Editor's note: This story discusses suicide, suicide loss and mental health challenges. If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
September is Suicide Prevention Month.
This year, Suicide Prevention Month feels heavier at The Daily Universe. Two months ago, The Daily Universe lost staff member Brynn Carnesecca, who died by suicide.
Brynn was a light in the newsroom and in the lives of those she knew and loved.
“She made life fun. She made it exciting. She just made things fun and bright,” Michele Carnesecca, Brynn’s mom, said.
Brynn's love was not limited to her closest friends and family. Her sister and a staff member at The Daily Universe, Cate Carnesecca, said people have continued to reach out to her since Brynn’s passing, many describing Brynn as one of their best friends.
“Brynn made everyone feel like the most important person in the world,” Cate said. “When she talked to people she made them feel so loved and seen.”
Brynn’s life was filled with impressive moments. She was accomplished and recognized by people beyond her friends and family. But to the people who knew her best, what made Brynn remarkable was not only what she accomplished, but the way she loved people.
Small moments like playing games with her family, laughing together, dancing in the kitchen and making ordinary days special revealed the biggest part of her heart.
Brynn did not just draw people toward her; she reached out to people who might otherwise have been overlooked.
Her dad Chad Carnesecca, said Brynn’s ability to make others feel they belonged was one of her qualities he admired most.
“She would see the people who are kind of marginalized, or maybe they were just a little bit different, so they were on the outskirts, and she would include them,” Chad Carnesecca said.
Brynn loved people deeply. Her family said she loved hard and that showed up not only in her care for others, but in the way she approached everything in her life.
She brought strength to her goals and the things she cared about. Her mind moved quickly, filling with thoughts and ideas faster than the people around her could keep up.
“I really consider her brain on a genius level, which is amazing, but so hard,” Michele said.
Michele said Brynn’s quick mind was both one of her greatest gifts and one of her greatest struggles. The same mind that allowed her to learn quickly, play the piano, write beautifully and connect with people made it difficult for her thoughts to slow down.
Michele said she hopes people will begin to think about mental health as brain health. Struggles with anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions are medical conditions that deserve the same understanding and treatment as other physical illnesses.
“We don’t recognize the brain as an organ,” Michele said. “We recognize the heart, the kidneys, the liver and lungs as organs. And if you have an issue with those, you can talk about that freely. But not when you have an issue with your brain.”
Michele said she believes people do not always treat brain health with the same importance as the health of other organs, even though the brain — like the heart, kidneys, liver and lungs — is essential to the body’s ability to function.
“Until we treat brain health disorders as medical conditions, I don’t think we are ever going to truly understand those who struggle with it,” Michele said.
Understanding suicide is a part of a broader public health conversation. The National Institute of Mental Health said suicide is a major public health concern. It is a leading cause of death in the United States and the effects are felt by family, friends and communities.
For the Carnesecca family, that impact has become part of everyday life.
Cate said that after Brynn’s death, she began noticing her sister in small things, a familiar song, roly-polies or the rain, which Brynn loved.
“When you have someone pass, you just see them in the littlest ways,” Cate said.
Chad said the family has been one another’s greatest source of comfort, but the loss is still raw.
“Everybody’s got a battle,” Chad said. “So it makes you compassionate.”
That awareness can be an important part of suicide prevention. Recognizing when someone may be struggling can be the first step toward helping them get support.
“Hard times help you have compassion and grace for others,” Michele said.
The National Institute of Mental Health lists warning signs that someone may be at risk for suicide and recommends getting help as soon as possible when those signs are present.
For friends and family, that can begin with asking openly.
NIMH addresses a common concern about talking directly about suicide. Asking someone whether they are thinking about suicide does not cause or increase suicidal thoughts and asking directly can help identify someone who may be at risk.
For Brynn’s family, helping meant encouraging her in her treatment and helping her look for support.
Michele said Brynn and her family sought different forms of help throughout her struggles.
“We tried everything that we knew how to try,” Michele said. “She tried everything.”
Michele hopes people who are struggling with their brain health will continue to reach out for help and remember that there are different types of treatment and support.
“Try to get help,” Michele said. “Talk to people. There’s a lot of therapies and therapists and medications. There are so many different things you can try. And just like any other organ, sometimes your brain will respond to one and not to another.”
Michele said she wants people who are struggling to know that there is hope and they should continue looking for what works for them.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or a mental health crisis, help is always available.
Crisis hotlines
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
SafeUT Crisis Line: 833-372-3388
Crisis links
For Students in Crisis
Crisis and Treatment - Utah Suicide Prevention Committee and Coalition