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What Suicide Leaves Behind | A Suicide Loss Survivor’s Story

Content Warning: This episode discusses suicide, suicidal thoughts, grief, trauma, and the emotional aftermath of suicide loss. Please prioritize your mental well-being while listening.

Graceful Truth Unscripted is officially back, and we’re starting with one of the most difficult conversations I’ve ever had behind this microphone.

When we talk about suicide, we often focus on the person who died. But what about the people left behind?

The family members. The friends. The people who received that phone call, discovered something they can never unsee, or found themselves desperately trying to understand something that may never make sense.

I know what it’s like to be one of those people.

In this episode, I’m sharing my personal experience as a suicide loss survivor. I’m talking about the loss of someone incredibly close to me, the events leading up to that heartbreaking day, and the aftermath that changed my life.

I’m also opening up about a different experience years later, when suicide entered my world again—this time as a mother hearing words no parent ever wants to hear from their child.

Along the way, we’ll discuss:

• The reality of suicide in America and what research tells us about suicide risk.
• The increased risks identified in research involving foster youth, adopted children, and individuals with disabilities.
• My personal experience losing someone I loved to suicide.
• The complicated emotions of grief, anger, guilt, and unanswered questions.
• What it feels like when your own child expresses suicidal thoughts.
• The lasting impact of trauma and why our bodies sometimes remember what our minds desperately wish they could forget.
• The importance of seeking support, including professional therapy, when navigating trauma and suicide loss.

This isn’t an episode about telling someone else’s story. It’s about sharing mine.

Because the event ends. The funeral passes. Everyone eventually goes home. Life keeps moving.

But for the people left behind, the aftermath doesn’t simply disappear.

And sometimes, neither does the trauma.

If you’ve lost someone to suicide, I hope this conversation reminds you that you aren’t alone in the complicated emotions that follow. There is no perfect way to grieve, and you deserve support as you navigate your own healing.

A note about future episodes: I’ll be sharing more about my experience navigating the mental health system as a parent, including the Baker Act, the things I wish I’d known, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Thank you for being here as Graceful Truth Unscripted begins this new chapter.

And as always, spread the sunshine wherever you go. See ya! ☀️

Mental Health Resources

If you or someone you love is experiencing suicidal thoughts, help is available.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 in the United States, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Website: https://988lifeline.org

You do not have to be experiencing suicidal thoughts yourself to reach out. The Lifeline also provides support for people concerned about someone they love.

Disclaimer: I am not a mental health professional. The experiences and perspectives shared in this episode are my own and are not intended to replace professional mental health care.

Research & Statistics Referenced

The following resources provide additional information about suicide, suicide prevention, and research involving vulnerable populations.

• CDC — Suicide Data and Statistics
• Suicidality Among Children in Foster Care
• Risk of Suicide Attempt in Adopted and Nonadopted Offspring
• Research on Suicidality Among Adolescents With Disabilities
• Research on Suicidality in Autistic Youth
• CDC — Mental Health and Suicidal Ideation Among Adults With Disabilities

Research findings reflect the populations and time periods studied and should not be interpreted as predictions about any individual.

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Graceful Truth Unscripted is officially coming back. 🎙️☀️

After taking some time away, I’m returning to the mic for honest, unfiltered conversations about real life—the good, the messy, the funny, the heartbreaking, and the things we sometimes don’t know how to talk about.

We’ll talk parenting, foster care and adoption, mental health, relationships, faith, true crime, and everything in between—with plenty of laughter along the way.

Whether you’ve been here from the beginning or you’re finding Graceful Truth Unscripted for the first time, I’m so glad you’re here.

🎙️ New episodes begin Monday, October 12.

Follow the show so you don’t miss the comeback.

Spread the sunshine wherever you go. ☀️

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Community Impact and Fallout

Before we begin, please note that this episode is part of an investigative series based on publicly available records and documented information. Any discussion of charges or allegations does not imply guilt. All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. This content is intended for informational purposes only.

Certain names, details, or identifying information may be limited or omitted to protect privacy and comply with ethical reporting standards.

For many investigations, the story ends once the arrest is made.

The case file is closed… the charges are filed… and life here in Citrus moves on.

But sometimes, the past doesn’t stay in the past.

Years after the original investigation into Tara Salute, new questions began to surface in Citrus County.

Residents discovered that the same woman at the center of the 2012 criminal case had become involved in a private educational setting serving local students.

The program reportedly operated as a homeschool-style learning environment and accepted families using Florida’s Step Up For Students scholarship program, a statewide voucher system that provides public education funding to families for private or alternative schooling options. 

