I remember being at a screening of No Letting Go and realizing, for the first time, that I wasn’t alone. I had just come from the most difficult three years of my life… trying to save my daughter who had suicidal ideation and had been recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
I had shared her story with friends and family but had yet to find someone who truly “got it”. The question and answer session after watching No Letting Go was very powerful for me.
Several people in the audience asked questions and discussed situations with their own children that were so similar to my own! Not only that, but I actually knew some these parents. We were all walking around with the same concerns and challenges and not talking about them.
It was then that I realized we needed to come together to share our experiences and resources – we needed to bring The Parent Support Network to Brookfield.
Now I am a volunteer parent facilitator and I have found it incredibly rewarding. Every time we have a meeting I realize I am not alone… we are not alone. I will never forget receiving the following email from a parent who attended one of our meetings:
“I feel for the first time in a long time we have a new focus and are headed in the right direction and hopefully gaining a little control over this out-of-control situation. We thank all of you for everything you’ve done for us — your advice and empathy, donating your time in this way; without having found you at this time we wouldn’t have this renewed hope.”
That is why I love being a facilitator. Hopefully, we will continue to reach more and more people and help them feel less alone.
#YouAreNotAlone.