(The Westfield News/MassLive – Mike Lydick) After nearly losing her life because of post-partum depression and thoughts of suicide, Heather White found help through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The group not only saved her life, it gave her a new mission in life.
White now works for the organization as part of a team dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide.
“The AFSP was a way for me to share my story in the hopes that it may help others and the more of this work I do, the more I heal and protect my long-term mental health,” said the Westfield resident, who is among 125 Massachusetts women who will be recognized as Commonwealth Heroines at a special celebration at the Statehouse in Boston on June 23. She is this year’s only honoree from Greater Westfield.
The area director for the AFSP’s Western Massachusetts and Vermont chapters for the past seven years, White was selected for this special recognition by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. This will be the 20th year it has honored women with this award. Commission Chair Dr. Sarah Glenn said White and the other Commonwealth Heroines are women who “don’t make the news, but make all the difference in their communities.”
In her work with the AFSP, White is connected to an entire network of “support and love” from many others whose lives have been affected by suicide. “While our reach and impact spreads far and wide, our Western Massachusetts AFSP family is a close-knit group, dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide,” she said.
White, a trained suicide intervention caregiver and a suicide prevention trainer, said suicide is a health issue that many people don’t have enough facts, figures, and knowledge about to fully understand.
“The false narratives many hold about mental health and suicide generate a stigma that’s one of the biggest hurdles to getting ourselves or our loved ones the help that they need. Suicide can be prevented, and making prevention, education, awareness campaigns and support for those struggling more readily available can save lives,” she said.
Community-based events such as the Greater Springfield Out of the Darkness Walk to Fight Suicide, International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, and countless educational trainings and presentations are all the work of volunteer committees that White assists and leads to help raise awareness about suicide prevention.
Suicide is a public health issue that can affect everyone, so White’s work connects her with many organizations and groups in the area. Among them are public schools, the Veterans Administration. the Barnes Air National Guard Base, local churches, corrections departments and the firearms-owning community. She also served on the executive committee for the Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Coalition and chaired the MCSP Advocacy Committee.
“I’m a big fan of leading by example and hope that my willingness to be open about mental health and suicide prevention will encourage others to do so as well,” said White. “It’s important to share not only our talents with this world, but also a positive attitude, especially when dealing with the heavy subject matter of suicide.”
White said holding up examples of women who are going “the extra mile” to make an impact in their communities cannot happen often enough.
“We hear so often about over-scheduling ourselves, burnout and making time for self-care — all of which is essential and needs to happen — but highlighting these women may encourage someone else to give just a bit more of themselves to the world than they may have thought they were able to do.”
Glenn said White is an example of thousands of women in every community across the state who perform “unheralded acts” on a daily basis that make homes, neighborhoods, cities and towns better places to live.
“Commonwealth Heroines use their time, talent, spirit, and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others in their community. They are mentors, volunteers and innovators — they are the glue that keeps a community together,” said Glenn.
Each year, the commission partners with state legislators to identify women who make outstanding contributions to their organizations and their communities. Legislators are encouraged to submit one woman from their constituency as a means of recognizing their invaluable efforts and extraordinary acts of service.
State Senator John Velis (D-Westfield), who nominated White, said Western Massachusetts is “incredibly lucky” to have White because of her dedication to helping prevent suicides and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
“From conducting safeTALK trainings with teens, to organizing annual Out of the Darkness walks, to her unwavering advocacy to the legislature on suicide prevention services, she has been an extraordinary partner,” said Velis, who chairs the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery. “I’m proud to have nominated Heather for this award. And grateful to the commission for honoring her with a Commonwealth Heroine award.”
White said she was very surprised to learn Velis had nominated her for this recognition.
“While he, his staff members, and I have a great relationship and work together often on priorities and needs around suicide prevention in our state, it’s often a surprise to learn of the bigger impact our words, actions and efforts can have,” she said.
As a volunteer-based organization, White said volunteers are the key component to everything AFSP does.
“We’re so grateful to them for their efforts,” she said. “I’m simply honored to have a role in this organization that allows me to work alongside these true heroes in the fight against suicide – and to be recognized in this capacity is truly icing on the cake, as they say.”
The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women is an independent state agency created by the Legislature in 1998 to advance women in Massachusetts to full equality in all areas of life and to promote their rights and opportunities.