UPPER PROVIDENCE – Linda Falasco of Newtown Square lost her brother to suicide and began a journey of grief that evolved into a mission to help others with similar experiences cope with the grief of a loved one’s suicide.
After the death of her 22-year-old brother Jeffrey, Falasco, then only 25, said she read a book by Iris Bolton called “My Son… My Son…” In it, Bolton tells the story of how she was able to grieve and heal the wounds after her son’s suicide.
In one particular chapter, Bolton describes an encounter with her priest shortly after her son’s death, in which he told her that her son’s death was a gift to her.
“After reading that, I decided that I, too, wanted to find a gift in the loss of my brother,” Falasco said. “In that moment, I made a conscious decision to regain control of my life by giving meaning to my pain. I found that the loss had given me the gift of compassion and empathy for people in pain, which I could use to help others through their own grief journey. Since then, I have put that gift into action in a variety of ways, from providing individual therapy sessions and leading support groups to speaking to people across the country about suicide, grief and loss and hosting an annual candlelight vigil for those who have lost loved ones to suicide.”
This vigil, the 23rd annual candlelight vigil in memory of those who died by suicide hosted by Survivors of Suicide Inc. and ME Carpenter for Suicide Awareness, will be held on Tuesday, September 10th at 7 p.m. at Rose Tree Park, 1671 N. Providence Road.
This evening will feature speakers, music, Life Keeper memory quilts, the presentation of the MaryEllen Carpenter Award, the reading of names and the lighting of candles.
The initiative is scheduled to take place during national Suicide Prevention Week, September 8-14. Its goal is to educate the public about suicide prevention and the warning signs of suicide, reduce the stigma of suicide, and offer support to those left behind by suicide.
Falasco is the author of two books.
Her first book, published in 2022, is titled Mending Piece By Piece After A Suicide Loss: Guided Grief Workbook & Journal to Heal the Survivor’s Heart, and her latest book is titled Mending Piece by Piece: A Workbook & Journal for Navigating Grief with Hope.
Falasco will also be holding a book signing at Barnes & Noble, 1991 Sproul Road, Broomall, on Saturday, September 14 at 1 p.m. This event also takes place during National Suicide Prevention Week.
The books, available at Barnes & Nobel and Amazon, are tailored to each person’s individual grieving process after a serious loss.
The books contain educational information designed to help people who have lost a loved one better understand the complexities of loss and grief. In addition, each book includes exercises, checklists, and journal entries that allow mourners to document the many ups and downs of their grief journey and remember their loved one’s life, all without fear of being misunderstood or judged by others.
“Unlike most books that simply tell the story of another person who died by suicide, these books give the bereaved the opportunity to tell their own story,” Falasco explained. “The journal is designed to help the bereaved better understand the thoughts, feelings and experiences they go through during their grief, which in turn puts them on the path to healing.”
Gloomy statistics
According to vigil organizers, suicide was among the top nine causes of death among people ages 10 to 64 in 2022, with an average suicide occurring every 11 minutes.
Suicide was the second leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 14 and 25 to 34. The suicide rate in the United States has reached one of its highest levels in nearly 30 years. People ages 85 and older have the highest suicide rate, and this fact is often the least talked about.
The largest increase in suicide rates occurred among middle-aged adults between 45 and 60 years of age.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 10- to 34-year-olds. Approximately 1.4 million Americans attempt suicide each year. An estimated 6.5 million Americans are survivors of the suicide of a friend, family member or loved one.
This year the vigil will be held in the pavilion and not in the amphitheater as in previous years.
In recent years, 150 to 300 people from the tri-state area have come together to honor and remember their loved ones who have lost their lives to suicide. The event has become a safe place for survivors to come together and find hope, comfort and support.
If anyone would like to participate or have a loved one’s name remembered, please contact Linda Falasco at [email protected] and include the number of people attending and the name of the loved one.
The RSVP helps prepare the event and provide adequate supplies.
The book signing
The author, podcaster, speaker and therapist wants to use the book signing to create an insightful and comforting afternoon for everyone who is on the difficult journey of grief.
Highlights of the event include Falasco’s personal story of loss and resilience. She will share her journey through grief, provide insight into the emotional and physical manifestations of grief, offer practical self-care tips and ways to find strength in faith and community to heal, and share how survivors can preserve and honor the memory of those who have died by suicide.
The event will include a 30-minute talk by Falasco, followed by a question-and-answer session and a book signing.
Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase copies of the books and have them signed by the author at the event. For more information about the book signing, call Barnes & Noble at 610-353-3255.
Beyond the vigil
In the years since her brother’s death, Falasco has received extensive training in trauma and suicide prevention and aftercare. After the loss of her sibling, she has processed her grief in this area as part of her own therapy and healing.
She co-coordinated the first Survivors of Suicide Conference in Philadelphia, which is now held annually.
The therapist was a founding member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention and a driving force behind the creation of a chapter in Philadelphia. Falasco was a member of SPAN USA, Suicide Prevention Action Network, which has since merged with the AFSP, and is the community organizer of the LifeKeeper Quilt for them.
She was also the founder of the Delaware County Suicide Awareness and Prevention Task Force. For more information about the author, visit: http://www.lindafalascolcsw.com/.
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