Our Mission is to
bring personal advocacy and companionship
to our community in support of those living with a mental illness.
No matter their struggles
people need to know they are worthy, and they are seen.
Life can hold meaning and they are valued.
We aim to be part of a team surrounding someone in mental anguish and help prevent their thoughts from reaching the point where suicide feels like the only way to stop the pain. Nobody should feel they have to face life alone!
change the narrative + end the stigma
In memory of
Ben Longley
1998-2020
In April 2019, Ben started showing signs of a mental illness that shocked and ultimately rocked the world for all of us that knew and loved Ben. He fought so hard to find the answers to what was happening to him; however, the internal struggle and lack of a clear medical diagnosis, became too much. On July 21, 2020, Ben took his life.
Ben Longley was born on March 18, 1998, in Harare Zimbabwe. He was the only son of Paul and Leigh and younger brother to Emma and Kirsty. In 2004, at the age of five, Ben moved with his family to the USA and Sioux Falls became his hometown.
For 22 years Ben was a kind, loving, loyal and fun-loving son, brother and friend. He had a thirst for knowledge and knew so many random facts on so many topics. It was this quest to know more about people, places and things that led to hours of debating with both his family and friends.
In April 2019, Ben started showing signs of a mental illness that shocked and ultimately rocked the world for all of us that knew and loved Ben. He fought so hard to find the answers to what was happening to him; however, the internal struggle and lack of a clear medical diagnosis, became too much. On July 21, 2020, Ben took his life.
There was 1 death every 11 minutes from suicide
Nearly 46,000 people died by suicide
12.2 Million seriously thought about suicide
3.2 Million made a plan for suicide
In 2020. All statistics from CDC.gov
