Branden’s Choice by John St. Clair | Book Review | #TeenSuicide #Depression #Parenting
Book Details
Branden's Choice by John St. Clair
Published by Independent on March 31, 2022
Genres: Mental Health, Non-fiction, Memoir, Parenting, Self-help
Format: eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Pages: 295
Source: Received from the author or publisher for review.Within 15 days of the suicide of his 14-year-old son, Branden Edward Darce St.Clair, John had spoken to over 200 teens that have either contemplated suicide or have been self-harming due to depression and anxiety. Their main argument has been that no one will listen when they do speak out, or there is no one to speak out to due to the repercussions of such an action.
John St. Clair feels that there’s a serious problem in the current support systems, not only in the schools but in homes as well. Within a week of Branden’s choice, he and his family were told by several teens his age that at some point from sixth grade to ninth grade, their son had either stopped them or talked them out of suicide or self-harm. In this book, journal if you will, he tells this story, in detail, of what the choice of suicide will bring. The aftermath of such a choice.
Suicide is not an end; it is but a beginning for many left behind, to live the remainder of their lives in pain, doubt, and fear. Please reach out if you’re in that dark place; you are not alone!Mr. St. Clair wrote this book to serve as a steppingstone in breaching the stigma surrounding teen mental health. By sharing his story, the dark side, the unknown side of suicide, with the ones left behind, he hopes to change one mind, one heart at a time. John has chosen to continue this road in many ways.
With a new anti-bullying bill in the writing, John will go before Congress in 2023. A docuseries diving into the many faces of depression, anxiety, self-harm, cyberbullying, and teen suicide is also in the making. With the help of this book, he endeavors to open many new teen help centers in all needed places possible.
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Purchase Links for Branden’s Choice
Amazon – OneLink for all countries.
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More about Branden’s Choice
On February 27, 2019, John St. Clair found his son Branden’s near lifeless bloody body lying in his bedroom. Beside him were his cell phone and a gun. Branden would later succumb to his self-inflicted injuries, his fourteen-year life cut short despite no warning signs and no cries for help.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the second most frequent cause of death among teens, with one in six teenagers reported having contemplated suicide at one point. Unfortunately, many feel that no one will listen when they do speak out or fear there will be repercussions for doing so.
John St. Clair is hoping to put an end to that, taking his heart-wrenching tragedy and turning it into a cause for hope. In his new book, Branden’s Choice, John not only chronicles his son’s tragic death, but he also shares the glimmer of hope that has come from it.
After teens and parents began reaching out to John for help with depression, anxiety, and self-harm, he created the B.E.D.S. Teen Outreach Center, which provides emotional support, education, assistance, and intervention as necessary to all youths and young adults in crisis and those impacted by them, with the goal of reducing suicides, bullying, and self-destructive behaviors. B.E.D.S. advocates for the well-being of every youth in our community by developing networks of educational and counseling resources.
“There are serious problems with the current support systems in place; not only in the schools but in homes as well,” says John, who in addition to expanding B.E.D.S., plans to go before Congress in 2023 in support of an anti-bullying bill, as well as produce a docuseries that focuses on the many faces of depression, anxiety, self-harm, cyberbullying and teen suicide. ”Suicide is not the end but rather the beginning for those left behind, who live the remainder of their lives in pain, doubt, and fear.”
Branden’s Choice serves as a stepping stone in breaching the stigma surrounding teen mental health. By sharing his story about the unknown side of suicide and its effects on those left behind, John hopes to change one mind, one heart at a time.
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My thoughts on Branden’s Choice
Branden’s Choice is not an easy book to read. But, I recommend everyone give it a try. The subject is so incredibly important, that we can not just ignore it.
When I navigated through my children’s teen years without too many problems, I thought I had it made. What a short-sighted outlook. I now have grandchildren in their teens, and I think the worry may be worse. Maybe it’s because being retired gives you more time to reflect, whereas, when your own children are teens, it’s easy to get caught up in everyday activities. If I learned anything from this book, it’s to take the time to talk to your kids and learn about their thoughts and fears.
Mr. St. Clair says that the hardest part is left to the living to deal with the sorrow and pain of teen suicide. It is not only parents and siblings but friends, family, and teachers that are left wondering what signs they missed and how they could have prevented the tragedy from ever happening.
I confess, I ugly cried through a large portion of the book. It devastated me to think of the hopelessness Branden must have felt. It also made me vow to be more aware of the thoughts and feelings of my family. This is a very emotionally challenging book to read. I highly recommend it to anyone who deals with adolescents, teens, and young adults.
Read the book and let it open your eyes to today’s generation’s thought processes. They are quite different from yours and mine. Please open heartfelt, understanding discussions with your own family and friends. Many suicides may be prevented by someone reaching out and letting the teen know they aren’t alone in their thoughts. Someone does care.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255, is available 24/7. It is free and confidential.
I received a digital copy of the book from the author or publisher to review. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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About John St. Clair
John St. Clair is the founder of B.E.D.S. Teen Outreach, a youth advocate and mental health awareness non-profit company that helps youths in their struggles with depression, anxiety, self-harm, and Suicidal ideology
Before devoting his work full time to B.E.D.S. teen outreach, John was a security service engineer until the loss of his son, Branden, to suicide in 2019, which prompted the creation of the Teen Outreach Center. With the hope to open a center wherever one is needed, John is pushing in all directions for change via congress, media outlets, free services to the youth, and parent participation.
John has written his first book, Branden’s Choice, which reveals and explains the devastating effects suicide has on the family and friends left behind and the stories of many others. John has also made public speaking roles throughout Tennessee, raising awareness about teen suicide.
In addition to being a public speaker, John is an avid gamer which he shares with his wife, daughter, and late son. You will also find him quoting movies in normal conversations and making people laugh as often as possible.
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Amazon Easy Info Links
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Gina – I’m on the same page as you that I never felt my own children were at risk at that age. I did have a few students over my four-decade teaching history that I worried about, but fortunately, unlike today, there were no social media platforms that appeared to glamorize this treacherous path. And yes, I do worry about my grandchildren. A lot. Thanks for this review. ~ mim
Thanks for reading, Mim. The times are indeed treacherous.