Upcoming Book Spotlights Those Who Thrived After Attempting or Considering Suicide

    PITTSBURGH, PA, November 01, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Author Seeks Support for Suicide Awareness Project

Pittsburgh-area psychotherapist Kristie Knights is compiling the stories of suicide survivors and those who considered suicide to show how they moved from a dark place in their lives to happiness. By showcasing these individuals, Knights hopes to both bring attention to depression and suicide and show how these thoughts can be overcome and lives can be turned around.

Her upcoming book, UnSung Heroes: Deconstructing Suicide through Stories of Triumph, features men and women from around the globe who have gone on to lead fulfilled lives after suicidal thoughts.

The project began in April 2016 when Knights read a post on Facebook by a woman who had suffered a head injury, contemplated suicide, and made the choice to live. She was immediately inspired and noted the power of healing this woman experienced by sharing her story.

She had supported clients in her private practice who had suicidal thoughts or made attempts, as well as those who had lost a loved one to suicide, and she knew it had become an epidemic. Suicide is a leading cause of death, but it is preventable. These are just a few statistics that drove her to action:

- An average of 22 Veterans die daily by suicide.
- The suicide rate of women ages 40-64 has increased by 60% in the last 10 years.
- Men are most likely to succeed in suicide.
- Suicide is the leading cause of death in children ages 10-21.

Just a few hours after reading that moving Facebook post, Knights posted an opportunity for others who struggle with suicidal thoughts or a past attempt and are now living a life of joy to be featured in a book. Each person's story would give a voice to their pain, inspiring others to live. Within 48 hours, 41 people came forward to share their story.

The initial book idea has become a larger project, the iRise Leadership Institute, which includes a broader educational platform largely based on presentations by Knights. "iRise Leadership Institute believes every life has value," she said. "Our mission is to eradicate suicide through awareness, education, and prevention." Her speaking topics include Academic Pressures & Poor Coping Mechanisms: Anxiety, Depression, Cutting, Self-Harm; Suicide Prevention; Secondary Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the Workforce; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Implications of Suicide; and iRise to Lead: Leadership and Creating Positive Change. These presentations are tailored to a variety of audiences. Visit http://www.iriseleadership.com/irise-speaks for more details.

Through iRise, Knights hopes to increase awareness and prevention of suicide and teach others to value their lives. She also plans to provide resources and services to give hope to people who have suicidal thoughts and financial resources and services for survivors of suicide and families left behind.

Opportunities are available to join the project, donate, or volunteer. Donations for the book project will cover costs associated with developing, publishing, and marketing the book.

Also, a memorial fund was established in the name of Kristen Humphrey, a lawyer in the Pittsburgh area who died by suicide on May 2, 2016. The monies in this fund will be used to educate lawyers in suicide awareness and prevention.

Knights's book will be available for purchase on the website. She hopes to follow the initial book with others that focus on specific demographics with high suicide rates.

For more information or to donate to the project, please visit http://www.iriseleadership.com/. Contact Kristie Knights at (724) 816-7431with questions.

OUR MISSION:
iRise Leadership Institute believes every life has value. Our mission is to eradicate suicide through awareness, education, and prevention.

OUR VISION:
Provide awareness and prevention of suicide through education and presentations in the community.
Provide resources and services to give hope to people who have suicidal thoughts.
Provide financial resources and services for survivors of suicide, as well as for families left behind.
Provide volunteer opportunities for those who share our vision.
Teach the community to see their God-made intrinsic value.

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