Art for Suicide Survivors

My name is Kristel Nielsen and I am a suicide loss survivor. I need your help to continue an organization that I started last year called “Your Art Your Story" 

What We Do
Your Art Your Story was founded to promote self care through creative expression for anyone who has been affected by suicide. We make this possible by sponsoring creative art events and workshops where our community can experience the healing power of art.  As part of our mission, we maintain a platform where survivors can share their art and we use this platform to raise awareness around mental health issues.  

Why Art?
We believe art is a powerful force for healing. Research has shown that creating art reduces stress. When you make art, your health and happiness will benefit. We believe everyone is an artist, and being part of a creative process benefits helps people connect with one another and makes our community stronger.

Artist John Erwin leads a class in watercolor painting 

Three generations of suicide loss survivors at art class

Feedback has been very positive.
We have a partnership with the Arizona Artists Guild Outreach Program  to offer free monthly art classes in their studio space. We also provide art workshops at conferences and events for healing after suicide and addiction death. Parents who have lost a child, spouses who have lost their life partner, and children who have lost a parent or sibling to suicide death and attempt survivors who are creating a new life for themselves come to our workshops. They are the most courageous people I have ever met. 
 One participant said art class inspired her to make positive changes in her life. Another participant realized while making art she could talk about suicide without feeling sad.

This is the power of creativity.  Simply making art and sharing our stories has a profound impact, rising to the level of empowerment, while helping others know they are not alone. This fall, we travel to four suicide prevention walks with a pop up exhibition of works from our programs. We'll also provide art workshops at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention survivor day event in Phoenix.  We provide a platform for people to share their art & stories on our website gallery, Instagram and Facebook.



Kristel and the Arizona Artists Guild Outreach leadership team (from left to right) Lisa Wayman, Tess Mosko Scherer, David L. Bradley, Kristel Nielsen and Karen Weingartner

The Current Need and How You Can Help. 
Your Art Your Story is based in Arizona, where suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among all age groups and the #1 cause of death of children age 10 to 14. There are two interventions that benefit suicide survivors - counseling and support groups. But, there are barriers to access. Few counselors specialize in suicide bereavement and support groups are not for everyone. 

We received funding from Arizona State University to start our programs, and this funding will support fifteen Your Art Your Story events in 2018. Looking to next year, we'd like to continue art classes and host a public art show to raise community awareness. Our goal is to raise $7,100. Your contribution will go straight to the program. 

$20 donation will purchase one art kit.  
$100 donation will pay the artist honorarium and assistant for a 2 - hour class. 
$200 donations will cover the cost of a single class for 20 people including snacks, art supplies and art instruction. 

If you donate $200 or more, you become a class sponsor! In appreciation, we will send you an original painting made during art class. 

Other ways you can help

1.   Help us spread the word. Share our campaign link on social media. 

2.   Enjoy creating art! 

3.   Support your local suicide prevention organizations. They have been working tirelessly to help people in your community through moments of darkness and crisis. Get involved!

4.  Start an art group! We are very interested in making this a collaborative movement and helping folks start art groups in their community. We are developing a toolkit to share with anyone who is interested in starting a group. Email us for more information -  [email redacted].

There is much more information and art gallery on our website yourartyourstory.org.

Thank you so much for all of your support. Your support will mean so much to us and the larger community, so they can see they are not alone.  Together we can break the cycle and raise awareness. Thank You!