“Grief has been my middle name for 47 years.”
Leslie Weirich shares the profound series of multiple losses she has faced in her lifetime, but the pain that has become her purpose followed the shocking suicide of her 20-year-old son, Austin in 2016.
A star student and athlete, there were no obvious warning signs, but Leslie learned after the fact the devastating link between high achievers and high risk for suicide.
She also immersed herself in research that revealed the clear connection between toxic romantic relationships and the dramatic, negative impacts on the psyches of young men. Add a firearm to the mix, and you have a perfect storm. An environment conducive to suicide.
Her work is needed now more than ever. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in 10 - 24 year olds. In the last decade, the suicide rate for this age group has grown by 57%. In the United States, 132 people die of suicide each day.
And it is preventable.
Leslie found service to others to be a path to healing her own grief. She now speaks to thousands each year about men’s mental health and suicide prevention. Whether on college campuses or military bases, lives are being saved through Leslie’s speaking and her non-profit organization, Leslie’s Hope.
Her book, The Gifts of Grief: How Four Decades of Loss Shaped My Life, honors the lives of those she lost and shares the lessons learned from each.
She never intended to be a speaker, but you will never forget her words.
Learn more at www.leslieshope.org.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
Dial: 988 or call 800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line
Text “connect” to 741741
Emergency Medical Help
Dial 911
