This book is a wake-up call to those impacted by adoption and to those who interact with them. According to preliminary results of a groundbreaking study out of Winston-Salem State University (final report targeted for release in 2025), adopted people are 36.7 times more likely to attempt suicide than their non-adopted peers. And birth/first mothers are 40 times more likely to attempt suicide than non-relinquishing women.
The book has three sections:
- Section 1. Our Story: Adoptee Joseph Nakao and his adoptive mom Beth Syverson share their family’s story of chronic suicidality
- Section 2. Poems and Essays from 14 People Impacted by Adoption
- Section 3. Resources: A dozen-page list of crucial suicide resources, plus information about the intersection between adoption and suicide — books, courses, articles, directories, specialists, podcasts, research, and videos.
This book is meant to be a quick read and certainly does not replace professional help. Readers can dip into this little book at any time to grab the information they need at that moment, whether it’s a poignant poem, a list of articles about adoption and suicide, or a personal story that inspires the reader to keep going another day.
Adoption and Suicidality will speak to anyone with direct experience of adoption and suicide or suicidal ideation, plus anyone who wants to know how to better help adopted people (and others in the adoption constellation) who are struggling.
Adoptee Authors: Joseph Nakao, Joyce Maguire Pavao, and a majority of the contributors
Author: Beth Syverson
Publication Year: 2024
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