Volunteer Spotlight: Jayne Murphy
There are no words to describe the unimaginable pain experienced by a parent when losing a child to suicide. They say that time heals all wounds, and while some parts of that may be true, the fact remains that not all pain is equal. The grief and loss of purpose experienced by some parents after losing a child to suicide stay around. Yes, things get better, and with proper support, a parent can start the healing process and regain hope and joy, but how do you restore your purpose when the one you’ve been living and fighting for is no longer here? For Jayne, it’s choosing to stay involved and volunteer.
“I want to help. I want to do everything I can to help kids like my son. Of course, that is not something that I will ever be able to do, but I hope to help another son or daughter and save another family from going through the hell of losing their child. I don’t need to know who or when, or how, but I want to try.”
His Life Still Has Purpose
In 2021, Jayne’s only son Nathan died by suicide. Unbeknownst to Nathan or his family, he suffered from an undiagnosed, untreated mental health challenge. Described by family and friends as kind, funny, and a natural-born leader, he struggled in his adolescent years with depression and started self-harming. A magna cum laude graduate from the University of Missouri-Columbia, Nathan was on the brink of starting his career as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist when he lost his battle with depression and anxiety. For Jayne, reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and spreading awareness and prevention of depression and suicide are some of the most critical work she believes we do at CHADS. Although Nathan is no longer physically here, his life will forever have purpose and meaning through Jayne’s commitment to mental health advocacy and volunteer work.
"My son was my purpose in life. His life may have ended, but he is still my purpose. I have enormous pain over the loss of my only child. I have turned that pain into purpose. I want his story/our story to help another young person or family from having to survive the loss of a child to suicide.”
Thank you, Jayne, for your willingness to volunteer with CHADS and turn your pain into purpose. Your work on our Trivia Night, Gala, and other efforts do not go unnoticed. Because of the support of people like you, CHADS can continue to do the work we do.
