Do you know about Suicide is Different

& CLEAR Lighthouse?

New voices, new resources. One for caregivers/providers/impacted family; the other to empower and build resilience in youth and families. Preventing suicide and improving quality of life are the common goals. Let’s talk.

Twitter chat @spsmchat

Simultaneous YouTube live streaming

 Suicide Is Different: 

Suicide Is Different is a first of its kind support program for caregivers of individuals struggling with suicide. The program consists of five interactive modules with tools and resources for individuals to navigate and thrive through the challenges they may face.

All modules plus downloadable materials are available for free on our website. This curriculum can be helpful for informal suicide caregivers as well as crisis counselors or clinical professionals. Check out SuicideIsDifferent.org for more information!

Johanna Louie is a co-founder of Suicide Is Different. She has worked at various crisis centers and mobile response teams in both supervisory and management roles since 2013. Before transitioning to a full-time career in mental health, Johanna worked at The Walt Disney Company where she conducted usability testing and research for theme park design.

Her ultimate mission is to build supportive programs and practical tools for caregivers utilizing her interdisciplinary experiences. Johanna obtained her MS in Social Work from Columbia University and MS in Human Behavior from the University of Southern California.

CLEAR Lighthouse

CLEAR Lighthouse will be a Holistic Mental Health Center for youth who struggle with depression/anxiety, loneliness, trauma, suicidal thoughts or attempts. Using holistic experiential activities along with mental health and leadership trainings, they hope to empower and build resilience in youth and families. Creating healthy relationships and a sense of belonging is vital to saving lives and eradicating mental health stigma/discrimination.

https://www.facebook.com/CLEARLighthouse/?ref=py_c on Facebook.

CLEAR stands for and you deserve:

C – Connection
L – Love
E – Empowerment
A – Acceptance
R – Resilience

https://twitter.com/CLEARLighthouse

https://www.clearlighthouse.org/

Cheryl Mlcoch is the Founder and Executive Director of CLEAR Lighthouse a Holistic Mental Health Center for youth and families. She has a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Phoenix, SLC, UT and a Bachelors in Exercise Science from Ball State University, Muncie, IN. For over 15 years, she has been a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and has worked with youth for 30 years in a variety of settings. These settings include grief support groups after the loss of a loved one to suicide or murder, ER crisis worker, foster care, drug court, previous Board Member for CASA of Larimer County, Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, camp counselor, and coaching high school basketball & volleyball.

Cheryl has personal experience with many different types of trauma, depression/anxiety and suicide due to being an attempt survivor, losing friends and family to suicide, living with autoimmune disease, witnessing violence regularly as a child/youth, working with suicidal clients, and many others. Her mother’s murder at the age of 18 sent her into a tailspin that almost led to her own death, but thankfully ended up transforming her into helping others even more. This variety pack of experiences has helped her to relate & connect with people in very unique ways.

Cheryl speaks regularly about her lived experience and also volunteers with two local suicide prevention workgroups to help serve LGBTQ youth and the faith community to be more connected & educated in prevention efforts. She currently serves on the Youth Suicide Prevention Committee and Impacted Family & Friends Committee for AAS/American Association of Suicidology and was asked to serve on the AAS 2019 awards committee.