The Story of Advocacy in the Aftermath of Suicide
Ronda Hatefi, founder of Oregonians for Gambling Awareness and a true force of nature, shares her story of the loss of her brother to suicide from gambling disorder in 1995, before anyone even knew to call it that. Families across the country may relate to what her family went through as gambling took over her brother’s life and the aftermath of losing him. She honors his memory by using his story to help others and save lives for the past 25+ years. She’s appeared in a number of TV segments and news stories and honors us in this episode by sharing what she feels most people really need to hear about this deadly disease, overcoming it, and the strength and love of family and friends who advocate for help.
- Oregonians for Gambling Awareness Org. (OGAO) and https://www.ogao.org/
- PG Awareness Day (Sept. 29 in Oregon): https://problemgamblersawarenessday.ogao.org/
(photos courtesy of Ronda Hatefi)
Resources:
- Gam-Anon (support for those affected by a loved ones’ gambling): https://www.gam-anon.org/
- National Problem Gambling Awareness Month (March): https://www.evergreencpg.org/awareness/pg-awareness-month/
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK): https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
