Ashley Loftin & Dese’Rae L. Stage: Writers, Suicide Prevention Advocates & More

Ashley is the 2016 winner of the Paul G. Quinnett Lived Experience Writing Prize. She an essayist & mental health advocate specializing in suicide prevention & obsessive-compulsive disorder education. On Twitter @OCDwrangler On Instagram OCDwrangler Her personal blog documenting her experience as a self-proclaimed “OCD wrangler” is http://TheBraveOnes.org/ Dese’Rae is the 2015 winner of the Quinnett Prize. She is an award-winning artist, suicide awareness activist, & public speaker. After struggles with self-injury, a suicide attempt, losing friends to suicide, & an abusive relationship, Dese’Rae was inspired to create Live Through This, a collection of portraits & true stories of 180 suicide attempt survivors. LTT has received extensive media coverage, including features in the NYT, Associated Press, & more. Dese’Rae speaks at universities, conferences, & events nationwide. http://lLiveThroughThis.org/ Submissions for the 2017 Quinnett Prize are accepted online through February 27. More info & past prize winning essays are at http://www.suicidology.org/writing-contest