ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Julia Bowen is making it her life’s mission to raise awareness about suicide. One way is by spreading memorial rocks with motivational messages everywhere she goes.  

“I think leaving the rock is very special, because I can just leave it right here on the bench for somebody who’s out here enjoying a beautiful day at the park and hopefully bring them some joy, bring them a moment of happiness,” said Bowen, as she placed a rock on a bench at Raymond Neri Park in St. Petersburg, where she and her son, Andrew, used to spend time together.

She paints or marks the rocks with messages like: “Your Life Matters,” “One Day at a Time,” and “In Loving Memory.” Many of the rocks also have her son’s name on them.

He died by suicide six years ago.

She hopes by sharing her story, people will find hope.

“I think you never know what people are going through and I think that might be a very important message for somebody to hear today,” said Bowen of the motivational messages.

Bowen recently added random acts of kindness to her cause of spreading awareness and hope.

“If I didn’t have hope, I wouldn’t have a lot,” said Bowen. “So, I hope that one day is better. I hope that somebody finds this rock and has a good day because of me, and because of this rock and because of my son. That would make me smile.”

Bowen is also keeping her son’s memory alive by launching an agency the two had planned to start together.

“I do know that he’s here encouraging me,” said Bowen.

“A Better Approach” serves people with developmental disabilities. Andrew, who had Asperger’s Syndrome, was an advocate for people with the condition and Bowen has more than 40 years of experience as a social worker. She hopes expanding her efforts with the agency will help align services for people with developmental disabilities and mental illness.

“That can mean supported living coaching, it can mean supported employment, it can mean personal supports in people’s homes to be able to allow them to stay in their homes, where they're most comfortable and with their loved ones,” said Bowen.

Bowen hopes the new agency and raising awareness reach more people.

“I think motivational messages are really important and so one of them says to don’t give up,” she said.

Through grief, this mom finds purpose in helping others.

“I remember saying very clearly, ‘I’ll never be happy and I’ll never have joy,’ but you know what? I do and that joy really comes from here,” she said. “It comes from within and it comes from these rocks and it also comes from helping other people.”

A mom spreading hope, while leaving a legacy for her son.

“It just does my heart good to know that somebody’s going to be able to find that and smile,” said Bowen.

There are memorial rocks for Andrew and others who died by suicide in 90 countries and more than 4,500 places. Many are posted on Andrew’s Memorial Facebook Page.

If you or know a loved one struggling with mental health, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or visit the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay's website.