In Loving Memory. In Hope. In Truth.

I lost someone I love to suicide.
And not a day goes by that I don’t wish they were still here. This page is for them—and for everyone who’s ever felt like they couldn’t keep going.

Writing Before 18: In Joseph’s Footsteps forced me to confront some of the darkest moments of my life. I’ll be honest—I thought about suicide twice while writing this book. The trauma. The abuse. The weight of everything I lived through. It was overwhelming.

But I held on.
And now I get to tell you:

You are here for a reason.
You are not a burden. You are not invisible.
Your life matters more than you know.
And if nobody else has told you today—I love you.

How We’re Giving Back

To honor the person I lost and to support others still fighting, I’ve committed to donate:

2.5% of all book earnings to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)

2.5% to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

That’s 5% of every purchase going directly to support suicide prevention, mental health education, and life-saving resources.

One More Way to Help: Check In.

One of the most powerful ways to help prevent suicide is also the simplest:
Check on your friends.
Check on the people who smile the most. The ones who say “I’m fine.” The ones who isolate. The ones who seem strong. The ones who don’t ask for help.

Mental health matters.
Your check-in could be what saves someone’s life.

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If You Need Help, You Are Not Alone

Immediate Support (U.S.):

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988
Available 24/7 for free and confidential support.Crisis Text Line – Text HELLO to 741741
Talk with a trained crisis counselor any time

The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Youth) – Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678
https://www.thetrevorproject.org

NAMI HelpLine – Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text "HelpLine" to 62640
Available Monday–Friday for mental health support and guidance.

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Your story isn’t over. You are needed here. You matter.
This page—and this mission—is for the ones we’ve lost, and the ones we’re holding onto with everything we’ve got.

With love,
Joseph Behnke