Heather Ainsley
news@greenepublishing.com
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or is in a mental health crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.com to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You are not alone.
Suicide is among the leading causes of death in America. In 2021, the age-adjusted suicide rate for males increased by three percent from 2020, the largest increase occurring for those aged 15-24 years old (eight percent). According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that for every suicide that occurs, there are likely to be 20 other people making a suicide attempt or struggling with suicidal ideations.
Suicidal thoughts and actions are often an absolute last resort. Many people struggling with suicidal ideation may not be able to see an end to the emotional or physical turmoil they are experiencing and are seeking relief from their pain or struggle. Many suicidal people may feel afraid or confused by these emotions and may even be overwhelmed or ashamed of their suicidal thoughts. This fear and shame may prevent them from reaching out to people in their lives or from seeking help when they need it the most. Taking the initial step towards seeking professional help can be intimidating. For individuals struggling in Madison County, there are local resources that can help.
Local Madison woman, Bobbi Sapp, lost her son, Christopher, to suicide in February of 2022. The devastating loss of her son led her to create a local outreach program for people in her area who struggle with suicidal ideations, as well as those impacted by suicide. Through her grief, she hopes to touch the lives of others and help convince people to choose to live. One of the ways she hopes to help is through her organization, Christopher's Message. Christopher's Message is a non profit charitable organization, made up of Christopher's family, that is devoted to helping people who are in need of suicide prevention resources to identify and access them. Additionally, it strives to provide outreach for those impacted by the suicide of a loved one.
“Our mission,” says Sapp, “is to support those who are having thoughts of suicide, as well as those who have been impacted by suicide, whether it was a failed personal suicide attempt or whether they lost a loved one. We strive to collaborate, not only with the local community and its leaders, but also on a national level, by increasing awareness, reducing stigma and providing data-driven education and techniques to prevent suicide.”
Sapp herself has taken several certification courses that have helped her to develop a stronger level of understanding about suicide and suicidal behaviors, but she says her lived experience has helped her the most. As someone who has been impacted by suicide, she has a valuable insight that can be used to help those who are struggling.
“We go out to individuals or families in crisis,” says Sapp, “or those who are in the same situation as us. We send out journals to individuals that have holds on them due to suicidal ideologies or attempts, and I host different age groups one night a week for a couple of hours, for those who have attempted or had thoughts, and we paint, color, journal, and usually once a week we go hide a ‘Christopher's Message’ rock around town.”
The Christopher's Message rock follows in alignment with the popular Kindness Rock project, where individually painted rocks are inscribed with words of encouragement or kindness and hidden around town in the hopes of brightening someone's day. Whoever finds a Christopher's Message rock will find a contact for Sapp on it, and those who contact her are invited to join members of the organization for ice cream and to talk about the importance of their outreach.
“We also have a project that is similar to Flat Stanley, called ‘Cruisin' with Christopher,’” says Sapp, “where we send a packet of stuff to anyone who requests the package. They take Christopher along and document their journey, via pictures and a journal. They spread hope to others by handing out flyers in their city/state. It is a great way to have advocates all over the world.”
Currently, “Christopher” is in two different locations, spreading suicide awareness and support information in Chicago, Ill. and Live Oak, Fla. Those interested in signing up for Cruisin' with Christopher can do so on the website, christophersmessage.com. Additionally, you can follow the Christopher's Message team via TikTok (@christophersmessage), Twitter (Christopher's Message), Instagram (Christophersmessage), and Facebook (Christopher's Message).
The first goal of Christopher's Message is to educate people on the language of suicide and help them recognize the signs of someone who is struggling with a personal crisis, depression or suicidal ideations, so they can be connected with appropriate resources swiftly.
Another goal of the organization is to help the survivors of suicide (both the loved ones of someone who successfully committed suicide, or the survivor of a suicidal attempt), restore a sense of faith and hope in their lives, as well as provide them with a community that can help educate and empathize with them about the situation. This can help connect survivors with resources that exist right in their own community. By fighting to break the stigma, Christopher's Message seeks to spread the message that it is okay to ask for help.
Christopher's Message is in the process of raising money to afford a building that they can use for outreach. This building will enable them to host training sessions, support meetings and other events for individuals in their community.
“We want people to know that there is help,” says Sapp, “and that other people want to walk this journey with them, if they will just STAY. We want to help others find hope in a sometimes hopeless situation. As Romans 8:28 states, in part, '...In all things, God works for the good....' I have always told my children 'you gotta find the good in the bad.' That's what we are trying to do, using our experience to help others. If it helps save just one life, using our pain for God's purpose is worth it. We pray that when people see us fighting the good fight, it gives them the hope they need to keep going!”
Conversations about suicide are some of the most difficult conversations to have, but doing so can not only save lives, but it can improve the lives of people who feel hopeless. For those seeking support in the Madison County area, or for those who wish to help out, contact Bobbi Sapp at christophersmessage@yahoo.com.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, and are considering self-harm, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.com to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You are not alone. Help is here.
Additional local resources for the Madison County area:
– Apalachee Center, Madison:
(850) 973-5124
– Apalachee Center, Tallahassee:
(850) 523-3333
– Capital City Youth Services:
(850) 576-6000
– Children's Medical Services:
(850) 487-2604
– Florida Department of Children and Families:
(850) 601-6025
– Florida Abuse Hotline:
1-800-962-2873
– Florida Therapy Services, Inc.:
(850) 681-6001
– Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital:
(229) 588-8215
– Honey Lake Clinic:
(844) 747-7772
– Madison County Health Department:
(850) 973-5000
– Madison County Memorial Hospital:
(850) 973-2271
– Madison County Sheriff's Office:
(850) 973-4151
– Partnership for Strong Families:
1-866-310-7326
– The Multi-Agency Network for Students with Emotional/ Behavioral Disabilities (SEDNET):
(386) 758-4954
– South Georgia Psychiatric and Counseling Center: (
229) 257-0100
– Suicide Prevention:
1-800-273-8255
– Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare:
(850) 431-1155
– Tallahassee Memorial Behavioral Health Center:
(850) 431-5100
– Tallahassee Memorial Recovery Center (Substance Abuse):
(850) 431-5150