The Will to Live: How One Family Turned Tragedy into Healing, Hope, and Purpose
The Word from John Trautwein…Book will be available from Simon & Schuster, on May 5…..
An unforgettable memoir about love, loss, resilience, the power of community and most importantly, hope. This inspirational work is something that anyone concerned about the mental health of a friend, loved one, or family member should read and share.
John Trautwein’s life seemed perfect. An ex-Boston Red Sox player turned corporate executive, he had a loving marriage with four beautiful children. This all changed in October 2010 when his 15-year-old son Will died by suicide. John thought his life had ended, too. What he eventually discovered instead was that even in the midst of unimaginable grief, there is a way forward—through faith, family, friendship, and the healing power of helping others. With raw honesty and unwavering compassion, John shares how his darkest days revealed a new calling: to spread awareness about mental health, to break the silence around depression, and to deliver hope to those who need it most.
Drawing on his personal and professional experience, and as co-founder, with his wife Susie, of the nonprofit The Will to Live Foundation, John turns a tragedy into a positive and successful source of hope through his “Life Teammates” concept and programs. Through inspirational stories, he demonstrates our ability to improve our own will to live by delivering hope to one another. He reveals to us how to recognize the subtle and not-so-subtle signs of mental illness. His story emphasizes that love, not time, is what truly mends the heart. The Will to Live offers both inspiration and practical insight into how we can be there for each other in times of need. It is a story about courage. About community. About choosing to speak up, to reach out, to listen, and to remind each other that it’s always okay to not be okay.
Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among student-athletes ages 15 to 24, according to the St. Louis Children’s Hospital. With the immense pressure of athletic performance and school, coupled with stress from worrying about the future, relationships with family and friends, and social media perfection standards, these young adults are losing hope. And we can’t be silent any longer.
After the horrifying tragedy of losing his teenage son to suicide, MLB alum John Trautwein built the nonprofit The Will to Live Foundation to raise awareness of teen suicide in our communities, especially amongst young athletes. John is on a mission to proactively teach teens about depression and suicide while encouraging them to to connect with their Life Teammates and hold on to hope.
John talks about:
Life teammates: The power of connection, compassion, and showing up for one another
Student athletes and mental health: Increasing education increases support
Breaking the silence around teen depression: It’s okay not to be okay
Hope is not pretending everything is fine: It’s believing change is possible
Life is not a sprint: It’s about taking one more step when stopping feels easier
Through the kids, for the kids, and by the kids: The creation of The Will to Live Foundation
John has become a powerful and much sought after voice in the fight against mental illness and its stigma. He has previously been featured in HuffPost, USA Today, The Boston Globe, YES! Weekly, and more…