Advocate for Healing: WilmU Student Champions Delaware’s Office of Suicide Prevention 

Every 11 minutes — that’s how often an American died by suicide in 2023, according to the latest statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is a national health problem and a personal one for Wilmington University student Jennifer Antonik, who lost her husband, Ben, four years ago — when their children were 7, 10 and 11. 

“It makes my mama-bear heart angry that the state wasn’t prepared to handle my children’s trauma,” she says. “And anger is a very powerful motivator.” 

Suicide Loss Support 

To help other families, Antonik founded the nonprofit DJ’s Alliance and then lobbied lawmakers to establish Delaware’s new Office of Suicide Prevention. 

“Until Jennifer Antonik and her colleagues set about creating the movement that led to legislation to create the new Office of Suicide Prevention, Delaware was the only state without an official state entity to provide support to families who lost loved ones to suicide,” says Dr. Johanna Bishop, WilmU’s director of Behavioral Science programs. It “will provide much-needed education in recognizing the red flags, build communication skills to connect with those in need, and create programs to bring suicide awareness.” 

Antonik, who’s finishing dual bachelor’s degrees in Behavioral Science and Communication while working toward an M.S. in Professional Studies, appreciates Dr. Bishop’s encouragement and guidance. 

“I can’t speak highly enough about Dr. Bishop,” Antonik says. “She has supported us every step of the way.” 

Suicide Postvention 

As for the next steps, Antonik talks about “bigger things to come,” explaining “we’re actually on the precipice of launching a national strategy.” She believes “postvention is prevention,” noting that “suicide loss survivors are 65% more likely to attempt suicide than our peers who grieve other kinds of losses.” 

The Office of Suicide Prevention “will save lives,” says Delaware Rep. Eric Morrison, who introduced the bill. “And I could not be more grateful to have had a hand in its creation.” 

“The work that we’ve done is a testament that anyone, anywhere, can make a difference,” Antonik says, adding that “it’s really hard, and we just hope we get to make it easier for someone else.” 

If you or someone you care about is in need of postvention services or you would like to learn more about the advocates for Delaware’s Office of Suicide Prevention, please visit DJ’s Alliance, which recently received the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Delaware branch’s Simon and Jill Shute Advocacy Award.