Dese’Rae L. Stage, an award-winning artist, mom, suicidologist, activist, and MSW student, will Bring Resiliency Into Focus with personal stories centering around family dynamics, the difficult transition from middle to high school, questioning her sexuality; an abusive relationship; divorce; infertility; and how suicidal thoughts cropped up in each. 

In a series of snapshots, Dese’Rae L. Stage will share her experiences with suicidal thoughts (and sometimes more) over the course of her lifetime. She will present the audience a living portrait reflecting recent CDC findings indicating that suicide is a response to adversity, rather than mental illness as a singular cause and walk us down the path that led her to Live Through This and will bring the voices of attempt survivors with her through portraits, quotations, and video—literally taking the audience into an interview with her.

She will discuss major themes that crop up in the stories of survivors, along with the impact the project has made in a number of contexts. Stage will implore listeners to open their hearts and their minds to those of us who have literally lived through it, and will provide incontrovertible evidence that suicide affects all of us. Be prepared for an experience that is revealing, often touching, always honest and, ultimately, hopeful.