Blake the Stigma: A Mother's Fight to Talk About Suicide | Desiree Darago (ep 14)

On this episode of AHA Podcast, I sit down with Desiree Darago, whose 18-year-old son Blake — a football star known for his "full contact" energy and his big, generous heart — died by suicide in 2024.Desiree opens up about the mother's intuition that told her something was wrong before she got the call, the last ordinary afternoon she spent with Blake, and the school that refused to let his classmates grieve openly. She shares how that silence became the spark for Blake the Stigma, the foundation she built to break the taboo around suicide and mental health — from awareness events to a grief support group she started because she needed one herself.We talk about surviving the unthinkable, the hawks that show up when she needs Blake most, and why talking about the ones we've lost is one of the most healing things we can do. 💙Learn more or support Blake the Stigma at blakethestigma.comConnect with Des: Instagram: @desireekaren46Facebook: Desiree PauleyTikTok: JustDez @desireekaren81#AHAPodcast #AwakenHealAlign #WalkingEachOtherHome #blakethestigma #LLM