Suicide Awareness: How Mental Health Struggles Affect Families

By Alison Turner

Claims Specialist at Bridgeway Billing

This month, I want to honor my brother-in-law, Wayne Turner, who tragically lost his life to suicide in August. That day changed our world forever, and life will never be the same without him.

Wayne was a hardworking, blue-collar man who silently carried the weight of mental illness. He never told anyone what he was going through, and we never imagined how deeply he was hurting.

My husband, Rob Turner, wanted to share his thoughts:

“August 19, 2025, was the day we found out how deeply mental health could affect our family. My brother, Wayne, was 49 years old when he took his own life.

Not in a million years did I think this would happen to us. Wayne was always the strong one—the one who never let anything bother him. He had a wife, three kids, and had built a successful business. From the outside, he seemed happy. But behind closed doors, he was struggling in ways we couldn’t see.

I believe losing his business a few years ago weighed on him more than we realized. Many of us, especially men, are too proud to admit when we’re hurting. We see it as a weakness. But it’s not. It’s okay not to be okay.

Bottling things up leads nowhere. From the outside, he had the “perfect” family, but inside he felt broken. He told his wife the day he died that he was a failure. Watching what this has done to our family is beyond belief. The hole it has left behind will never go away.I wish Wayne could have seen that he wasn’t a failure, that he was deeply loved, and that his life mattered more than he ever knew. The hole his loss has left in our family will never go away.

So please, if you’re struggling, talk to someone. Don’t suffer in silence. The world needs you here. And to everyone reading this: tell the people in your life how much they mean to you. Sometimes a smile or a simple hello can make all the difference.”

If you are struggling—whether you’re a man, woman, spouse, parent, or friend—please know you are not alone. 💛 There is help available 24/7. Call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

✨ You matter. You are loved. The world needs you here.