Providing HOPE and healing to the Mothers of Military and Veteran Suicide.
"The loss of a child is an unspeakable trauma. When that death is caused by suicide, the pain becomes more complicated."
Our programs are designed to help the mothers cope with the traumatic and complicated grief of losing a child to suicide.
MOVS Postvention provides grief healing retreats, an online support group, mentorship, grief therapy, mobile outreach and an overnight call chain. MOVS also provides resources for family members.
Our programs promote survivor recovery and strengthen suicide prevention efforts.
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
Your support and contributions will enable us to help more mothers.
Without your generous donations and sponsorships, we would not exist.
Our MOVS Soulful Retreats are for the mothers of Military and Veteran Suicide.
Several times throughout the year we offer a 3 day healing retreat in several locations.
The retreats are full of laughter, tears, beach walking, pool parties, art therapy, counseling, a bonding experience like no other retreat.
This retreat is sponsored by our generous donors and there is no cost to the mother.
Mothers of Veteran Suicide are devastated by the sudden and tragic loss of their child. Our mission is to provide hope and healing for the entire family.
We provide free sessions of Tapping Therapy with Kirk Poe and Mediation Therapy with Brett Cotter.
If the mother needs a Licensed Grief Counselor, we will seek out local resources for complicated grief therapy and refer the family to a compassionate, caring professional.
We have created a private group on Facebook for the Mothers. If you are a natural mother, adoptive mother, or stepmother that raised the child, you qualify to join the group.
These group is faith based, safe space to share, comfort, bond, inspire and for the parent to know that they are not alone.
We also offer Grief Care Fellowship 6-week support sessions.
Founder, Michele Ladd and husband Randy Schue travel with the HOPE Mobile to do local outreaches.
The HOPE Mobile is a 35 FT RV wrapped in the American Flag and features nearly 200 names of our heroes that have died by suicide. These are the names of the mothers' children.
The couple attends suicide awareness events, offers grief care to the mothers, on occasion travels the country to visit the mothers.
Our Servicemembers and Veterans deserve to know we love them and care.
MOVS provides resources for anxiety, depression, PTSD and moral injury.
We have partnered with organizations that offer peer to peer support counseling, equine therapy, retreats, service dogs, adventure therapy and more.
Our Servicemembers and Veterans deserve to know we love them and care.
MOVS provides resources for anxiety, depression, PTSD and moral injury.
We have partnered with organizations that offer peer to peer support counseling, equine therapy, retreats, service dogs, adventure therapy and more.
"Losing a child to suicide is one is one of life's most painful experiences. The feelings of loss, sadness, and loneliness experienced after any death of a loved one are often magnified in suicide survivors by feelings of quilt, confusion, rejection, shame, anger, and the effects of stigma and trauma. Furthermore, survivors of suicide loss are at higher risk of developing major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal behaviors, as well as a prolonged form of grief called complicated grief. Added to the burden is the substantial stigma, which can keep survivors away from much needed support and healing resources. Thus, survivors may require unique supportive measures and targeted treatment to cope with their loss." -National Library of Medicine
Psalm 23:3 He restores my soul
I am a mom of a veteran that took his own life. For months, I felt that I didnt have anyone to talk to that would understand what I'm feeling. I felt isolated, my feelings were abnormal, and couldn't explain the hole in my soul. This grief was different than a parent, grandparents or friends. I went to my first retreat focused on mothers of veteran suicide eleven months after my son died. I found a connection with mothers that were thinking the same thoughts that I was feeling. I could talk about this hole in my soul, and they understood. I understood them. I no longer felt alone or abnormal. This group and retreat saved my mental health. This group is like no other and it focuses on a mothers grief in a way that no other group can come close. Thank you, Michele, for this group and the retreats.
I was lost and found MOVS. I felt alone and devastated but when Michele reached out about the MOVS22 retreat I felt I needed to go but had no way until she sponsored me. Upon arrival I met her and Joy ! I was welcomed with open arms and nothing but acceptance. Once at the house I was greeted by two other moms Lula and Judy, they hugged me, and I cried. I was so guarded and hiding my grief and pain before but while there I felt nothing but love, understanding and healing! I made new sisters and received tools for healing! I’m so beyond grateful for MOVS and believe that if it wasn’t for this retreat, I’d be still in the dark place I was and struggling. Don’t get me wrong I still struggle but now I have a support system to help me because I’m not alone and have women, mothers who know my pain and help me get through!
I loved the retreat that National Veterans Resources hosted for us Mothers of Veteran suicide. I finally felt seen, heard, understood and validated. Not like a outsider. I felt like I could finally be myself. The Air B&B was fabulously vintage. It had a huge fire pit with Adirondack chairs. I loved hanging at your house with Randy’s fabulous Italian cuisine. Doing Brett’s breath work and doing face masks with the moms. It was so beautiful that day in the kayaks, but I was terrified! Shopping and lunch in your quaint little town I also enjoyed immensely
with the girls. I loved being able to pour my heart out to you on the beach that day. You have a way of making everyone feel cared about and feel safe enough to open up to. To make us all feel heard and loved. You and your mission mean the world to me. Wherever you travel in the hero mobile know that my Son rides shotgun on your ribbon watching over you!
Thank you for all you do for us! It means everything to me! I look forward to meeting more moms and sharing with the newer ones how I made it through six years of grief. To be happy again!
Being able to attend the Mothers of Veteran Suicide (MOVS) retreat was a life saver for many of us mothers. My combat veteran son had died on October 25, 2021. I was new to this unbearable heartache and was looking for resources to help me deal with what I was feeling. My child was a piece of me that now was no longer there and my own mental health had taken a tail spin into depression.
I came upon the MOVS Facebook page, which I quickly joined. After a conversation with Michele, she invited me to the retreat. After a couple of days of praying, I took a leap of faith and decide to attend the retreat, even though I did not know Michele very well. We now are wonderful friends!
Getting to know other mothers who we can connect with anytime has provided a level of comfort that you just cannot get from other sources. At the MOVS Retreat, we showed support, love and encouragement to each other. We shared our heartache, feelings, and positive thoughts to uplift each. We shared laughter and tears. And created bonds with one another.
None of us want to be a part of this group, but we are thankful that we have it. It helps us to get through the days when grief is overwhelming, and on days when our heart muscles are stronger, we help other mothers who are in need.
Your support of the retreat will allow the mothers of 22 Veterans A Day to gather and continue their healing. Additionally, because we as mothers are supported, we are more readily able to help support our own families.
Joy Kubat, Mother of SGT. Wesley "Snipes" Kubat; Minnesota National Guard 2000-2011; member of the Combat Veteran Motorcycle Association (CVMA) 48-7; and chapter commander of CVMA 48-7A
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403 W Alexander St.
St Marys, GA 31558
a 501(c) 3 Non-Profit Organization
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