TreasureLives Celebrates Lives Saved From Suicide And Learns From Lives Lost

1888PressRelease – TreasureLives wishes to address the epidemic of suicide through written and video biographies, education, and advocacy. Knowledge of the lives behind the statistics, both saved and lost, is the key to destigmatizing mental illness. The willingness to seek treatment often means the difference between life and death. The mission of TreasureLives is saving lives…because one life lost is one too many.

San Diego, CA – On February 8, 2013, a son, brother, and musician, Jonathan Lazarus, took his own life. In response, Melody Nolan, John’s sister, created an eBay store named Lazarus Treasures to benefit The Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program. Nolan is developing a new mental health awareness and advocacy group, TreasureLives. “It is much easier to save a life today than to grieve one tomorrow,” Nolan said. More information can be found at http://www.treasurelives.org.

“The new project, TreasureLives, will not only support the continuation of Lazarus Treasures, but also provide video and written aids about suicide prevention,” explained Nolan. TreasureLives features a YouTube channel which will share stories of those who have been saved from suicide attempts and broadcast memorials of lives lost. Nolan’s vision also includes the development of a mental health awareness curriculum encompassing grade school through college, as well as providing mental health advocacy for seniors, veterans, and the disabled. The initial funding will go to the creation of written and video aids and to spreading the word to the public about the project.

“Losing someone to suicide is excruciating. Out of respect for the wishes of the other members of my family, I don’t discuss John’s death. He was a brilliant musician and a loving brother. John was just 28 when he took his own life,” Nolan said. The TreasureLives Suicide Prevention Project is being crowdfunded at www.youcaring.com/preventsuicides. International donations are welcome. For more information, please call (760) 298-3144. As Nolan says, “One life lost is one too many.”