Hi. I'm Bev Cobain. Welcome to my website!

Here, you will find useful resources and information on presentations and workshops which can enhance your competency in identifying and supporting young people suffering the pain of depression and/or suicidal thoughts. If you are a parent, foster parent, teacher, counselor, doctor, social worker, school bus driver, police officer, nurse, or anyone else who spends time each day with young people, you need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of youth depression and impending suicide. Why?

• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in the U.S. for ages 15 through 19!
• In this country, a child or adolescent dies by suicide every 80 minutes, and a youth attempts to take his/her life every 45 seconds.
• One of ten high school students attempt suicide, while one in five has had suicidal thoughts within the previous year.
• And it isn't just teens. The suicide rate for 10 to 14-yr olds has tripled in the last three decades.

These astounding facts can be changed. Suicide is preventable. Suicidal thinking is almost always a result of some form of untreated depression or other mental health disorder.

Recent studies relate that depression, a treatable medical illness, is present in more than 70% of all suicides. We must raise awareness, in schools and in our communities, of the fact that depression does occur in even very young children. We must teach the signs and symptoms of youth depression--how it looks in small children, and in teens and college students. The earlier depression, in it's varied forms, is accurately diagnosed and appropriately treated, the better chance our young people have to make good decisions for themselves, and to better cope with the stresses that come their way today.

"Following the suicide of my wonderful husband, I seemed to exhaust every helping resource. I read, talked, and listened, but nothing helped to answer my burning questions until I read, DYING TO BE FREE. This simple, concise book helps family members to understand how their loved one could get to the point where suicide seemed the only option. I now understand why I never saw it coming." .....Kim, survivor wife

How can Living Matters help?

• Youth Depression Awareness Presentations
• Youth Suicide Prevention Presentations
• Keynote Addresses
• Training Workshops
• Consultations

Click here for further details.

Bev Cobain of Living Matters is a Registered Nurse, with credentials in psychiatric/mental health nursing. Her own struggle with depression and the suicides of three family members--most recently the 1994 death of her young cousin, Kurt Cobain, front man for the band, Nirvana--ignited a passion in Bev to educate professionals, lay persons, and youth about depression and the significant public health issue of suicide. Her desire to educate resulted in her writing the acclaimed book, "When Nothing Matters Anymore: A Survival Guide for Depressed Teens" and developing the Living Matters web site to provide an additional avenue to share her knowledge and experience of youth depression and suicide.

National Suicide Hotline Number:  1-800-273-TALK

"DYING TO BE FREE answers questions we cannot ask our loved ones who died by suicide, speaks to the unique grief of those left behind, explains the journey of the suicidal mind, and helps survivors of suicide to heal safely. Six years after the loss of my young son, I still find this book helpful beyond words.". .....Sharon, survivor mom

Dying to be Free: A Healing Guide for Families After a Suicide

"This book is a masterpiece for the survivors of suicide and those who care about them." --David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., 16th U.S. Surgeon General and Interim President of Morehouse School of Medicine

Based on an original, one-of-a-kind workshop developed, facilitated, and proven successful over the past fifteen years by co-author, Jean Larch. Suicide always leaves grief-stricken survivors reeling in a nearly impenetrable vacuum. Each feels isolated, ashamed, guilty, angry, and totally in the dark about how to get through the next hour, day, week, month. For survivors, it is inconceivable that they can, or should, survive this loss. Because suicide is violent, unexpected, traumatic, and occurs without warning, the kind of grief suffered after suicide is unparalleled.

When survivors finally understand the process through which their loved one progressed toward suicide, their guilt is significantly relieved, their own risk for suicide decreases, and recovery is facilitated

This book is directed toward healing for survivors and anyone suffering from suicidal thoughts. In addition, therapists, counselors, survivor organizations, and individuals or groups dealing with the issues of depression and/or suicide will find this book helpful and enlightening.