In Episode 73, I talk with TEDx speaker, Radio Show Host, International Best-selling Author, co-founder and Director of the Teen Suicide Prevention Society, Jackie Simmons. Blindsided by her 14-year-old daughter’s suicide attempt in 1995, Jackie entered a world of depression, addiction, medical mysteries, and deadly silences. The journey into the world of mental health services and cultural taboos left Jackie feeling lost and alone. Then on August 3, 2019, Jackie’s now 37-year-old daughter, broke the silence. Jackie calls August 3, the day her “purpose tapped her on the shoulder” to create pure, perpetual positivity in the lives of as many people as possible. This conversation with Jackie about the journey that launched the movement to make teen suicide a thing of the past will keep you spellbound.
In 1995, Jackie Simmons was blindsided by her 14-year-old daughter’s suicide attempt after a day of clothes shopping went awry. This took Jackie down a path which led to depression, addiction, medical mysteries, and deadly silences. The journey into the world of mental health services and cultural taboos left Jackie feeling lost and alone. Although she declared to the outside world that she was fine, Jackie hid her deep, psychic wounds behind a façade of frantic entrepreneurial activity.
Then on August 3, 2019, Jackie’s now 37-year-old daughter, broke the silence. Jackie calls August 3, the day her “purpose tapped her on the shoulder.” From that moment, with her daughters, Jackie's mission became to prevent teen suicide. Together they created “The Talk to Stop Teen Suicide,” a script to build emotional resiliency inside families and beyond. Jackie calls the strategy a way to create pure prevention, but trust me it is way more than that. It is absolutely a way to move people towards pure perpetual positivity.
Now a TEDx speaker, Radio Show Host, International Best-selling Author, Mindset Magician, co-founder and Director of the Teen Suicide Prevention Society, Jackie is focussed on her mission to “Stop Teen Suicide.” This conversation is real, raw and powerful and you will be inspired to become part of this movement to, not just save so many valuable lives, but help lead them to purpose, passion and perpetual positivity. Enjoy my amazing conversation with Jackie Simmons.
Watch Jackie's TedX Talk here.
Find out more about her here.
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My website is www.andrewjobling.com.au