New book brings awareness to suicide

A Grande Prairie Author travelled the country to gather stories for what she calls an “encyclopedia of hope”. Over the span of four years, Suzanne Sagmeister talked to 100 suicide survivors to put together her new book Life After Dark.

After photographing survivors in 2015 at Mighty Peace Day in the Swan City, she decided to shine a light on the darkness around suicide from all walks of life.

“It is about turning wounds into wisdom and pain into purpose. That has been from the very beginning, my goal. That we can help turn pain into purpose. I think that is the most inspiring thing…that others do walk through whether they themselves have battled mental illness or lost a loved one to suicide,” said the author.

There are 25 stories from the Peace Country told in the book and the rest were told by people from across Canada.