SASS-MoKan was an outgrowth of Bonnie and Mickey Swade’s loss of their oldest son Brett, age 31, to suicide in 2003. Although Brett had suffered with substance and alcohol abuse problems, his death was an unexpected shock. When their Rabbi asked Bonnie and Mickey if they wanted people to know how he passed, they said yes. The idea that “suicide is everyone’s business” has always been the position that SASS takes.

After their loss, friendships and relationships changed, as people struggled to deal with Brett’s suicide, but they found support from others who had experienced a suicide loss. There were very few options for support groups at the time, and Bonnie was determined to make something positive out of Brett’s death.

She started her own support group and eventually, a 501c3 nonprofit organization to raise funds for support groups throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area.