Suicide Prevention Programs

The Heart of STOPS

STANDING TOGETHER

Sisters Taking On the Prevention Of Suicide (STOPS)

Sisters Taking On the Prevention of Suicide (STOPS) was founded in May 2015 by Andrea Mustin in loving memory of her husband, Eric D. Wright (1961–2013).

Eric lived with mental health challenges, yet his death by suicide on December 2, 2013, came without warning. Like so many families, Andrea did not see it coming.

Out of that loss—and the painful realization that awareness alone is not enough—STOPS was created to equip individuals, strengthen communities, and prevent others from experiencing the same heartbreak.

Guided by faith, compassion, and community, STOPS exists to bring light, understanding, and hope where it is needed most.

STOP Suicide Through E.R.I.C.

At the heart of our mission is E.R.I.C., a guiding framework inspired by Eric’s life and legacy:

Education
Research
Inspiration Through Advocacy
Community

Through E.R.I.C., we equip individuals with knowledge, strengthen communities with resources, and light the way toward hope, healing, and prevention.

A single flame can light one thousand candles.

Who We Are

Sisters Taking On the Prevention of Suicide (STOPS) is a faith- and community-driven mental health awareness organization serving women who support friends and loved ones living with mental illness.

Through education, research, inspiration through advocacy, and community support, we equip women with the knowledge, confidence, and compassion needed to prevent suicide and strengthen mental health within their families and communities. This work is guided by E.R.I.C.—a framework inspired by legacy and rooted in action.

Our Vision

We envision a world where women are Mental Health Champions—empowered to care for themselves, support their loved ones, and positively impact their communities.

Our Mission

Our mission is to reduce suicide rates by advancing mental health education, research, advocacy, and support for women supporting friends and loved ones living with mental illness.

Our Goal

Our goal is to build a sisterhood of more than one million informed, engaged, and connected women who are equipped to lead with awareness, compassion, and action in suicide prevention.

Together, we light the way toward hope, healing, and prevention.

Our Programs

At Sisters Taking On the Prevention of Suicide (STOPS), our programs are designed to educate, connect, and empower women to become informed and compassionate leaders in suicide prevention.

Two of our primary approaches to raising awareness are Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Seen. Heard. Empowered. (SHE)—our peer-to-peer support program.

Through our Mental Health First Aid training, we equip women with the skills to recognize and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges. Each year, our goal is to train at least 52 women, strengthening the network of informed and prepared individuals within our communities.

Through Seen. Heard. Empowered. (SHE), we offer monthly gatherings for caregiving women who support friends or loved ones living with mental illness. SHE provides a safe, compassionate space where women are truly seen, deeply heard, and empowered through connection, shared experiences, education, and sisterly support.

At STOPS, we believe a single flame can light one thousand candles.

Through our programs, we seek to ignite awareness, compassion, and confidence in every woman—so that together, we can strengthen families, uplift communities, and light the way toward suicide prevention.

Our Founding Board Members

Three women. One calling. A shared commitment to prevention, compassion, and hope.

A woman standing in front of a wall wearing glasses.

Andrea Mustin

Founder & Executive Board Member

I stand in loving remembrance of Eric Dublon Wright (1961–2013)—my husband and soulmate of twenty years. Eric lived with mental health challenges, and his death by suicide on December 2, 2013, came without warning. I did not see it coming.

In the months following Eric’s death, by the grace of God, I relocated from West Houston to North Dallas to be closer to family. As I began rebuilding my life, I formed new friendships through relatives, volunteer work, social gatherings, and local community connections.

When I shared Eric’s story with the women I met, I was struck by their response. Every woman—without exception—had her own connection to mental health challenges. Some had struggled personally with depression or anxiety. Others supported loved ones living with serious mental illness. Many had stories they had never spoken aloud. And I realized—I didn’t know what to tell them.

It became clear that suicide was not an issue affecting only my family, but one touching families across our city, our state, and our nation. Even today, when women hear Eric’s story, they instinctively share their own.

I became involved in suicide prevention to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and ensure that women are better equipped to support themselves and those they love. Through Sisters Taking On the Prevention of Suicide (STOPS), I seek to honor Eric’s life—and the lives of so many others—by equipping women with knowledge, compassion, and practical skills that can help prevent suicide and save lives within their communities.

