After losing daughter to suicide, mom fights to save others - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Andrea Coopers's daughter Kristin committed suicide and Cooper later learned her daughter had been the victim of a sexual assault. Cooper turned that tragedy into a mission to save lives. She's been touring the country with a message of hope for the past 15 years.

She visited Bowling Green State University on Sunday to share her story and hopefully help others.

She advised the students in attendance to listen if a friend has been a victim. "Be a good listener. If your 're the one the person who was raped goes to, believe them. They say the reaction of the first person you tell determines how you heal."

Cooper says her daughter Kristin was raped by a friend while visiting home on college break in 1995 and that the daughter's boyfriend dumped her when she confided in him about the rape. Shortly afterward, Kristin committed suicide.

"That is why my message to the men is to important." Cooper said, "I feel that if he had been to presentation like this, he would know how to be supportive and understanding. But he totally did the wrong thing and just dumped her. And I really think that was the catalyst that led to her deep depression."

The event was sponsored by the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation. Kristin Cooper was a member of the sorority. Another Greek organization at BGSU, the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, experience the loss of a member from suicide recently. 

"Within the last year, our fraternity had a brush with one of our brothers committing suicide," said member Jacob Mendenhall. "So, we all felt it was our obligation to be here and support Alpha Chi Omega's organization and this story as well."

Counselors were on hand to meet privately with anyone in need of help after the event.