05/09/2026
What you see in this picture is community. ❤️
What you don’t see are the friendships that have been built between people who experience the world in similar ways. You don’t see the caregiver burnout, the stress, the masking, the hiding, or the constant struggle to keep up with appointments, IEPs, therapies, work-life balance, eloping, smearing, Feeding tubes, disabilities, OCD, ADHD, Autism, Down syndrome, and so much more.
It doesn’t matter what the diagnosis is. Every situation is unique, but so many families carry the same weight. Life can be harder. Life can be exhausting.
If you have a family member or friend raising or caring for a child or adult with disabilities, don’t wait to check in. Reach out. Suicidal ideation is real, and we need to talk about it more openly.
When someone says “I’m fine,” it’s okay to say, “Be honest with me.”
Helping doesn’t always mean taking our children so we can get a break. Sometimes it means showing up at a FLO event with us. Sometimes it means bringing dinner, helping fold laundry, reading a book to the kids while we do dishes, or simply sitting with us so we don’t feel alone.
We are incredibly grateful for the support the Berkshire Coalition for Su***de Prevention provides throughout the year in helping address caregiver burnout and mental health awareness in our community.
If you are in crisis, the National Su***de & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call or text 988 for support.
If you are experiencing caregiver burnout, please check out our website and join our once-a-month meetup focused on grounding techniques, emotional support, and coping skills for caregivers.
