Two years later, Miss You Most continues to start conversations about suicide and loss
Dr. Jennifer Brasch by Miss You Most, a photography exhibit that captures the effects of suicide on survivors.
There’s a corridor on St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton West 5th Campus with portraits that are as much about the people in them, as they are about the people not pictured. They’re photos of suicide survivors.
Since June 2015, staff at West 5th have seen a range of reactions to the Miss You Most photography exhibit. Importantly, it continues to send the message that it’s OK to be open about loss and talk about suicide.
Dr. Jennifer Brasch, a psychiatrist at St. Joseph's, is the person who initially championed bringing the exhibit to St. Joseph's after first coming across those photos in 2009 at a suicide prevention conference.
“I talked to the woman seated next to me and we talked about her work as an outreach worker in Halifax,” Dr. Brasch said. “Later that day, I looked at the exhibit and there was her picture. Clearly losing her son had a profound impact on her and I saw her very differently once I saw that photo.”
Dr. Brasch then approached Scott Chisholm, the photographer behind the exhibit, to shoot new photos of people in the Hamilton community. Those photos were then added to the original collection and mounted at St. Joe's.
Dr. Jennifer Brasch met Carol Cashen, above, at a suicide prevention conference in Halifax in 2009.
Survivors are those left behind when a loved one dies by suicide. Miss You Most captures survivor’s images and thoughts.
“I still see people stopping to read the photos,” Dr. Brasch said. “I like to think that it encourages people to reflect on suicide prevention and that it reduces stigma.
“Who knows how many people said something to their counsellor, went home and said something to a family member or was more comfortable reaching out to an acquaintance because of this exhibit?” Dr. Brasch added.
Maryanne Mancini, Outpatient Mental Health Program Manager, said several clients of the clinic have shared their reflections with the medical team about the impact of suicide on those left behind.
That was a new concept for some, Mancini said, they didn’t think about the impact of suicide on other people.
“They had believed it lessened the burden if they were dead,” Mancini said. “They thought that family would quickly get over their death.”
Miss You Most is evidence of the impact of suicide on loved ones left behind. Two of the survivors features are St. Joe’s staff.
Dr. Brasch says there’s no end date planned for Miss You Most. When she first approached the chief of psychiatry for funding, she pitched displaying it on a busy corridor, accessible to the public.
Miss You Most is on display at the West 5th Campus of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. It’s on Level 0, in the corridor leading to the Medical Outpatient Clinics. It’s open to viewing during hospital hours, seven days a week.
Click on the names below for their stories:
- Helen Sweet
- Jamie Timmons
- Jen MacDonald
- Jerome Blais
- Kellie Joyce
- Andrew, Linda and Jen MacDonald
- Margaret Hajdinjak
If you, or a loved one is seeking help or support, call/click the resources below:
Youth Wellness Centre
905-522-1155 ext. 31725
COAST (Crisis Outreach and Support Team)
905-972-8338
Barrett Centre
905-529-7878
Contact Hamilton
905-570-8888
Salvation Army Suicide Crisis Line
905-522-1477
Telecare Burlington
905-681-1488
Distress Centre of Hamilton
905-525-8611
Kids Help Phone
1-800-668-6868
Suicide Prevention Community Council of Hamilton
spcch.org
Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention
suicideprevention.ca
Are You in Crisis?
Help is available. If you are in Hamilton:
- Go to the Emergency Department at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton Charlton Campus and tell the doctor if you are having thoughts of suicide.
- Call the Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST) at 905-972-8338 or online at www.coasthamilton.ca
- Call the Salvation Army Crisis Line at 1-855-294-HOPE or online at www.hopesalive.ca
- In an emergency, call 9-1-1.
Across Canada, you can find a crisis centre
Sharing Hope & Resiliency
Hopeline
Befrienders
There are many on-line websites with information and support about suicide prevention. The websites listed here can guide you to many more resources. Please note that these links are provided for information purposes only and St. Joe’s is not responsible for their content.