Suicide Survivorship: Marisa Tracey, wife of the late MWO Daniel Tracey

Marisa Tracey - mother, wife and widow of the late Master Warrant Officer Daniel Tracey, who died by suicide on October 13, 2022 - courageously talks about living with and loving a military man who battled mental health and PTSD until his suicide. Marisa discusses surviving Dan’s suicide and learning how to heal herself and her family. What is the definition of survivorship? Survivorship literally means the act of surviving and the further recognition that there is more to life after the suicide of a loved one than just surviving. A husband, father, friend and colleague - at the age of 46, MWO Daniel Basil Tracey ended his life by suicide. With a military career spanning over 21 years, Dan joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Royal Canadian corps of Signals (RCCS) in 2002 as a Signals Operator. After serving with the 2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2 CMBG), as a member of 2 CMBG HQ and Signal Squadron and subsequently of 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, Dan joined the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM). Dan was an expert in his field, a leader, a mentor, a brother in arms, and a loyal friend. Everyone would say that they didn’t see the signs leading up to Dan taking his life, but looking back, he struggled terribly with mental health and PTSD/PTSI. In the words of his widow, “Dan knew how to save everyone, he just didn’t know how to save himself.”