Our Story
The Invisible Wounds Project was founded because our founder, Russ Hanes suffered from the realities of PTSD and trauma firsthand as a first responder. He spent 17 years in public safety, serving as a police officer, corrections officer, and 911 dispatcher. By 2016, he was struggling deeply with PTSD and had hit rock bottom. He was experiencing suicidal ideations, hated who he had become, and found his struggles were affecting every part of his life. He was not the father or husband he wanted to be, and he was making decisions at work that put himself and others at risk. He knew that he had to make a change, or he wasn’t going to survive.
Upcoming Events!
Survivors of Sibling Suicide Support Group
Visit the SOSS Resource Table
Be sure to stop by the Survivors of Sibling Suicide resource table.
Survivors of Sibling Suicide, Inc. is a Minnesota based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and international peer support community founded by a sibling, for siblings.
SOSS was created after the suicide loss of my beloved brother, Justin Christopher, with one simple but deeply important purpose:
To ensure that no surviving sibling has to walk this journey alone.
Our community serves adults who have experienced the suicide loss of a brother or sister. Whether your loss is recent or occurred many years ago, you are welcome exactly as you are.
Support, Connection, and Community
Visit our resource table to learn about our free, confidential, peer led Zoom support meetings held every Wednesday and Saturday, our private Facebook community for adult sibling suicide loss survivors, and private one to one peer support by phone or Zoom.
You can also learn about our specialized support communities, including Survivors of Twin Sibling Suicide, our Christian Sibling Support community, our Family and Friends Support community, and Letters to My Sibling, our private reflective writing community.
SOSS also provides remembrance opportunities, educational resources, grief support resources, and connection to a compassionate international community of siblings who understand.
All SOSS peer support communities and programs are offered free of charge.
Click here to learn more about our SOSS support communities and programs.
Created from one sister’s enduring love for her beloved brother, Justin.
Love created this place. Siblings make it a community.
Together, we will support one another as we walk through this sacred journey of love, loss, grief, healing, and transformation and find a home within cherished memories and a love that endures forever.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Noelle (Justin’s Sister)
Founder and Executive Director
Survivors of Sibling Suicide, Inc.
We grieve so deeply because we love so deeply. ❤️🩹
