Changing the narrative on suicide prevention, one friend at a time
Mental health awareness is important, but insufficient on its own for suicide prevention, according to Joe Kenney, who lost his son Gary to suicide in 2019. He emphasizes that real human connection, not just access to care, is critical in preventing suicide. Kenney founded Here Tomorrow to provide immediate, empathetic support during moments of crisis.
- ▪Joe Kenney lost his son Gary to suicide in 2019 after a battle with severe depression.
- ▪He found the healthcare system unprepared to support families in crisis and identified a critical gap in timely, human-centered care.
- ▪Kenney founded Here Tomorrow to offer real-time, empathetic human connection for people experiencing suicidal thoughts.
- ▪He argues that technology and AI cannot replace the value of authentic human presence and shared experience.
- ▪Suicide prevention, he believes, depends on personal relationships and immediate support, not delayed appointments or automated responses.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
May is mental health awareness month, a time dedicated to raising awareness, normalizing help-seeking, and reducing stigma surrounding mental health. Those efforts matter, but they are simply not enough. If we are serious about saving lives, we need to change the way we think about suicide prevention. For someone in the depths of suicidal thoughts, this is not about awareness. It is about connection. Recommended Stories Don’t turn banks into border agents Virginia redistricting lesson: Republicans ignore blue cities at their peril Why doesn’t America have a transcontinental railroad? On April 19, 2019, I lost my son, Gary, to suicide. He was 30 years old. Before that day, I did everything I thought a father could do to help him as he battled severe depression. I showed up. I listened.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Washington Examiner.
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