Are You Still Grieving? You’re Not Alone

By Bill Vassilopoulos

Back in 2012, I stepped into the role of an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Trainer (ASIST). Around that exact time, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a stark global declaration, framing suicide as an escalating public health crisis—revealing that every 40 seconds, a soul somewhere in the world dies by suicide.

That statistic was never just an abstract data point to me. It was personal.

Years earlier, as a teenager navigating the heavy waters of the 1980s, I actively tried to end my life. And by absolute grace, I survived.

But survival doesn’t mean the story simply ends. In many profound ways, that is exactly where the real story begins.

Although I lived, my parents carried a massive, invisible weight that lasted for years. They grieved deeply, quietly blaming themselves in the dark, believing they had somehow failed me as protectors. The absolute truth is—they hadn't. They loved me fiercely.

Later in life, I was forced to face this shattering reality again—this time, from the opposite side of the equation. Someone incredibly close to my heart attempted suicide. Once again, by the grace of God, there was survival. But once again, there was an immediate, crushing wake of grief.

And this time, I was the one who carried it.

I replayed every conversation. I questioned my own worth. I constantly wondered what signals I had missed, what words I could have said differently, and what actions I should have taken to intervene.

At that specific point in my life, I hadn't yet been trained to professionally intervene or walk alongside people struggling with intense suicidal ideation. That precise experience became my ultimate turning point—it drove me directly to seek out the rigorous training required to effectively support and defend vulnerable people in crisis.

Finding the Strategy in the Dark

Through the years, as I stood before rooms teaching suicide intervention workshops, one thing became completely undeniable: no two rooms were ever identical. Every single participant brought a heavy, hidden history into the space—some had lost a child or a spouse, others were actively walking alongside a friend in a valley of despair, and many were silently fighting their own internal battles just to stay in the room.

But as I looked closer, I began to recognize distinct, recurring patterns.

Signals.

Critical moments that, if recognized by a prepared caregiver, could fundamentally alter human outcomes.

I began to understand—and passionately teach—that suicide is almost never a completely random, sudden act of despair. There is a progression. There are observable behaviors. There are explicit warning signs. And most importantly, there are proven ways to step into the gap and intervene.

There is a strategy. Human beings are never as helpless as the culture tries to make them think.

In 2018, I felt a deep, inescapable responsibility to push further. I began interviewing people across our communities—those who had walked directly through the unimaginable wake of loss, those on the front lines of crisis intervention, and those who had fought their way back from the brink.

That journey became the foundation for Eyes Above the Water.

It took seven grueling years to write—and it came at a massive emotional cost. Writing it forced me to systematically revisit my own past again and again. With every family story I recorded, I couldn't help but think of my own mother and father, and the quiet agony they endured while I was healing.

But through that pain, I received something unexpected: Perspective. Gratitude. Clarity.

I finally began to accept a truth that had taken me decades to fully integrate into my own soul: I am not a burden—and I am not alone.

And neither are you.

Turning Awareness Into Action

When you read this book, you will discover the realities that the mainstream narrative avoids discussing openly. Crisis leaves clues. There are recognizable patterns and behavioral shifts when someone is contemplating taking their own life.

This awareness matters immensely because awareness is the catalyst for direct action. And timely, courageous action saves lives.

Does this mean life suddenly becomes effortless or easy? Not at all. But I have found a profound, unshakeable gratitude for each day—regardless of the heavy weather, the shifting political climate, or the state of the economy.

We are here for a purpose.

Equip Yourself: Eyes Above the Water

To understand the roots of this crisis and learn how to identify the subtle signals of severe emotional distress in those you love, you must arm yourself with perspective. My book, Eyes Above the Water, is a blueprint for restoring hope and defending life when the world pushes for an early exit.

For a limited time, you can secure the Eyes Above the Water eBook for $13.60 (regularly $17.00).

• Promo Code: SAVE20

Join the Frontline

To join our community and receive ongoing resources, email me directly at contact@billvassilopoulos.com to subscribe to the 3RT Newsletter.

When you join, I will also ensure you receive a Free Medical Directive Card and Health Declaration Form mailed directly to your home. This wallet card establishes an ironclad legal boundary, explicitly forbidding unauthorized terminal interventions under Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) frameworks the moment you or your family members enter any hospital or care facility.

No matter how heavy the grief feels today, anchor your mind in these unshakeable truths:

• You are irreplaceable.

• You are unrepeatable.

• You are highly valued.

• You are NOT a burden. (John 3:16)

Warmly, your friend,

Bill Vassilopoulos

Author, Eyes Above the Water

©2026 Bill Vassilopoulos. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimer: The contents of this website and book are for educational and advocacy purposes and do not replace professional medical advice.