According to a 2022 data from the Statistics from the National Institutes of Health, more than 30,000 kids in the US lose a parent to suicide every year. Tragically, the family members who are affected by suicide also face a higher risk of suicide themselves, being three times more likely to die by taking their own lives. While many charities dedicate their mission to preventing suicide through different resources, the needs of the families of the victims of suicide are overlooked. Nonprofit Project Unbroken was founded, focusing its work on “postvention” to support grieving families and friends as they navigate their loss.
To mark International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, observed on November 22, the nonprofit launched the “Beauty of Broken” campaign, making the fragility of grief visible through the traditional Japanese art of kintsugi. Teaming up with advertising agency Tombras, the project comes to life through a stunning CGI film, where the audience can meet survivors of suicide loss.
The video reveals the stories of eight-year-old Charlice, whose father committed suicide; Sarah, who lost her husband; and Chris and Martha Thomas, whose 24-year-old daughter took her own life. Each of the survivors chose an object they consider an irreplaceable connection to the loved one they lost. Charlice chose a baseball glove, Sarah a watch, and the Chris and Martha couple opted for a sunflower.
In the video, each of these priceless items is outlined as if made from delicate ceramic. But, to emphasize the shattering impact suicide has on families, the objects are depicted breaking apart. This is the point at which the organization weaves in the symbolism of kintsugi — the art of repairing broken pieces with gold, silver, or platinum. The fragments are put back together and restored to wholeness, but are now imprinted with golden “scars.” Similar to the old technique, which honors imperfections and celebrates resilience, the repaired items deliver a powerful message: what’s broken can be rebuilt into something more beautiful, valuable, and stronger.
“We launched Project Unbroken because families like mine were falling through the cracks after suicide loss,” said Trina Roffino, Founder of Project Unbroken, who lost her husband to suicide in 2018. “My hope is that Beauty of Broken brings visibility to these families and opens hearts to their healing. Every golden scar in this campaign represents a child who’s rediscovered joy, a parent who’s found strength, a family that’s learning to live again. This is just the beginning.”
“Most suicide-related campaigns focus — rightfully — on prevention. But we wanted to look somewhere else: toward the families who remain. And instead of speaking only about the pain, we chose to honor something equally real yet rarely shown — the process of rebuilding,” continued Kevin Cabuli, Creative Director at Tombras. “With kintsugi already at the core of Project Unbroken, we set out to express that healing in the most moving and beautiful way possible — a reminder that even what breaks can be rebuilt with meaning.”
The initiative culminated with an art gallery held in NYC on November 22, showcasing the film and the restored objects. Accompanied by QR codes, the exhibited restored items allowed visitors to listen to the personal stories of the families impacted by suicide loss. Attendees were also invited to try the Japanese art at home by buying a kintsugi kit, with all proceeds supporting Project Unbroken’s mission. For those who couldn’t make it to the event and want to celebrate the beauty of imperfection while also doing good, the nonprofit has made the kits available online.
CREDITS
Brand: Project Unbroken
Agency: Tombras
Images: PR Newswire
