Our Commitment to the Fight Against Suicide

At Avenues of Hope, we are deeply committed to fighting the war against suicide by helping people rediscover human connection and by offering healthy, compassionate ways to cope with mental illness, loss, and grief — all within a safe and supportive environment.

Our mission is deeply personal. On January 13, 2019, we lost our 26-year-old son, SSgt Alexander Mitchell, to suicide. Alex was serving in the U.S. Air Force as a Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) specialist, proudly attached to the 19th Air Support Operations Squadron. At the time of his death, he was deployed in South Korea, having previously served in Iraq. He was deeply respected by his peers, and those who served with him described him as someone who made the world a better place. One of his squadron members said, “There is far less evil in this world because of Alex.”

We believe that PTSD played a role in Alex’s passing. Just five months later, on June 11, 2019, our 31-year-old son Trevin also died by suicide. Struggling with survivor’s guilt and the unbearable grief of losing his younger brother, he found it too painful to continue without him.

Our family’s heartbreak has led us to a mission: to turn our pain into purpose. We know we are not alone, and we want others to know they are not alone either. Avenues of Hope exists to honor Alex and Trevin by creating a space for others who are in the darkest places — a place where they can find connection, support, and most importantly, hope.

Our long-term goal is to establish a sanctuary where individuals navigating crisis or emotional trauma can come to find real help, real community, and real reasons to keep going.

We invite you to join us in this vital work. Together, we can be the light for those still struggling in the dark.