Those of you in the herb community likely heard the sad news that John Gallagher, co-founder of HerbMentor/LearningHerbs, died from suicide last week.
Although I didn't know John personally, I've been a long-time member of Learning Herbs. Our circles overlapped in many ways, and my heart aches for him, his family, and his communities.
You can learn more about John and his work in this HerbRally interview.
The Suicide Prevention Research Center has a resource page for Postvention, which refers to "actions taken to facilitate the healing of individuals from the grief and distress of suicide loss, to mitigate other negative effects of exposure to suicide, and to prevent suicide among people who are at high risk after exposure to suicide."
We often get to see the fun or lighthearted moments in someone’s life, especially through social media or professional networks. Underneath, though, life is complex. It's hard to know what someone is going through, and I'm reminded to keep working to hold space with compassion, both for others and for myself as a practitioner.
Take care,
Camille
p.s. If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7. You can call or text 988 or use their chat service.
p.p.s. If you've ever wondered whether crisis lines like this are effective, a recent study found that the majority of callers felt that calling the crisis line helped them.
