The Friendship Bench Blog
Is Mental Health a Misnomer? Why We Need to Destigmatize Depression
Two young men. The first young man is 19, a constant joker who enjoys nothing else than making people laugh and bringing joy to those around him. He is big into robotics and the challenge of solving problems. He also helps his close friends solve their problems by...
Conversations Over a Child’s Grave
It's not uncommon for parents to fantasize about their children's future, especially when they are first born. We wonder about their personalities and how they will develop; we look into their eyes and predict what career they'll have. We go so far as to plan the...
Behind These Eyes: A Father’s Invisible Grief
"Mr. Fiorella, we've found your son. I'm sorry...." After a frantic search for our 19-year-old son, these were the first words shared by the police officer who reported that my son had been found dead, by his own hands. It's a phrase that will forever be etched...
When Words Fail: Lessons From a Father Grieving His Teen’s Suicide
In October 2014, my world was turned upside down. My 19-year-old son succumbed to the illness of depression and took his own life. As many have said previously, this pain is something no parent should have to endure. There are no words to express the depth of the...