firefighter, I often saw the beginning of the same pattern in the suicide calls that I attended to. I so often found myself wanting to say to grieving and demolished family members, "I know how you feel". This pattern leaves the survivors of today feeling the same way I did 28 years ago. It is my hope that this project will begin to change this.
The idea of putting a face to the loved ones of those who have died by suicide has been with me for over ten years. I am frustrated and troubled by the lack of public awareness of the terrible toll that suicide takes on us all. I passionately believe that by stepping "out of the dark" and showing that I am a survivor of suicide will help those who are faced with a similar life changing experience today. If I can make a difference, I also believe that a collection of images of survivors will not only create a path of healing but also help with the social stigmas that continue to plague the issues of suicide. I strongly believe that we must put faces to this significant public health issue that is taking far too many lives.
The idea for the book has now also evolved into a website and the potential for a international exhibition. For this project, I am the sole photographer as I believe strongly that my vision and how it is photographed and presented is a message within itself.
Please take a moment (3 minutes) to watch our introduction video and visit the Collateral Damage website; http://leftbehindbysuicide.org/2009/07/30/the-introduction-video/
