CANDICE WILLIAMS
Suicide Affects The Whole Family – As shared by Tammy Williams, Founder of WOSAC

My 18 year old sister committed suicide as a Freshman at UNC-Charlotte in 1995.

She was an outgoing, smart, energetic and loving young lady. She was Miss Carver High School, co-captain of the Varsity Cheerleading squad, Senior class Secretary, member of the Spanish Club, member of the Youth and Young adult choir and usher board member at our home church. She was outgoing, smart, energetic, and a loving human being.

The world was hers to conquer. In a moment of tremendous despair around the same week that my Mother had died five years prior, she took her life.

She called me to say, “I just want you to know I will always love you”. By the tone of her voice, I knew something was very wrong. I tried to keep her talking on the phone but she insisted she would be okay.

The next phone call was from a school administrator saying she had jumped from a ninth-floor window and was being airlifted to the hospital. The worst phone call anyone can ever receive. She did not survive the impact of the fall. No physical damage but internal trauma caused her to die.

I promised then to help others who are in pain and need help. 2019, the dream is a reality. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US. More people die from suicide than car accidents.

Let’s spread awareness, increase prevention and erase the stigma. Let’s TALK about it! We can all support an end to this epidemic.