By Trish Svoboda/Images courtesy of Six Feet Over
A nonprofit founded by suicide loss survivor Kate Hardy is helping families and communities cope with the aftermath of suicide through financial and emotional support in Michigan and Kansas. The non-profit Six Feet Over evolved out of Suck It Suicide, which unofficially began in 2012 as an outreach and suicide prevention program. Eventually it gained a following and it was suggested that it become a non-profit, thus Six Feet Over and the Lemon Aid program were created. “Today, Lemon Aid has multiple staff members—it’s no longer just me and a group of volunteers carrying out the work,” said Hardy.
Hardy, who lost her mother and nine friends to suicide, said her personal experiences shaped the programs. “I lost my mom in 2003 when I was 20 and I subsequently lost nine of my friends. Each aspect of both the nonprofit and our program has something to do with my experience or the experience I saw within the families and loved ones and communities of my friends. All the gaps that were needed.”
Funding is based off average pricing in the region and is capped at $6,000 per case, with the average case around $3,500. Committees composed of suicide loss survivors, funeral professionals, and mental health experts approve financial support and maintain oversight of the process. To fund the non-profit, Hardy said they continue to fundraise and seek grant opportunities.
Six Feet Over partners with first responders, law enforcement, funeral homes, and community organizations to reach those in need, particularly in rural areas with limited resources. “You have to collaborate and work with and partner with all of the other resources that are out there. We’re all in it to help people and the best way to reach more people is to make sure that the people who are talking to them before us or are already in their community know us, understand us, and have the skills to be able to explain what our programs are, what we do, and how we can help.”
Hardy emphasizes that support is ongoing, with advocates available for follow-up long after initial assistance is provided. “We are always available to clients, and we do check in with them regularly. They can always call back and talk to their client advocate or another client advocate. And even when they’re having a hard day or a hard time, we’re still going to be there for them and we can help them find more long-term support, like therapy and support groups and peer to peer as well.”
The organization recently surpassed $1 million in costs funded for suicide loss survivors across its service areas. For more information on Six Feet Over and the Lemon Aid program, visit SixFtOver.org or https://www.facebook.com/sixftover.
