Let’s Go: Shelly Braley
Full Video Interview (scroll down for the Sunday morning teaser version)
Shelly Braley: The Safe Place Support Group
NOTE: This interview contains discussion of suicide and mental illness. If you or a loved one have experienced thoughts of suicide, we encourage you to call the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988. You can also reach out to Celebrate@celebratechurch.com and we will be happy to connect you with Shelly's support group or a pastoral care pastor.
In 2010, Shelly's youngest daughter, Kayla, began to show signs of severe depression. Shelly sought help for Kayla in any way she possibly could, but was consistently told there was no room available for Kayla to get treatment. On October 6, 2010, Kayla tragically took her own life. She was 17 years old.
Kayla's death cut Shelly and her family to the core. They immediately sought help for their grief, but had to drive over an hour to attend a support group. After two years, Shelly began training through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to become an advocate for families who have endured the loss of a family member to suicide.
Shelly started a support group called "The Safe Place" that meets the first Thursday of every month at Celebrate Church. She also became a board member for the Marion County Coalition for Suicide Prevention. In addition, Shelly advocates for policy change at the state and federal level. She is passionate about making help more readily available for people like Kayla.
If you would like to support Shelly's work, she asks for prayer. She also invites you to participate in her fundraiser for AFSP, which is a bus trip she takes twice a year to different places around the country with her group "the Knoxville Rock n Rollers". She also encourages Celebrators to respond to the nudge inside of them when they are worried about a loved one, and call someone for help right away. If you or a loved one is struggling with thoughts of suicide, we encourage you to call the AFSP life-line: 988. For more information about "The Safe Place" support group, email us at celebrate@celebratechurch.com and we will be happy to connect you with Shelly.
To listen on your favorite podcast channels, go to our Celebrate Church “Celebrators Podcast” page, or search on your preferred channel!
Links
Marion County Coalition on Suicide Prevention
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
If you would more information about The Safe Place support group or Shelly’s Rock-n-Rollers bus trip fundraisers, or If you have questions about today’s interview, email us at celebrate@celebratechurch.com and we will connect you.
