Created by our co-founder, T-Kea Blackman, MPS, CPRS, RPS, Renewed Resilience Day is a day to celebrate suicide survivors, individuals who struggle with suicidal ideation, and encourage others to share their stories, and raise awareness about suicide in the Black community. Surviving a suicide attempt is often met with shame and silence but we’re here to change that narrative. This day is about honoring resilience, fostering healing, and reminding every survivor that they are not alone.
A Day to Honor Resilience
Surviving a suicide attempt or struggling with the thoughts are often met with feelings of shame, isolation, and silence. Many survivors feel they must hide their pain and struggle in the shadows, fearing judgment or misunderstanding. However, at Black People Die By Suicide Too, we believe that it is time to change this narrative. Renewed Resilience Day serves as a reminder that every survivor’s journey matters and deserves to be celebrated.
This day is all about honoring resilience; the resilience of those who have fought through the darkest times and found the strength to move forward. It’s about showing the world that survival is not just about overcoming the pain but also about embracing the possibility of healing and new beginnings. Every survivor has a story, and that story is one of courage, strength, and transformation.
Fostering Healing Through Connection
Sharing stories can be one of the most powerful ways to heal. When survivors speak out and connect with others who have faced similar struggles, they realize they are not alone. Renewed Resilience Day is an invitation for individuals to share their journeys, to let others know that there is hope and life beyond the darkness.
Whether it’s through spoken word, written accounts, or artistic expressions, this day encourages all survivors to share their stories in their own way. By doing so, we not only help to break the silence that often surrounds suicide, but we also create a ripple effect of healing and empowerment. Every story shared is a light that can guide others toward their own path of recovery.
Raising Awareness and Changing the Narrative
Suicide remains a taboo subject in many communities, especially within the Black community, where mental health issues are often overlooked or stigmatized. Renewed Resilience Day serves as a reminder that mental health is just as important as physical health, and that suicide prevention and intervention are critical components of ensuring the well-being of our community.
Through this day, we aim to raise awareness about the unique challenges that Black individuals face when it comes to mental health and suicide. We seek to create safe spaces for open conversations, dismantling the stigma, and offering resources to those in need. Renewed Resilience Day is not just a day to celebrate those who have survived but also a day to educate and advocate for lasting change in how we approach mental health in the Black community.
You Are Not Alone
To every survivor reading this: you are not alone. Your experience is valid, your pain is real, and your survival is a testament to your strength. Renewed Resilience Day is here to remind you that there is a community of people who understand, support, and stand with you. This day is about more than just survival; it’s about thriving, healing, and empowering others to do the same.
Together, we will continue to change the narrative, uplift our voices, and create a future where Black individuals who have survived suicide attempts are met with love, support, and understanding.
Happy Renewed Resilience Day to our survivors!
- Brittany Hanani, LGPC, BPDBST Board President & Therapist
- T-Kea Blackman, MPS, CPRS, RPS, BPDBST & Mental Health Empowerment Agency Founder
- Jordan Scott, MS, BPDBST Founder
- Lauren N. Jenkins, LCPC, CCTP, Founder & Therapist, The Journey2Well, BPDBST Volunteer
- Imadé, Founder, Depressed While Black
- Destiny English, Artist, Mental Health Advocate, & BPDBST Volunteer
We celebrate you and your journey of strength and perseverance. If you’d like to be featured on our social media and in our newsletter, we invite you to share your story by sending us an email: info@blackpeoplediebysuicidetoo.org with a quote on “What Renewed Resilience Day means to you? and your “renewed resilience/second birthday.”
Let’s honor resilience. Let’s foster healing. Let’s raise awareness. And most importantly, let’s remember that you are not alone.
