This Volunteer Spotlight story originally appeared in AFSP's 2024 Annual Report. To read other inspiring Volunteer Spotlight stories, and to learn more about our work, click here.
Karen Ng started volunteering with the AFSP Greater Los Angeles and Central Coast Chapter following the death of her younger sister Karine in 2018. After attending a Survivor Day event and feeling touched by how the event embraced survivors of suicide loss and commemorated their lost loved ones, she formed a Walks fundraising team to invoke the joyful spirit of her sister — choosing a magical creature that embodies good luck and protection as their guiding symbol. Team Karine’s Gnomies united friends and family from near and far in creative and fun ways, and quickly emerged as a top fundraising team.
In 2021, Karen moved to Hawai’i and knew she wanted to continue her involvement with AFSP, particularly with other loss survivors. The Hawai’i chapter is relatively small, and after participating in its first Hike for Hope spring fundraiser, she saw the potential to bring the AFSP message of hope and resilience to a larger audience. Recognizing the critical need for community involvement in suicide prevention efforts and loss support, Karen stepped up as co-chair of the Hawai’i chapter in 2024, eager to bring suicide loss support programs like Healing Conversations and International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day to her community.
“I have learned that life can go on after heartbreaking loss. When Karine died, my identity as the eldest of three sisters was shattered. Karine was the glue — the one to break the ice, do something silly, and fill the space. But eventually, we will laugh again. We will find the joy. And our identities take different shapes.
You need a way to talk about it. As a Chinese American daughter of immigrant parents, I grew up in a household in which talking and sharing about our emotions was not part of the family culture. Even though opening up is against my nature, I believe that chances to connect with other loss survivors are essential to healing; they give us the opportunity to verbalize and process our feelings. Growth comes from self-awareness and from discovering there is a way forward.
Suicide affects more people than you think. When I first moved to Hawai’i and mentioned my involvement with AFSP, I didn’t expect so many to respond with their own personal connections to suicide. It felt like every new person I met had a story they kept hidden or rarely spoke about. I hadn’t yet realized that suicide is a leading cause of death in the state. Talking about our losses and knowing we are not alone in our grief unlocks conversations that can be painful but ultimately healing. That’s why it’s important to have the Healing Conversations program, and Survivor Day events on every island, in every state, and in every community.”