The end of Eric’s life was not the end of his story. Through him, STOPS was born. To God be the glory.

A woman in yellow jacket smiling for the camera.

Tonya Striplin

Founding Board Member

Compassion for others takes on new meaning when hardship reaches home. For me, mental illness became deeply personal in 2013 with the sudden loss of my brother-in-law and the painful journey of watching my sister rebuild her life. Since then, my family has continued to be impacted—through adolescent friends diagnosed with depression and through a dear friend who lost her son to suicide while he was away at college.

As a parent, witnessing a child experience pain is heartbreaking. The loss of a child is beyond words. These experiences stirred a deep sadness within me, especially for those who felt they had no hope and believed suicide was their only option.

As mental illness touched my home, I sought understanding. Through education and awareness, I came to recognize suicide as the tragic result of an illness—one whose power can feel overwhelming without support.

Even so, my hope remains steadfast. By serving in the suicide prevention movement, my prayer is to help expand compassionate care, educate communities, and support families and friends as they walk alongside loved ones living with—or lost to—mental illness. Together, we can bring understanding, reduce stigma, and help light the way toward prevention.

A woman with long hair wearing a blue shirt.

Ergieleena Teasley

Founding Board Member

I stand for mental health because it has touched my family in profound and painful ways. I stand in remembrance of loved ones lost to suicide, and in support of relatives who have lived with thoughts of suicide, depression, and anxiety. While the journey has not been easy, I am still standing—and I remain committed to hope.

In seeking to support those I love, I joined the mental health awareness movement out of a deep need to understand what my family members were experiencing and how best to walk alongside them. Along the way, I encountered compassion fatigue and realized that caregivers, too, need guidance, encouragement, and support.

I found that support through Sisters Taking On the Prevention of Suicide (STOPS). Through STOPS, I have gained understanding, strength, and the confidence to know when and how to offer support to loved ones as they navigate their mental health journeys. I have learned that I am not alone—and that being informed, engaged, and connected makes a meaningful difference.

My experience with STOPS has been invaluable. It has helped me restore my emotional strength, remain grounded in compassion, and continue standing with purpose. I stand for mental health. STOPS stands for mental health. And together, we invite others to stand with us.

A man and woman are smiling for the camera.

Our Story Is His Story Eric Dublon Wright (1961–2013)

“I stand in loving remembrance of Eric Dublon Wright, my husband and soulmate of twenty years. Eric’s death by suicide on December 2, 2013, came without warning—but the end of his life was not the end of his story.

Through his life, and through our loss, Sisters Taking On the Prevention of Suicide (STOPS) was born.

After losing Eric, I didn’t know where the road ahead would lead—only that I couldn’t walk it alone. Today, that truth shapes everything we do: transforming lived experience into learning, and walking alongside one another to help prevent future loss.

I share more about Eric, STOPS, and the power of community in my conversation on the 1 Girl Revolution Podcast.”

🎧 Listen to the episode here:

https://1girlrevolution.com/andreamustin

— Andrea Mustin, Founder

Imagine Eric Is Alive

Imagine Eric is alive—thriving and enjoying a life filled with clarity, peace of mind, good health, self-love, and spiritual fulfillment.

He celebrates birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries with family, friends, and colleagues. He is surrounded by people who are informed, compassionate, and supportive of his mental health journey.

Imagine a world where:

The people around him understand mental health challenges and recognize when someone needs support—responding with care and confidence.
Research is funded and advanced to improve understanding, treatment, and long-term outcomes for mental illness.
Mental health policies ensure fair, accessible coverage so individuals receive the care they need without barriers.
Families and caregivers are supported, strengthened, and reminded that their well-being matters too.

This is the world STOPS is working toward—so that more stories continue, more lives are supported, and more families are spared the pain of loss.

Play Video

Imagine a world where Eric—and others like him—are living life to the fullest, supported by people who are informed, compassionate, and responsive to mental health challenges.

Imagine empowered communities advocating for the well-being and success of individuals like Eric through education, research, inspiration through advocacy, and community support—guided by E.R.I.C., a framework rooted in legacy and driven by action.

This is the vision that fuels our work.

The end of Eric’s life was not the end of his story. Through prevention, awareness, and connection, his story continues—lighting the way for others.