When Cindy DeClark lost her only daughter to suicide 11 years ago, she had a difficult time finding people who understood what she was going through.

“Loss by suicide, that grief is something that becomes part of you and there is a lot of stigma around it,” said DeClark. “It makes people very uncomfortable, and it makes my family very uncomfortable.

“So for me to find something where there are others who share my pain and my experience, it makes me feel understood 100 percent.”

DeClark is one of the group leaders for Shelby Township’s Shepherd’s Gate Church CARE program.

Shepherd's Gate CARE director Venus Graydon said all group leaders have gone through the life experiences for which people are seeking support. (PHOTO BY LISA JANSEN)

The program offers free support groups for the com

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