For many parents in Citrus County, that discovery raised immediate concerns.

Questions began circulating online, across social media, and within local community groups.

Some residents wondered how someone connected to a past case involving a minor could be working in an environment that involved students.

Others debated the legal realities — pointing out that private educational programs operate under a different regulatory framework than public schools.

What followed was a wave of public discussion… criticism… and intense scrutiny throughout the community.

And for many people in Citrus County, the situation reopened questions that had never fully gone away.

In this next segment, we’ll take a closer look at how the discovery of this learning program sparked community outcry… and why the situation became such a heated topic across Citrus County.

Blogs mentioned in the Podcast:

The Citrus Insider:  thecitrusinsider.com 

Our Patreon will contain all the documents for review in this podcast.  Be sure to join now so you don't miss the document dump - Coming Soon

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Join us in Part 1 of the Crystal River Learning Academy & Tara Salute Investigative Series - Part 1.

Yes, I had to split this one up because there is so much information as well as answers/records I'm still currently waiting on.  Join our Facebook Community, follow us on Instagram and TikTok, and grab your Patreon membership to keep up to date.  

Blogs mentioned in the Podcast:

The Citrus Insider:  thecitrusinsider.com 

The Citrus County Chronicle: https://www.chronicleonline.com/ 

Our Patreon will contain all the documents for review in this podcast.  Be sure to join now so you don't miss the document dump - Coming Soon

https://patreon.com/GracefulTruthUnscripted?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Contact our show:

Listen Here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/921973
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E-Mail: [email protected]

Spread the Sunshine wherever you go, see ya!

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After a season of growth and reflection, Graceful Truth Unscripted returns refreshed, realigned, and ready to spread the Sunshine wherever this leads. This podcast continues to hold space for raw conversations, life lessons, and the gentle reminder that grace and truth can coexist beautifully.

Come as you are. Listen freely. Grow together.

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Deputy Andy Lahera was serving at a Graduation doing traffic control when his life changed in the blink of an eye.  Deputy Lahera was involved in an accident that left him with a TBI.  What the family didn’t know at the time was that Deputy Lahera and their family would be let down by someone who should have been there every step of the way.

Deputy Lahera stated working for the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office in 2009.  He started as a patrol office then worked his way up to a property crimes detective.  He also earned a position on the hostage negotiation team during this time.  After Parkland happened, he came home and told his family that he was going to become a School Resource Officer (SRO) because he said what happened at Parkland will never happen in our county under his watch.  He made them understand that there may be a day that he wouldn’t come home if something happened at school.  He started as an SRO at Central ridge Elementary and later moved on to Lecanto Middle School.

You can follow Andy’s Journey Here: https://www.facebook.com/andysjourney

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On today's episode, our 1st of 2022, we are celebrating and remembering Aliyah who's mom took her life 9 years ago today.  If you've been a listener, you'll remember back in 2020 when Bonnie, her grandmother, came on and talked about that painful time.  Today we speak with her Aunt, Sarah as she recalls that day and we discuss the various red flags, lack of DCF findings, and possibly the worst part, when a doctor didn't report a skull fracture and possible brain bleed 2 day's before her passing.

Today we surround this family with prayers and thoughts about this sweet girl taken far too soon.  Please see the below resources discssed on this episode and please reach out with any questions or if you need help finding a resource or support.

National Child Abuse Hotline: https://childhelphotline.org

Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) Abuse Hotline:  https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/abuse-hotline/

Jessies Place: https://www.jessiesplacecitrus.org

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Cory and JoJo Rankin marriage coaches for entrepreneurs, foster parents and parents of  kids! 

Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongermarriage 

Listen Here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/921973
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LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED.

Roman Roberts grew up in foster homes which were, as he calls it, “less than ideal” encountering various types of abuse causing him to join the military to find family, and led him on a journey as an interrogator, deploying multiple times and supporting various special operation teams. But the trauma from foster care and the military took its toll as he transitioned and led to him almost committing suicide and almost losing his marriage. He began a journey to face the traumas and through faith, journaling, and Real Talk with himself and others, he found healing and is now encouraging others to do the same.

In this episode we discuss all sorts of things that could act as triggers for you or your children.  Listener discretion is advised.

Find Roman in the following places:

Real Talk with Roman: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-talk-with-roman/id1530410462 

All Social Media Platforms: Real Talk with Roman

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Trigger Alert!

Today we are talking about Mental Health statistics overall and within the Foster Care/Adoptive community.  Many different items are discussed in this episode so listener discretion is advised.

I gathered my numbers from this website https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics 

Share your story with us by reaching out to the show.  We'd love to have you on.

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