Grief can break a person. Or it can transform them. For Jeff Baumgartner, it became both.
After losing his brother to suicide, Baumgartner found himself drowning in questions he would never get to ask. The pain was sharp. The silence was louder. And the finality of it all was unbearable.
But in the midst of that grief, he made a decision that would go on to save lives.
He created a website called Reasons To Stay, a space where people could write and read personal letters explaining why life is still worth living.
Baumgartner’s brother died by suicide several years ago, leaving behind a family struggling to process the unimaginable. Jeff has openly shared that he wished his brother had left a note, something that could help them understand what he was going through.
Credit: iStock
Key Takeaways
- Jeff Baumgartner created Reasons To Stay after losing his brother to suicide.
- The platform allows people to submit letters encouraging others to keep going.
- Thousands of submissions have been received from around the world.
- Many contributors are survivors who once considered ending their lives.
- Readers have shared that the letters directly helped them choose to stay.
- The project has become a living memorial to Baumgartner’s brother, and a lifeline for others.
Instead, he decided to create something for others.
The website invites people to write heartfelt letters to anyone who may be struggling, reminders that:
- They matter
- They are loved
- Their pain is not permanent
- Staying is worth it
Credit: iStock
It started small. But it didn’t stay that way.
In a recent emotional update, Baumgartner shared just how far the project has come.
Thousands of letters have now been submitted from people all over the world. Many are written by individuals who once stood at the edge themselves, people who “stayed” and later found reasons they couldn’t yet see.
Some writers describe surviving a single dark night.
Others talk about rebuilding their lives after years of depression.
Many simply say: “I’m glad I didn’t go.”
Baumgartner became visibly emotional when sharing that strangers have reached out to tell him the letters changed their minds, that reading a few paragraphs from someone who understood helped them hold on one more day.
And sometimes, one more day is everything.
The story deeply resonated with readers.
Bryce Sick
What a beautiful story. I am definitely going to write some letters.
A long time ago, I read a news article about a child who found his older brother. I have never been able to shake it.
Being that I have an older brother who was my hero growing up, I have never been able to shake the feeling he must have felt.
Mardie Engelhardt
Definitely getting in touch with them. I “stayed” and I am so very glad I did!
The comments reveal something powerful:
People don’t always know what to say in the face of suffering.
But they want to.
And sometimes, even a few sentences can mean everything.
Suicide often thrives in isolation.
Projects like Reasons To Stay create connection.
They show struggling individuals that their thoughts are shared, that survival is possible, and that life can look very different months or years down the road.
Baumgartner didn’t set out to build a movement.
He set out to make sure fewer families experienced the silence his family did.
In doing so, he created something profoundly human.
Grief doesn’t disappear.
But sometimes, it can be redirected.
Jeff Baumgartner took one of the most painful experiences imaginable and turned it into a living archive of hope.
A place filled not with statistics, but with voices.
And sometimes, a voice is enough to help someone stay.
If you or someone you love is struggling, stories like this are a reminder that even in the darkest moments, connection can change everything.
Follow Simply Wholesome for more real, human stories that highlight resilience, compassion, and the quiet ways people are saving lives every single day.
And if you have a reason to stay, consider sharing it. You never know who might need to read your words today.
Leave a comment