“He rubbed his fingers up and down my back, and something told me, ‘Don’t forget the way that feels.’”
— Eva Toney
A Father Who Lived for His Family
“He worked in the mines his whole life, but never once came home too tired for us.”
Eva Toney grew up in a home full of love, discipline, and deep faith in the hills of Hines, West Virginia. Her father was a coal miner by trade but a nurturer at heart—an emotional man who cried when he prayed, cheered at her school games, and filled their childhood with fishing trips and poems about perseverance. One poem in particular, Don’t Quit, became his mantra—one he gave to friends, family, and especially his daughters. But as Eva shares, even the strongest man can find himself overwhelmed by something invisible, and deeply misunderstood.
When Something Shifted
“He told me, ‘I just want to blow my head off.’ That’s when I knew something was really wrong.”
It began with stomach issues. Then came the phone call—the first time Eva heard her father sound… not like himself. The family jumped into action, keeping him surrounded and pushing for care. He checked into a mental health facility, bravely seeking help—but the system failed him. Treated more like a liability than a patient, he was denied basic comforts and discharged without answers. Still, there was hope: an MRI was scheduled. Eva sat beside him days before, soaking in a rare smile, holding onto what she didn’t realize would be their last moment together.
The Weight Left Behind
“If you have even one person who loves you, taking your own life gives them your pain to carry forever.”
On March 7, 2022, Eva’s father died by suicide. The grief was seismic. Her mother—one of the toughest women Eva has ever known—collapsed in her arms. Her daughter stood strong for her. And Eva began to understand what so many families silently carry. Suicide doesn’t just steal a life—it transfers sorrow in a way few other tragedies do. Today, Eva speaks out not just in memory of her dad, but for every family battling stigma, silence, and the belief that their loved one should have “seemed fine.”
Mental health conversations matter—especially here in Appalachia, where strength is too often confused with silence. Watch Eva’s full interview below to hear her story in her own words, and help us break the stigma around suicide by continuing the conversation.
If you or someone you love is struggling, call or text 988—help is available.
