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At the age of 19, Vanita Halliburton’s teenage son, Grant, took his life by suicide. Following his death, Vanita co-founded the Grant Halliburton Foundation to strengthen the network of mental health resources for children, teens, and young adults; promote better mental health; and help prevent suicide.
Vanita uses her experience with the unexpected loss of her son to help educate and encourage others struggling with the loss of family and friends. In this conversation, we talk about the warning signs of a crisis, symptoms to look for to prevent suicide, questions to ask, and how to help a teen who is hurting.
This interview is full of wisdom for parents, school staff, and helpers who come in contact with teenagers who are hurting or in hard places. Let’s continue the conversation and take a look at mental health for teens!
The hardest thing about losing my son to suicide was losing my son. Period.
Resources for suicide prevention:
In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:
- Grant Halliburton Foundation
- Grant Halliburton Brochures
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- Website: suicidepreventionlifeline.org
- Phone Number: 1-800-273-8255
- Music: Under the Chandeliers
Have a question?
Karlie Duke
Communications Director
Chris Robey
Former CEO
Vanita Halliburton
Special Guest
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Chris Robey | Former CEO
Chris has spent most of his career empowering teenagers from all backgrounds. As the former leader of Teen Life, he is passionate about helping students make good choices while also giving adults the tools they need to communicate more effectively with teens. Chris is a graduate of Midwestern State University and holds a Master’s Degree in Family Life Education from Lubbock Christian University.
Karlie Duke | Director of Communications
Karlie has always had a heart for teenagers. Through her role at Teen Life, she loves to showcase the amazing stories coming out of Support Groups, but she is especially passionate about helping adults and teenagers find connection. Karlie has a BS in Communications with a minor in Family Studies from Abilene Christian University.
Vanita Halliburton | Special Guest
Vanita is a frequent speaker on youth mental health and suicide prevention in schools, at professional conferences, and throughout the North Texas community. She speaks from the heart about her son’s battle with depression and bipolar disorder, his suicide at the age of 19, and the need for a collaborative and comprehensive approach to mental health education and suicide prevention in North Texas.