SPAN USA's Lifekeeper Program

Raise awareness. Remember those lost.
Show your support.

The pain of losing a loved one to suicide is difficult to express, and is only made worse by the barriers to public understanding -- people know that suicide is a problem, but still cannot fully comprehend how it affects every community in this country. The public still cannot put a face to suicide, and cannot imagine how many of their friends and neighbors have been touched by such a tragedy. Sometimes words are simply not enough to help them understand.

SPAN USA's Lifekeeper program provides both a creative outlet for grief and powerful visual representations of the staggering losses this country suffers as a result of suicide. Through the display of Lifekeeper Memory Quilts and the sale of Lifekeeper Jewelry, SPAN USA helps survivors and mental health advocates raise awareness about the terrible toll of suicide and show outward signs of their solidarity in the battle against suicide.

History of the program:
Sandy Martin founded the Lifekeeper Foundation in 1995. As the survivor of her 17-year-old son Tony's death, Sandy persevered to help others. She served as president of SPAN USA, a facilitator of a Survivors of Suicide support group in Atlanta, and as a trainer with SOSST (Survivor of Suicide Support Team). After Sandy's death in 2006, the Lifekeeper Foundation was transferred to SPAN USA per Sandy's wishes. Click here to read the Lifekeeper Promise written by Sandy.

View SPAN USA's Press Release about the Lifekeeper Program