OUR STORY

Heartache2Hope offers support to suicide loss grievers in Halton and surrounding communities. Flavia Ceschin, who recognized the unique needs of individuals grieving a suicide death and the lack of community-based supportive resources, founded Heartache2Hope in 2014. A group of dedicated volunteers, including Peggy McGillicuddy, Nina Menrai and Bev Wilson, helped Heartache2Hope officially open its doors in August 2014.

Our goals are to break the isolation of suicide loss grievers, to meet their special needs in healing from this loss, and to offer education that increases public awareness and understanding of suicide loss. Professionals who are trained in traumatic bereavement associated with suicide loss lead the supportive and educational programming with the help of specially trained volunteers.

It has now been almost 6 years that we have been actively supporting suicide loss grievers and improving our program.

During this time

  • More than 650 individuals have accessed our supportive services
  • More than 160 individuals have participated in our 12-week Closed Support Groups
  • Attendance in our Open Groups exceeds 550;
  • We have provided over 870 hours of Individual Grief/Counselling Support;
  • We have provided 3 trainings for Halton Victim Services Volunteers,
  • Numerous community educational seminars
  • 3 Annual International Survivor of Suicide Loss Day Events
  • Our volunteers have generously donated more than 7500 hours of their time

We have accomplished all this as a predominantly volunteer-run organization. Our future goals include expansion of supportive services and building our infrastructure to continue meeting the ever-growing need for our services. Our long-term dream is to create a Centre for Traumatic Loss Healing.

Some Heartache2Hope Highlights include:

 

Timeline

2020
June 29

Trauma Counselling Funding

We receive funding that allows us to offer Trauma Counselling to suicide loss grievers.
2019
July 8

Recipient of funding

Heartache2Hope is the recipient of funding from 100 Men Who Care Oakville, 100 Women Who Care Oakville and the Women’s Giving Collective at Oakville Community Foundation.
June 13

Expansion

We expand our Board of Directors and team of staff and volunteers.
March 28

First Hamilton-area Closed Support Group

H2H collaborates with the Suicide Prevention Community Council of Hamilton to run its first Hamilton-area Closed Support Group.
2018
April 18

First Group of Peer Supporters are Trained

Our first group of Peer Supporters are trained and start offering one-on-one Individual Peer Support to suicide loss grievers.
March 4

Pilot Closed Support Group

We pilot a “Stage 2”10-week Closed Support Group called “Unfinished Conversation” for suicide loss grievers.
2017
November 22

First Event

H2H hosts its first annual Suicide Loss Survivor Day Event.
September 9

Granted Charitable Status

Granted Charitable Status in under 3 months.
May 22

Awarded a Grant

Awarded a grant from Halton Region Community Investment Fund
2016
October 22

Incorporated

Became an incorporated nonprofit organization
February 22

Training

H2H provides its first training to 19 Halton Regional Police Services VSU Volunteers.
January 22

Twice Monthly Open Group

H2H offers twice monthly Open Group sessions at the Burlington Baptist Church.
2015
May 18

Launched our website

Began a 6-Week Pilot, Closed, Young Adult Group.
2014
August 17

Start

Officially opened our doors.