Honoring Loss and Advancing Suicide Prevention

After the loss of her son Brian, Ann Irr Dagle transformed grief into advocacy—founding the Brian Dagle Foundation and Brian’s Healing Hearts Center for Hope and Healing.

Reflecting on love, community, and the ongoing work of suicide prevention, she offers hope to anyone who has experienced loss and insight for those who support them, showing how compassion can light the path from despair to purpose.

Why This Training Matters

Grief after suicide can feel isolating, but it can also inspire profound connection and change. In this conversation, Ann Irr Dagle shares what she’s learned about rebuilding a life shaped by loss—and how her advocacy now helps others find meaning, hope, and healing.

Through her experience, we’re reminded that prevention is not just about saving lives—it’s about honoring them.

What You’ll Learn

• Learn how one family turned heartbreak into a platform for education and hope.
• Understand how storytelling and connection can reduce stigma and strengthen support systems.
• Explore how survivors of loss can become advocates for change.
• Recognize how empathy and openness help families and communities heal together.

Key Takeaways

Participants will leave this session with renewed understanding and inspiration for supporting individuals and families affected by suicide.

• Healing begins when grief is met with compassion, not silence.
• Community support can transform private loss into public understanding.
• Advocacy creates purpose and connection for survivors of suicide loss.
• Open dialogue reduces stigma and strengthens prevention efforts.
• Hope grows when we share our stories—and when others truly listen.

Together, these takeaways show that remembrance and prevention are intertwined, offering a path toward connection and change.

Learning Objectives

After viewing this session, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the emotional processes and needs of suicide loss survivors.
• Summarize how community engagement and advocacy contribute to prevention.
• Integrate supportive communication strategies into clinical or community roles.

Who Should Watch

• Mental health professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, counselors, and therapists)
• Pediatricians and primary-care providers
• K-12 and university educators and school staff
• Public health professionals
• Parents and caregivers
• Community and faith leaders
• Executives, managers, and HR professionals

Event Details

• Date Recorded: October 24, 2025
• Length: 30 minutes
• Presenter: Ann Irr Dagle
• Availability: Free to watch anytime

Watch this on-demand session and learn how remembrance, advocacy, and compassion can strengthen suicide prevention in every community.

Topics Covered During This Training

• What do you want us to know about Brian?
• Did Brian show any mental health challenges growing up?
• How would you describe the moment you first felt the pain of losing Brian?
• How did you try to process that pain with support from others?
• How did you cope with not knowing why Brian died?
• What kind of community support did you receive?
• What was it like when you started learning about suicide and suicide prevention?
• Were there any important turning points during your first years of grieving?
• Does reaching the 5-year mark hold special meaning for people who have lost someone to suicide?
• What was it like to sit down with your family to talk about starting something to honor Brian?
• How has the Brian Dagle Foundation grown, and what is it like today?
• Can you tell us about Brian’s Healing Hearts Center for Hope and Healing?
• How did the community respond when you opened the center?
• What is your work like in helping others who are grieving?
• What do you think people who haven’t been through this don’t understand about grief?
• What did you learn about suicide prevention that you want our audience to know?
• What do you want mental health clinicians to learn from your story?
• Do you think messages about mental health and suicide are reaching people more effectively than before?
• What do you think is still missing in how we talk about or provide resources for suicide prevention?
• Why do you think so many people feel uncomfortable asking their loved ones if they’re thinking about suicide?
• What have been the challenges and rewards of sharing your personal story?
• What has your journey taught you about being strong and staying hopeful?
• How does helping others shape the way you experience your own pain?
• What would Brian think about the work you and your family are doing now?

The information discussed is intended to be educational and should not be used as a substitute for guidance provided by your health care provider. Please consult with your treatment team before making any changes to your care plan.

Resources

You may also find this additional information useful:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• The Brian Dagle Foundation
• Center for Loss & Life Transition
• Guide: Suicide Prevention and Support
• Video: Suicidality – Let’s Talk About It
• Guide: Understanding Grief – How We Mourn, Heal, and Move Forward After Loss
• Video: Responding to Suicide – The Importance of Postvention
• Access the full Managing and Treating Suicide Risk Course

About the Speaker

Grief and loss are deeply personal challenges—and yet, for many impacted by suicide, they can also become powerful calls to action. That has certainly been the case for Ann Irr Dagle, who lost her beloved 19-year-old son, Brian, to suicide more than a decade ago.

The pain was crushing, but Ann and her family decided to turn that pain into purpose, founding the Brian Dagle Foundation—dedicated to supporting others in grief and educating their community about mental health and suicide awareness.

In addition to her work through the foundation, Ann has lent her support to numerous nonprofit projects over the years, including the Deconstructing Stigma storytelling initiative.