I Love Life: A Mother Speaks Out About Daughter’s Suicide

Angela Drake of Tea, South Dakota says her 17-year-old daughter Brittany lost her battle with depression. She died by suicide.

Angela was devastated.

"I don't think there are words to put it into. The anguish and despair and the sadness and the hurt---all the questions. There is so much that there are not words for it."

Angela was emotionally frozen following Brittany's death.

"The next morning after she died I literally remained in bed and didn't think I would ever get out again. I prayed. Someway somehow God filled me with enough hope to get up and keep going and be able to share. I just hold on to that hope everyday. I can make a difference."

From first hand experience, Angela offers this message if one of your family members died by suicide.

"You have to hold onto hope and you have to be an advocate for your child. You have to go to bat for what you know they need. Don't give up on what you know they need. Keep searching and looking for resources. The more you scream and shout the more you find. There are amazing resources here in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area that are available. You just have find them."

In other words, Angela says there is always hope if you look for it.

"Absolutely. There is hope in anything that comes about. Without my faith, I would still be laying in that bed. Everyday is a struggle to get up. Some days I have to pray longer to get out of bed. But, everyday I am able to get up and keep going. I know that Brittany would want me too. I know that she would want to help other people. I am going to do that for her."

With Angela Drake, a real survivor who is making a difference, I'm Jerry Dahmen.

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