Episode #6
A Mother’s Words of Hope on JR’s Hunt;for Life Suicide Prevention Podcast, “Safe Talk”
S5E6-A Mother’s Story: From Surviving to Living on JR’s Hunt;for Life Suicide Prevention Podcast, “Safe Talk” In this powerful follow-up episode of Safe Talk, host Jenny Hunter reconnects with Sonja, whose story of losing her 13-year-old son, Mason, to suicide deeply moved listeners in our Nov. 2024 episode. Now, seven years into her journey, Sonja returns to share what healing can look like after unimaginable loss—and how hope can slowly, but truly, take root. Sonja opens up about the years following her son’s death, including her struggle with complicated grief, the physical toll of trauma—including a diagnosis of broken heart syndrome—and the moment she realized she needed help. She shares her transformative experience at Kinder, an intensive women’s treatment program that gave her the tools to process her grief, release shame, and begin rebuilding her life. Through honest reflection, Sonja describes what it means to move forward without “moving on”—learning to honor Mason’s life, not just his death, and finding ways to carry him with her while continuing to live fully. She speaks candidly about parenting through grief, repairing relationships, practicing self-forgiveness, and the daily work of choosing healing over darkness. From this episode: * “It does get better. It just takes time.” * “You can feel the grief… just don’t live there.” * “I’m finally able to talk about how he lived—not just how he died.” * “Healing didn’t mean forgetting him. It meant learning how to carry him with me.” * “You don’t have to do this alone.” * “I had to learn to give myself grace.” * “My healing helped my family begin to heal too.” * “There is real help out there—you just have to reach for it.” This episode is a testament to resilience, the power of community, and the courage it takes to seek help. It offers hope to anyone navigating grief, trauma, or loss, reminding us that while the pain may never fully disappear, it can transform. “Safe Talk” is hosted by Jenny Hunter, founder of the global suicide prevention movement J.R.’s Hunt For Life, and Billy Floyd, media broadcaster and positive influencer. Together, they create a space for open dialogue that can truly save lives. Featuring music by “Sounds of Soul,” courtesy of Fearless Motivation, this episode is produced by Angel Mountain Media. Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and support our life-saving mission. “Safe Talk” is available on Apple Music, iTunes, Audible, Spotify, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, and more.
