join us for #Shamrockshakes4brittany on march 7th, 2025
at all sioux falls, brandon, brookings, and watertown
hart2hart mcdonald's locations
Shamrock Shakes were a staple good luck charm for Brittany and she LOVED them! Shamrock Shake season, as we have always called it, or hockey tournament season, as many others call it, leads us from hockey tournaments to Brittany's Angel day and her Birthday.
Butchie and Brittany were more than just sisters, they were best friends too. When Brittany passed away, Butchie was struggling and when on a trip to visit Brittany she passed McDonald's and Shamrock Shakes were back! She got one with a small fry and went to see Brittany. Butchie was excited to share a Shake and some fries with her sister so she decided "I'll have half and leave half for Brittany!" This story shared lead to others sharing their shakes from near and far to offer comfort to Butchie in the very best way they knew how.
What Shamrock Shakes do now is unite the Ninja Tribe to come together and help everyone start a conversation. These conversations do not have to be heavy or hard. They can be simple by just letting someone know that you care and are there for them. The conversation can also let them know they are not alone. One simple conversation can be bigger than you can imagine!
This year, thanks to Hart2Hart Inc, all 17 of their McDonalds will be donating $0.44 of every Shamrock Shake to Fight Like a Ninja on March 4th. We are so grateful for the conversations they will help us start! If you found us from the sticker you received tag us @FightLIkeANinja with #ShamrockShakes4Brittany and follow us for more information. Visit you local McDonalds in Sioux Falls, Watertown, Brookings, or Brandon to get your limited edition Shamrock Shake Ninja Sticker!
If you or someone in your family is struggling with their mental health or suicide loss, here are discussion ideas, signs, and tips. Never hesitate to reach out and call 988 someone is always there to listen and help.
Discussion ideas:
Being open about your own mental health, let's others know you are willing to talk about mental health about their own. Sharing your mental health check ins allows them to feel safe to share theirs.
Use examples of why you are concerned and ask if they are ok privately. They may not be ready to talk about it, but they will know you are a person and can come to you when they are.
Don't be afraid to ask directly about mental health, suicide or self-harm; this doesn't put the thought in their mind but lets them know it's ok to talk about it if it is. It's ok to talk about how we are feeling and not keep it to ourselves and act on it. We would rather they talk about it than act on it.
Ensure you always have the 988 number in your phone to call or text; then you always have a safe outlet to reach out to for yourself or a friend.
It's not your job to "fix a friend," you wouldn't fix a friend's broken arm, so why would you expect them to fix their mental health? It's ok to seek professional help.
Make sure to not shame their feelings with dismissal by telling them they don't have a right to them. (i.e., "you have it so easy," "you will be just fine," "this will just pass"). Listen to listen and not to respond. We have two ears and one mouth for a reason. You are not there to convince someone life is worth living or fix their life (that's a professional's job); you are there to be a friend, listen, and if needed, take them to a professional just as you would with any other health condition.
Signs of Mental Health Struggles:
There is no universal checklist, everyone is different, and there is never just one reason someone takes their life.
The most important thing to watch for is significant changes in your loved one.
The signs may be what everyone thinks: depression, withdrawing, sleeping, giving things away, being very emotional. It may also look like anger, risky adventures, drug or alcohol use, lack of caution, internet or google searches, or even overzealous behavior.
It can be subtle words - "go on without me, I'm just a burden anyway," "I just feel so trapped," "I have no reason to be here anymore" always take these seriously and start a conversation.
When you notice your loved one doing a complete personality change for them, this is when you know it's time to have a conversation. You should always assume you are the only person who will and always trust your gut.
Tips for Grieving through Suicide
There is no right or wrong way to grieve. The loss of a loved one to suicide is something no one should never have to know.
The internal questions that come from losing your loved one to suicide will be difficult. Coming to a place where you know you will never get the answers to your questions is the most challenging yet most healing thing you will do as a survivor of suicide loss.
Learning that self-care in grief is not selfish but selfless is a valuable lesson in any stage of your grief.
Reaching the stage where you can remember that your loved one lived and not just that they died and smile at the memories seems like a far-off place when you lose them, and your world is black and white. But it does happen; the world brightens to colors, and it's ok to enjoy the world again.
Your loved one didn't choose to leave this world any more than any other person with any other illness. Their mental health condition was just as terminal.
Resources:
Call : 988
Text: 988
www.afsp.org
www.helplinecenter.org
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
www.avera.org/services/behavioral-mental-health/suicide-prevention-ask-the-question/
www.jedfoundation.org
www.nami.org
www.samhsa.gov
http://www.fostersvoice.org/