Blackbird - by Betsy Stephenson (Paperback)

About the Book

"Over six short weeks in 2022, Betsy Thibaut Stephenson lost her son to suicide, mother-in-law to dementia, and family dog to cancer. Rather than succumb to grief's darkness, Betsy chose to face her losses head-on, accepting grief as an uninvited yet permanent companion in her revised life. Blackbird is a memoir composed in real time, a concise and brutally honest look at the emotional, physical, and spiritual impact of deep despair. By unflinchingly pulling back the curtain on fear and shame, Betsy's story inspires important conversations about mental health, grief resilience, and creating a path toward healing."--

Book Synopsis

Is grief on a dial or a switch? Both.

Over six short weeks in 2022, Betsy Thibaut Stephenson lost her son to suicide, mother-in-law to dementia, and family dog to cancer. Rather than succumb to grief's darkness, Betsy chose to face her losses head-on, accepting grief as an uninvited yet permanent companion in her revised life.

Blackbird is a memoir composed in real time, a concise and brutally honest look at the emotional, physical, and spiritual impact of deep despair. By unflinchingly pulling back the curtain on fear and shame, Betsy's story inspires important conversations about mental health, grief resilience, and creating a path toward healing.

Review Quotes

"Blackbird is a mother's sacred honoring of her son. By courageously sharing the story of Charlie's death by suicide and how she summoned the strength to go on, Betsy Stephenson has gifted us with a refreshingly honest and trustworthy guidebook. If you or someone you care about wants help clearing the path forward after a loss, read this book." -Ken Druck, PhD, author, How We Go On: Self-Compassion, Courage, and Gratitude on the Path Forward

"Betsy Stephenson's raw, unflinching account of her son's suicide and its aftermath adds to a growing body of storytelling that seeks to destigmatize depression, mental illness, and suicide. Her memoir, Blackbird, offers important insights, fueling the national conversation on how to more honestly and effectively help those who are suffering and, ultimately, find better, systemic solutions to address the current mental health crisis." -Rachel Zimmerman, journalist and author, Us, After: A Memoir of Love and Suicide

"Told in a . . . style that reflects the chaos of grief, Blackbird is an affecting memoir. . . . A mother's unbridled memoir on loss, grief, and depression as well as on practical strategies for healing." -Foreword Clarion Reviews

"Blackbird is a poignant memoir of a mother's love for her son, Charlie, who died by suicide, and the uncomfortable questions and feelings it raised for her. Betsy Thibaut Stephenson writes with tremendous honesty about how she processed this unimaginable loss, the toll it had on her and her family, and how she is finding a way to live in this new normal. She shares the relentless cascade of questions and self-doubt that arose for her in the aftermath of his death about her parenting, recognizing and responding to mental illness, and the what-ifs. Her book will be a source of support and validation to any parent who loses a child to suicide and feels alone, and it is a must-read for those looking to understand and support someone after the suicide of their child." -Julie Goldstein Grumet, PhD, director, Zero Suicide Institute

"A cathartic in-the-moment chronicle . . . [that] illustrates responses, survival tactics, and ways to reach for the light of life even in the deepest darkness. . . . a very specific, enlightening, and ultimately uplifting story of recovery and understanding."-Midwest Book Review

"Blackbird deeply resonated with both of us as a bereaved parent and sibling. . . . Her message of the importance of talking about depression, mental illness, and suicide in order to reduce their power is an important one and offers hope to many struggling through difficult losses." -Gloria Horsley, PhD and Heidi Horsley PsyD, founders, Open to Hope Foundation

"Stephenson carries us on a journey that will both make us sob and gift us hope. A must-read for anyone who loves someone struggling with depression, grief, or the loss of a loved one to suicide." -Addison Armstrong author, The Light of Luna Park