HEALTHY MIND MATTERS

Life’s Worth Living Foundation supports those struggling with mental health and loss survivors

Sep 8, 2022, 10:45 PM | Updated: Sep 15, 2022, 10:14 am

TOOELE, Utah — The Life’s Worth Living Foundation in Tooele has provided support for those struggling with their mental health and supporting them through the grief of losing a loved one.

The foundation supported Deborah Bush after losing her son Jayden to suicide in January of 2021.

“It’s definitely not easy,” Bush said.

Jayden was an 18-year-old track star who had just graduated from Tooele High School.

Bush said he was full of life, goofy, and loved to sing even if he wasn’t very good at it.

A few months after graduation, Jayden took his own life.

“I said to him, ‘are you going to do anything to hurt yourself?’ He said no. I said ‘okay, that’s good.’ I kissed him on the cheek, said a prayer, and that was the last time I saw him,” Bush said.

Through the heartache of losing her son, Bush met the founders of the clicking here.

“It’s a really beautiful, soft place to fall and it gives you so much support,” she said.

Jon Gossett started the foundation in 2014 after suicide deaths in Tooele County started to rise.

“We just decided that we should do something about it and see what we could do to make a difference where we live,” he said.

He created a support group in the only county without one.

Ayanna Likens and Deborah Bush. (KSL TV) Deborah Bush lost her son Jaden to suicide.  (Courtesy: Deborah Bush) Dana Clemmer lost her 16-year-old daughter, Talyn, to suicide and her husband in a motorcycle accident two years later. She says the Life's Worth Living Foundation saved her in those dark days. (KSL TV) Jon Gossett started the Life's Worth Living Foundation. (KSL TV)

“That group is for loss survivors and people that are struggling, and what I’ve found is you get the advice from people who have lost someone,” Gossett said.

In addition to a 100-mile Walk to Wendover to raise awareness, the foundation will also show up at your doorstep in a moment of crisis.

In 2014, Tooele had the fourth-highest number of suicides in the state.

“We dropped all the way to 21st. In that way we can see the impact,” Gossett said.

But each life lost to suicide is one too many.

“That’s the one thing we hear over and over again, we hear this will never happen to my family, but when it does, your life will never be the same,” he said.

That’s true for mom Dana Clemmer, she lost her 16-year-old daughter Talyn 5 years ago.

“She was a good friend, she stood up for people,” Clemmer said. “Tayln was also someone who struggled in her own skin, but she never showed it, nobody ever saw it.”

Talyn struggled with her sexuality.

“She came into the bedroom and said, ‘Mom I have to tell you something, I’m gay,’ and I said ‘I don’t care, I still love you anyway,'” she said.

But, on March 28th, 2017, Talyn died by suicide.

“I had a message from her, one last message, saying mom I love you so much,” Clemmer said. “I couldn’t believe that she was gone, it was the hardest day of my life.”

The next day, she met Gosset, he came to her house to offer support and resources to navigate the grief.

“It’s the worst thing ever to lose your child, we are supposed to go before them,” she said.

That community supported her through her grief of losing her only child and then again, two years later, when she lost her husband in a tragic motorcycle accident.

“My life ended really,” Clemmer said. “It had always been just me, Mike, and Talyn that was our little family.”

The pain of losing both was almost too much for Clemmer.

“When you are sitting alone in your home, and you are surrounded by those memories, I got into those dark places,” she said.

While she was in that dark place, she once again called the Life’s Worth Living Foundation for help.

“I reached out to them at three in the morning and they were at my doorstep and just listened to me,” Clemmer said. “I can honestly say Jon, and Tracy – that foundation has saved my life more than once.”

“I just know if I was in a spot of crisis, I would want someone there for me and that’s why we do it,” Gossett said.

To cope with the grief, Clemmer now leaves rocks with messages of hope for someone to find.

“I just hope there is a kid out there that is going through the same thing that Talyn went through and sees one of these and it gives them hope, something to hold onto,” she said.

Both Clemmer and Bush said the support of the foundation and community saved them after the loss of their children.

“They’ve helped me to be stronger than I am, braver than I could be,” said Bush.

“They are just amazing people,” said Clemmer.

You can get more information on the Life’s Worth Living Foundation by clicking here.


Suicide prevention resources

 

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or exhibiting warning signs, call, text, or chat the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 which is answered 24/7/365 by crisis counselors at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute. All calls to legacy crisis hotlines, including the old National Suicide Prevention hotline, 1-800-273-8255, will also connect to a crisis care worker at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute as well.

