Sunflowers for Sallie was created in the memory of Sallie LeBlanc, a loving mother who is missed dearly by her two surviving daughters. The project is inspired by one of her children who was six years old at the time of her passing and saw the need for a retroactive approach in Suicide Awareness initiatives. Suicide is a complicated loss to greive for adults, especially so for children who are left to navigate the complex emotions of guilt, anger, sadness, and regret that many experience after losing someone to suicide. Support for children dealing with such a heavy loss should not end after life seems to be moving forward, it should be available throughout their development especially through middle and high school. Furthermore, educators should feel confident and informed enough to handle these situations if they do happen. 

​

The National Alliance for Children's Grief estimated that 6 million children in the United States will experience a death of a parent or sibling by the age of 18, which averages out to about 1 in 12 children. In Massachusetts alone it will be over 102,000 children. That number nearly doubles by the age of 25. Suicide accounts for 8.9% of these deaths. The impact of suicide grief extends far beyond just the loss itself. 1 in 4 youth who commit suicide have lost a parent before the age of 18. Furthermore, this population is 175% more likely to develop a substance use disorder (SUD) in adulthood. Suicide loss differs from other types of loss in many ways and is surrounded with stigma, making already complex grief more complicated for youth. 

​

Sunflowers for Sallie believes that supporting youth mental health and suicide prevention takes a community effort. We are actively seeking opportunities to collaborate with schools, educators, student organizations, community groups, and other youth-focused mental health initiatives. Whether your school already has a mental health program and is looking for additional support, or you're interested in creating new resources where none currently exist, we'd love to work together. Following the success of our November fundraiser and the continued growth of our outreach efforts, we are expanding our partnerships to reach more young people. If you are interested in collaborating, hosting a program, or learning more about our mission, please fill out our contact form. You can also download and share our brochure with anyone who may be interested in partnering with or supporting Sunflowers for Sallie.