Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Abbey Soucy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Abbey, appreciate you joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
I became involved with Suicide prevention in April 2019 after I lost my best friend Valerie to suicide. After her passing, myself, my husband Dana and Val’s husband Bill participated in the Boston Overnight community walk that is put on by the American foundation for Suicide prevention. That started my involvement with the AFSP as a volunteer as I knew I wanted to make sure Val’s life would continue to mean something and I knew her story would help me help others.
Over the next few years my husband and participated in multiple “Out of the Darkness” community walks on a volunteer basis, working the merchandise table, the resource table etc.
In March of 2020 Dana and I chose to move from Boston,MA to the the Myrtle Beach,SC area. Get a fresh start after the heartache we had been through.
When we moved to the Myrtle Area I knew we wanted to stay involved in Suicide prevention. Due to Covid in 2020 the event was virtual but we still volunteered and raised funds with online fundraising. In 2021 we were able to join the walk committee and work alongside some wonderful long time volunteers and current walk chairs in the Myrtle Beach area and have a successful in person community walk. After that walk season was over there was talk of passing the Walkchair duties off to someone else. To my surprise with being new to the area and to the committee they chose us! When my husband and I were presented the opportunity I knew in my heart that this was my chance , it was my defining moment in the world of suicide prevention to be able to honor Val in a way I never imagined I would be able to. I was given the opportunity to share our story, Val’s story and help others even more buy providing resources to the local community and putting an event on for others to be able to come and feel safe with their feelings and be able to honor themselves in their mental health journey or honor loved ones lost. This Walk chair role gave me the opportunity to be on the news, twice and spread awareness about suicide prevention and services that are offered through the AFSP to the public and that those services are able to happen due to the amazing fundraising that goes on at these community walks, I was able to join another volunteer and present a “Talk saves lives” event to young high school students so they were more informed about how to help prevent suicide and feel safe speaking to an adult about such a sensitive subject.
All of these moments over the past few years have been huge defining moments as they continue to keep Val’s memory alive even though she’s not here she helps me help others and I will continue to do that for as long as I’m able. I am looking forward to this years 2023 Myrtle beach walk season to continue to help in the fight to prevent suicide.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m 37 years old, I grew up in Massachusetts on the New Hampshire border. I am the youngest of 4 kids. Growing up I loved all things animals and spending time with family at my grandparents lake house. I was not a fan of school, struggled and eventually chose to get my GED at the age of 17. I got right into the medical field after obtaining my GED and worked in the Surgical field as a medical assistant. I met my husband when I was 22, we loved (and still do) to spend time with each other and our friends. My husband and I got married when I was 26 (2012). I remained working in the medical field but had moved into more of a management role for a multi surgical practice. After our best friend passed away our whole life got turned upside down and we chose to make a huge life change and move to South Carolina. We built a beautiful new home in the Myrtle Beach area and began to build our new life down here. Covid hit and as everyone knows the world came to a stop, but it gave us time to explore our new hometown area and learn to appreciate where we had just moved to. I knew the medical field was not something I wanted to be tied down to after moving, working 9 to 5 wasn’t something I wanted in my life anymore either life is to short and I wanted to do something I loved. In Feb of 2022 a friend gave me the idea of going to Real estate school, I was a bit hesitant as I had not been to school in years and because school was just never my thing. But I did it, I built up the confidence and pushed through and did it. In August of 2022 I became a licensed Realtor! I am now actively selling real estate, working part time for a construction company and continuing to help advocate for others and help in the fight to prevent suicide while continuing to enjoy life in our new home state.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
No, I think the profession I chose in my late teenage years gave me so much life experience, guidance and growth that it made me who I am today and If I could go back to when we first lost Val, I would absolutely still choose the path I’ve chosen to help others understand they are not alone,how important mental health is and to be there to help comfort others after the loss of their loved ones. Making a difference in the community is something I will always choose
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
I think I’ve been able to succeed due to the fact that I’ve been through it, I’ve lost a loved one to suicide, I’ve felt that unbearable heart ache and still do every day and in a way some may not undestand it makes what I do successful because I get it. I understand the importance to prevent suicide
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