Join Me in Supporting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Dear Friends,

This is the 10th year supporting suicide prevention through AFSP, and participating in the AFSP Out of the Darkness Community Walk in Washington DC, and it is special for many reasons.

I am joining hundreds of thousands of people across the country who are walking in the Out of the Darkness Community Walks to prevent suicide and support AFSP's mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.

This experience has been something very close to my heart, extending to my advocacy long before I started walking for suicide prevention. 

My support for this cause starts from deep within my soul and extends to the collective, as I reflect on how Mental Health does not discriminate across geographic boundaries, and how we all deserve a chance to live healthy, fulfilled lives despite our circumstances, traumas, and health conditions, in the pursuit of freedom, happiness, and our dreams. 

For over 30 years, I have been struggling with severe depression and anxiety disorders connected to PTSD, OCD, MDD and GAD, and suicidality. I am a suicide survivor and more specifically, a suicide attempt survivor. While I continue to stay resilient through my struggles, I have tried to find ways to help others in the same healing journey. AFSP and mental health advocacy became a part of my own survival, as it has for so many other people. And I believe, as survivors of suicide, our resistance, our resilience, and insights for survival are Revolutionary. 

It is why I must continue to carry this part of my identity proudly and boldly as a survivor, and I hope it will continue to inspire others to share their stories, or see hope in the efforts for our resilience. Our stories matter and our aspirations to become leaders, academics, scholars, high functioning and high achieving professionals deserve to be fulfilled regardless of our conditions. 

This year was particularly special for me, amid the challenges at a personal and collective level, because I entered the fourth decade of life. It was special because 14 years ago, I predicted that I wouldn't make it to 40, continuing the fight against my suicidality. It was important to me that I made it, to see this milestone as an accomplishment given the challenges I have faced since the Pandemic. This was important to me even if others may not see or understand this truth, which has been painful as it would be for anyone having the courage to speak and stand courageously in their truth, despite the risks connected to harmful stigmas, and after surviving such challenges.  

I put together a blog over 8 years ago in part for the purpose of my survival, warrioretkqueen.com to chronical my journey of survival in mental health and other aspects of my life to help empower myself, my readers and address and cure the stigmas. Over the years I blogged about my experiences on these walks as well. 

Here is one blog post at the DC walk in 2019:

https://www.warrioretkqueen.com/why-i-walk-to-fight-suicide/ 

Here is a reintroduction piece to my brand and alter-persona and mantra, "The Warrior KQueen," which I wrote on World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th:

https://www.warrioretkqueen.com/re-introducing-dr-elsa-the-warrior-kqueen/

Here is a YouTube Short video, which is a tribute to my blog, as I wrote a reintroduction piece for the first time in 8.5 years: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zZGwh2RW4Xw.

On my birthday this year, I wished for a free Palestine, and the courage to walk into every space as our whole selves. 

What does this mean for a Suicide Survivor? How must this manifest? 

I offer this as a genuine reflection prompt for all who care to prevent suicide, who have had a loved one die or suffer from suicidality. 

I aimed to share my story, honestly, sincerely, and boldly, and encourage others to do the same. Because as I stated, our insights into survival are revolutionary.  I wanted to educate and encourage people to be brave and understand the transformative power in communication and conversation. It is not that easy. Most people have a strong resistance towards anything beyond their comfort zones. This is tough in the communities and family structures to which I have sought belonging. 

While some progress has been made to address these harmful stigmas, there remains much work to reduce the stigma across all societal domains, which reinforces the suffering and prevents people from getting support and living a fulfilling life. 

With the global pandemic, it was an opportunity for us to address this issue head on. We have another opportunity to understand mental health crisis at a global level with what is happening in the Middle East right now. 

Unfortunately, it remains a small dent on the larger problem. We cannot address the stigmas in our communities if we do not have open and honest conversations on a consistent, ongoing basis, surrounding mental health and specifically suicide awareness and prevention. 

And we have to do better in being there for each other. 

We have to try harder, and make the effort to be better, to have the necessary tough conversations. To not bail out when it gets even slightly harder to understand. 

If the suicide survivor is not giving up in fighting for their life, than we must not give up in fighting to comprehend how important it is to build understanding around mental health and suicidality to reduce the suffering, ensuring inclusive spaces that value psychological safety and well-being across all domains of our existence.  

Every person that shares their story, gives the opportunity for such a conversation. 

I hope that if some day I do not survive, the people I know will walk for me or with me. But what would make my pain less difficult if I am one day able to get the people I know who have loved me or respected me in one way or another to walk with me while I am still present in this life, at least in spirit if not in person. 

We must not wait until people are gone to realize they were fighting. We must not see them as a burden, as seeking attention, or needy, in our efforts to save our own lives and to bring awareness, empathy, compassion, and understanding for others. We must not use their conditions against them, in personal and professional spaces or circumstances. We must choose compassion and empathy, always. 

I had started a "Painting Heals" fundraiser (paintingheals.elsatkhwaja.com) to gift my donors for all the fundraisers I participate in the past. While I cannot continue this at the current time, it has to be postponed for the moment, given some personal life challenges, I do hope I can restart this fundraiser in the coming year and gift my donors, not as an incentive, but rather a gift for your generosity. I hope to be in touch in the near future if I able to continue this endeavor. Either way, whether or not you choose to donate, I hope you will join the conversations to "talk and walk away the dark..."

Should you wish to donate in my 10th year walking to prevent suicide, please feel free to do so, and help reach my modest goal by clicking the "Donate" button on this page. All donations are 100% tax deductible and benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), funding research, education, advocacy, and support for those affected by suicide.

If you would like to donate by check, please download the offline donation form HERE and mail it with the check.

Thank you for your generosity and support! 

May we continue to spread peace, hope and love to those who are suffering from suicidality and suicide loss, as well as chronic and debilitating mental health conditions. May we continue to embrace the transformative power of conversation to help cure the stigmas. 

"Sometimes even to live is an act of courage." - Seneca

“If you’re looking for a sign not to kill yourself, this is it.” – Unknown 

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” – Kahlil Gibran 

“No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow." - Dr. Maya Angelou

In Solidarity, Peace, Warmth, and Blessings, 

Your sister, 

Dr. Elsa T. Khwaja

www.elsatkhwaja.com

www.warrioretkqueen.com