Hearing from others who have interacted or worked with me can be very helpful in deciding for yourself the benefits a scheduled personalized support session will have for you:
PROFESSIONALS:
Robert P. ~ "Congratulations on your endeavour, Barb! You
deserve to get paid for what you do. As a former mental health
therapist, I too support your expertise. You are not working as a
psychologist or psychiatrist for the people that come to you. You are a
life coach and referral service when needed. It has taken up much time
in your life and now it's time to reap from what you have sown."
Steve Ellis, LMSW ~ "I am a therapist (LMSW) and I've been encouraging
Barb to do this for quite some time now. In my professional opinion she
is eminently qualified to provide grief counselling (quite specific)
and life coaching/support. She needn't have a behavioural health degree
for those services. You don't realize how many people are home-bound or
are too far away to seek out these services. No doubt many will benefit
from your insights and training. I have had numerous conversations with
Barb and feel very comfortable recommending her."
MEMBERS (fans) Of SUICIDE SHATTERS:
Celine W. ~ "I could see the light at the end of the pitch dark tunnel. Sometimes it was very dim, but no matter what, it always remained on. Mental illness was preventing me from reaching the other side. I was trapped in the cyclone of my own mind.
It is during these storms that life lost its meaning. The insurmountable amount of mental pain would once again try to kill my being. Who would understand? Who would hear me out?
“You have everything Celine”. “A wonderful husband, beautiful kids, a gorgeous house, what’s wrong with you?”, “You know as well as I do that no one can change your mind once you have decided to kill yourself”. “You’re selfish, think about the people who love you.”
I wanted to die. I wanted to feel understood. I wanted for someone to tell me, “Celine, you can do this. I will be right here with you.” I needed love and compassion. Instead, I got a medley of tough love, resistance and rejection. I felt like I was trapped screaming in pain inside a glass tower in the middle of Times Square with everybody passing by looking at me in disgust, unwilling to help, as if I had locked myself in it.
I wondered…if you don’t want to fly with me, why can’t you at least try to fly next to me?
Alone with my torturing thoughts, I was lifelessly letting my finger travel up and down on Facebook. In search for something to give me some relief. There had to be someone out there who could relate. That’s when I came across “Suicide Shatters”.
A whole new world opened in front of my eyes. I almost didn’t pursue it as it appeared to be for those who lost a loved one to suicide. What would I do there? People are going to hate me and it’s going to make things worse. I was the enemy on that page. Or, was I?
I dared to post a few comments as an attempt survivor. My heart was pounding as I knew I was going to get kicked off the page. Instead, I met Barb.
She was surely someone special as she had lost her husband to suicide, yet was giving ME, a voice. Barb gave me my voice back. The brewing cyclone inside my head was about to be appeased by an unexpected warm front. The kind that gently pushes the storms, so blue skies can appear in between the clouds.
It took me a long time to really believe what this woman was doing. I have huge trust issues. However, I never gave up because I knew deep down that Barb was the key I had been looking for to unlock my glass tower.
Barb made me feel like a human being again. She is a gift “we” the ones who are lucky enough to know her, cannot keep to ourselves. This is my opportunity to celebrate her compassionate soul and share it with you.
YOU are WORTH everything good that’s awaiting for you. Barb can help you. Go ahead, from your hand to hers, it is within reach. Her personalized support services and Suicide Shatters will take you to a new path.
"When you’re healed enough you can reach out to help another who is new to the journey – Barb Hildebrand."
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Christina K. ~ "No matter how loud I screamed it didn’t matter. I
was walking through a world of darkness. I could see shadows and hear
voices, but no one could hear my screams for help. Day after day passed,
with no changes and none within reach, despite how desperately I wanted
to live, I also couldn’t see my life going forward. The pain was
overwhelming and exhausting.
After the 2nd suicide attempt I found my way
to the Facebook page Suicide Shatters. I read the words and heard the voices of
the loved ones left to live and carry on without their loved one who had died by suicide. I responded to a post telling someone that there was
nothing they could have done. That they shouldn’t blame themselves.
That their family member truly loved them, but if someone wants to
commit suicide they will find a way, they may not always be successful,
but they will keep trying unless someone connects with them, reaches out
to them, validates their feelings and their worth in this world. For
me, it was Barb.
Barb was my light during my darkness. Divorce, rape,
auto accident, the compounding reasons seem like a lifetime ago. Barb
brought forward something inside me that I had forgotten was there and
that something was HOPE. Barb was my shining light as my hope grew
stronger. Barb taught me that I had value and was worthy of a beautiful
life. That despite what happened to me, I could make the choice to rise
above and live a beautiful life. Barb helped me to see that I was so
much MORE than what had happened to me.
I am forever grateful to
this wonderful stranger who reached out to me in my darkest moments and
taught me to see my own beauty and worth in this world. Barb, has lived
with the pain of suicide loss, she has grieved and she understands. I am alive
today because this woman chose to make a difference in this world by
helping others and saving lives. Barb’s ability to connect with those
who have lost a loved one and those who are attempt survivors is
remarkable. She understands and she can help!
I have moved forward
with my life. I am thriving, but some days still just surviving. AND
that’s okay because there is always hope and I am worthy of living a
beautiful life.
If you or a loved one have lost someone to suicide
or are an attempt survivor, struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental illness, I highly recommend reaching out to Barb and
the services she offers."
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Colleen Edwards Shave ~ "Hi, I'm Colleen. I joined Suicide Shatters not too
long after it was created. It has been an awesome means of support
along with excellent educational information for those who have lost a
loved one to suicide or have attempted suicide themselves. AND YOU'RE
STILL HERE! I
lost my husband to suicide in 2010. NOBODY knows what it's like unless
they've gone through something similar. I highly recommend Barb, her personalized support services and Suicide
Shatters.
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Mark B. ~ "
My name is Mark and I'm 43 years old. I have two beautiful
daughters and I've been married to my best friend for 21years. I can
say, I am very grateful for my family.
I had what seemed to be
the perfect life. Back in Dec. 2012 I was on the edge of taking my
own life. I had struggled with an addiction to methamphetamine
that lasted 29 years of my life. The only way I knew how to stop
using was to take my own life. For years I would try 12 step programs
but I'd always relapse. It took a massive toll on my family, mostly
my wife. She didn't trust me whatsoever.
The night I was
supposed to take my life I did a Facebook search for suicide. That's
when I found and joined the Facebook page “Suicide Shatters.” I
sent a private message to the page explaining how I was feeling. Not
expecting a response, a person named Barb replied back to me within a
few minutes. I was relieved. We chatted for about 45 minutes. Within
this time she convinced me to seek 'professional treatment'.
I
would not be here if it weren't for Barb replying to me that night.
Taking the time to talk with me, understand what I was going through.
I remember that night like it was yesterday. I owe my life to her.
She gave me that little push I needed.
I am thrilled to say
I've have been clean from meth for 1 year, 8 months and 7days. I'm
going to the gym 6 days a week. My life has turned around. I'm on
meds for my depression and ADHD (which I didn't know I had). I
highly recommend working with Barb if you're needing someone to
listen, support, believe in you and help you to believe in yourself which allows you to take the action to help your life."
