Introduction to The Haley Project

Hi everyone!

Welcome to The Haley Project.

My name is Shawna Fernau and I’m the founder of The Haley Project. This project was created in memory of Haley J. Hawkins, whose life was lost to suicide in 2021. Haley was someone who brought light, laughter, and love into the world– and this is one small way I can keep that light going and bring light to a community who has also faced multiple suicide losses.

The Haley Project has goals focused on promoting mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and advocacy in rural Nebraska’s underserved communities. Our mission is to create a space where grief, healing, and hope can coexist– and where lives lost too soon inspire us to advocate for the future.

We’re just getting started, but here’s what The Haley Project will work towards initially:

• A peer-led support group for those impacted by suicide loss

• A memorial scholarship for students pursuing mental health careers

• A community suicide prevention walk during suicide prevention month in September

  
  

We’ll be sharing regular posts here on mental health awareness and suicide prevention and information about community events and fundraisers, and we have goals of sharing suicide loss stories and stories of remembrance.

This space is for anyone touched by suicide loss, mental health struggles, or the desire to just be part of the change and destigmatization of suicide, suicide loss, and mental health. Whether you’re grieving a loss, looking to support others, or just to learn– we’re glad you’re here and we appreciate your contribution to the cause.

If you’d like to get involved and stay in the loop for what The Haley Project has to come, follow us here and keep an eye out for upcoming posts. We have plenty more to share.

For Haley.. For hope for the future.

–The Haley Project