Lou Ann Gouker-Goldstein was kind, incredibly smart, hilarious,
spunky, fun, and full of life. She often called it like she saw it and got
straight to the point. Guided by this spirit and with a very heavy heart, her
family and friends are grieving the tragic reality that she took her own life
on Sunday, June 6.
Suicide is complicated for those left behind. In
the days, weeks, months, and years to come, so many will be working to come to
grips with losing Lou Ann.
Lou was a doer and dedicated her life to
serving others. She was thoroughly committed to her husband, girls, family, and friends, not to mention her patients
and their families. She may no longer be with us, but her spirit and memory
will accomplish much good—service that will complement the work she did to
serve others during her time with us.
The medical community's understanding of mental health and
how to best treat it is woefully lacking. Additionally, the stigma surrounding
mental health challenges and treatment remains deeply entrenched, too often gripping
people with shame and preventing them from seeking needed treatment.
Lou was a huge advocate of health and wellness. This commitment,
combined with her dedication to serving people, provides the perfect opportunity
for all of us to do the work she can no longer do herself.
Over the upcoming months, fundraising campaigns will be
constructed to carry on her work by raising funds for mental health advocacy
and suicide prevention organizations.
The first two organizations to receive donations from this effort will be the American Foundation for
Suicide Prevention and Hope for the Day.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
is the leading national not-for-profit organization dedicated to understanding
and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and reaching
out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide, and providing services for those in crisis.
Hope for the Day (HFTD) is a Chicago-based non-profit
movement empowering the conversation on proactive suicide prevention and mental
health education. IT'S OK NOT TO BE OK!
The appreciation for your generosity and support cannot be overstated. Lou Ann's family and friends are all deeply and forever grateful.
