Holiday grief strikes Slidell before Christmas [Video]

Friends and family are mourning the loss of a beloved retired elementary school teacher from Slidell. The St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office confirmed that 43-year-old Kacie Kerlec died by suicide earlier this week. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one person dies by suicide every 11 minutes. Mental health experts warn that the holiday season can heighten emotional challenges, especially for those already struggling or those grieving the loss of a loved one earlier in the year.Monique Gregoire, the coordinator of Outreach at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Mandeville, highlighted the added stress many face during the holidays.“Think about the person who just lost a loved one, and this is their first Christmas without them,” she said. “Think about the parent choosing between putting groceries on the table and buying gifts for their kids. There are so many factors.”Monique advises watching for warning …