Breaking the Stigma

June 29, 2026

 

We often talk about the power of community, but true community means showing up for one another—not just during our professional victories or Mental Health Awareness Month or when it’s convenient, but through life’s most profound challenges.

To break the stigma that surrounds mental health struggles and suicide loss, we must be willing to have difficult, open, and deeply honest conversations.

Hospital Manager Allyson Mihalko knows the weight of this firsthand. Allyson tragically lost her daughter, Shyla, to suicide in 2023. Shyla spent her young adult life working with troubled teens before becoming a probation officer in Denver, where she had a positive impact on individuals living through their darkest times. She was determined to make the world a better place for her own daughter, and did so while simultaneously fighting her own battle with Borderline Personality Disorder.

 

"I want Shyla to be remembered as the person she was, not just being remembered for how she died. She was so much more than the worst day of her life,” Allyson shared. “She was a daughter, an amazing mother, someone who lived her life trying to help people. She had to fight demons in her head every day and I want people to know how incredibly courageous she was in accomplishing the things she did while, at the same time, fighting one of the most difficult mental illnesses there are.”

 

Finding a Safe Space to Process the Indescribable

In the immediate aftermath of losing Shyla, the world stood still for Allyson while everyone else kept moving. "The grief was overwhelming, and I was trying to just get through basic functions while carrying a level of pain that is still indescribable," she recalled.

Navigating the complex layers of suicide loss—the guilt, the anger, the endless questions—felt impossible to do alone, yet the energy required to search for a therapist felt entirely out of reach. After struggling to find a deep connection with local counselors on her own, Allyson explored additional resources offered through Vetcor and, in doing so, discovered Lyra as a potential support option. 

"The fact that it was easy access made a huge difference," Allyson said. "I didn’t have the energy to continue looking for a counselor on my own, and Lyra helped remove those boundaries."

Through Lyra, Allyson was quickly connected with a telemedicine counselor who provided a vital lifeline.

"My therapist has given me a safe place to say the things that are the hardest to say out loud. She has helped me to understand that this is something I won’t ever 'get over.’ It’s something I have to learn to carry,” she said.

Allyson’s therapist has provided her with grounding techniques, skills for coping with PTSD, and has been there to listen during her darkest moments, helping manage the overwhelming emotions that come with losing a child to suicide. Through consistent support, Allyson has discovered that healing doesn't mean leaving her daughter behind.

"I miss her every single day, but my therapist has helped me learn that it is possible to carry both grief and love at the same time. Talking about Shyla, sharing her story, and honoring her memory are some of the ways I continue to carry her forward."

 

A Message of Courage for Veterinary Professionals

If you are currently navigating a heavy personal loss, struggling with your own mental health, or feeling hesitant about reaching out for professional support, Allyson wants you to know that you do not have to carry your burdens in silence.

"You do not have to carry pain alone," Allyson said. "Whether you are struggling with mental health challenges, grief, or something else entirely, asking for help is not weakness. It is courage. Give yourself permission to take the first step. You don’t have to have the right words, and you don’t have to be in crisis to seek support."

By sharing her journey, Allyson hopes to extend a lifeline to anyone else sitting on the fence about seeking care.

"While therapy cannot take away that pain, it gave me support, guidance, and a tiny glimmer of hope during the most difficult time of my life," she said. "If sharing my story encourages just one person to seek help, or helps another grieving person feel less alone, then sharing is worth it—and I can’t think of a better way to honor my daughter than helping someone in need as she always did when she was alive."

 

Need Support Right Now?

National Crisis Lifeline: If you or a loved one are experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, please call or text 988 for free, confidential support available 24/7.
 

Thank you, Allyson, for taking the initiative to help break the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health. To the veterinary community, remember that no one should carry the weight of hard days alone, especially in a profession built on care and compassion. Please reach out if you are struggling.