Additional resources

  • SafeUT: Parents, students, and educators can connect with a licensed crisis counselor through chat by downloading the SafeUT app or by calling 833-3SAFEUT (833-372-33888)
  • SafeUT Frontline: First responders, including firefighters, law enforcement, EMS, and healthcare professionals can chat with a licensed crisis counselor at no cost 24/7/365 by downloading the SafeUT Frontline app.
  • SafeUTNG: Members of the National Guard can chat with a licensed crisis counselor at no cost 24/7/365 by downloading the SafeUTNG app.
  • Utah Warm Line: For non-crisis situations, when you need a listening ear as you heal and recover from a personal struggle, call 1-833 SPEAKUT 8:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m., 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
  • The Huntsman Mental Health Institute offers a wide variety of programs and services including suicide prevention and crisis services, hospital treatment, therapy & medication management, substance Use & addiction recovery, child & teen programs, and maternal mental health services including birth trauma, pregnancy loss, infertility, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
  • LiveOnUtah.org is a statewide effort to prevent suicide by promoting education, providing resources, and changing Utah’s culture around suicide and mental health. They offer resources for faith based groups, LGBTQ+, youth, employers, firearm suicide prevention, and crisis and treatment options.

Other community-based resources

KSL 5 TV Live

Healthy Mind Matters

Group is walking to Wendover for suicide preventin and awareness...

Ayanna Likens

100-mile walk to Wendover raises awareness for suicide prevention

Several Utahns are taking part in the annual 100-mile walk to Wendover from Tooele City to raise awareness for suicide prevention.

11 months ago

(KSL TV)...

Ayanna Likens

Why bipolar episodes tend to rise in the spring

The change of seasons can be really hard for people who struggle with their mental health. Winter months can lead to more depression, and the shift to spring can lead to more bipolar episodes.

12 months ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Jed Boal

Today is Teen Mental Wellness Day – here’s ways to help your teen

Teenagers who are struggling with their mental health are not always eager or ready to reach out for help. Thursday is Teen Mental Wellness Day, so we wanted to share some ideas with teens and parents who are seeking answers.

1 year ago

A recent NAMI study shows that African American and Black adults in the U.S. are more likely than w...

Ayanna Likens

Study: African American and Black adults are more likely to suffer from mental illness than white adults

A recent NAMI study shows that African American and Black adults in the U.S. are more likely than white adults to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress.

1 year ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Lauren Steinbrecher

St. George mom shares warning after FBI sees rise in sextortion scams targeting teen boys

A St. George mom is sharing a warning for other parents, as the FBI says it's seeing a huge rise in teens targeted in sextortion scams.

1 year ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Karah Brackin

Students across Utah come together to learn the importance of mental health care

Mental health, wellness and suicide prevention — they're all big topics of conversation, and more and more, those conversations include our kids. That's where Hope Squad is coming in to help.

1 year ago

Sponsored Articles

Stack of old laptops with dark background...

PC Laptops

Old Laptop Upgrades You Need to Try Before Throwing it Away

Get the most out of your investment. Try these old laptop upgrades before throwing it out to keep it running fast and efficient.

Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...

BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to Choose What MBA Program is Right for You: Take this Quiz Before You Apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.

Close up of an offset printing machine during production...

Les Olson IT

Top 7 Reasons to Add a Production Printer to Your Business

Learn about the different digital production printers and how they can help your company save time and money.

vintage photo of lighting showroom featuring chandeliers, lamps, wall lights and mirrors...

Lighting Design

History of Lighting Design | Over 25 Years of Providing Utah With the Latest Trends and Styles

Read about the history of Lighting Design, a family-owned and operated business that paved the way for the lighting industry in Utah.

Fiber Optical cables connected to an optic ports and Network cables connected to ethernet ports...

Brian Huston, CE and Anthony Perkins, BICSI

Why Every Business Needs a Structured Cabling System

A structured cabling system benefits businesses by giving you faster processing speeds and making your network more efficient and reliable.

notebook with password notes highlighted...

PC Laptops

How to Create Strong Passwords You Can Actually Remember

Learn how you can create strong passwords that are actually easy to remember! In a short time you can create new ones in seconds.

Life’s Worth Living Foundation supports those struggling with mental health and loss survivors