At Smiles for Jake we often get asked,

‘Are YOU making a difference? To which our team says, YES – we are making a difference. Then the follow up question arrives, How do you KNOW you are making a difference?”

We can show everyone the data from our resource platforms – the ones that show over 150 people connecting with a ‘Get Help Now’ (988) button or the ones that show over 1,400 have entered a guided chat session with Hope – our friendly AI Bot or the data that shows people are joining our newly launched 24/7 100% Anonymous peer-to-peer support system – with a LIVE human EVERY TIME!

But today, we have the privilege to share with you a testimonial from a friend, who we are are extremely grateful for her bravery to give permission to share her story with the world. In her words, she writes:

“I felt compelled to reach out to you and share my gratitude. A little over a month ago I went walking through the woods at Fritz Loven Park in East Gull Lake, MN with nothing but complete despair, hopelessness, and a suicide plan. As I was walking down the trail, tears streaming down my face and blurring my vision, I noticed a blue spray painted smile in the snow and I associated it with Smiles for Jake. I have heard his story and I am actually an official smiles advocate.

Seeing the blue smile right there, right then, made me stop.

I thought of the hurt and pain I would cause. Unfortunately, my desire to end my life was stronger than any guilt I would feel about my decision. After my attempt, I was hospitalized in a psychiatric unit for a week where I finally got a diagnosis that completely explained that lost feeling I’d had since my teen years that I could never put in to words. Finally, at 36 years old, I learned that I had Borderline Personality Disorder and that there are ways to manage symptoms and even cure it.

Suddenly I had hope again! And while the blue smile in the snow did not stop me from what my mind was set to do, it did make me pause. That is a hopeful thing to me because if someone is struggling with suicidal thoughts but they are fearful, hesitant, unsure then seeing that blue smile could easily save people and stop them from hurting themselves!

Thank you so much for bringing suicide awareness to our community and for all your efforts to end suicide!”

We THANK YOU for pausing, finding answers and knowing that YOU MATTER – each and every day!

If you are in need of immediate help, please dial 988 or 911.

#wearealljake #hope #youmatter