From a Broken Elephant to a Movement of Hope: The Story of The Yellow Elephant Ministries

This blog is part of our Power of Healing series, which explores powerful journeys of healing and recovery and the resilience that fuels them.

This month’s Power of Healing blog highlights The Yellow Elephant Ministries, celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Founded by Michelle Cope after the loss of her best friend to suicide, what began as a simple yellow elephant drawing to spark conversations about mental health has grown into a movement of hope, healing, and connection. Through community outreach, faith, and the Elephant Love Fund, Michelle and her team support families across Georgia and beyond.  Timely following Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September, Michelle reminds us that every story matters and that even in darkness, the light still shines.

Trigger warning: Mentions loss of life to suicide.

Ten years ago, I never imagined a simple drawing could become a symbol of healing for so many. The Yellow Elephant was born out of a heartbreaking loss that left a silence too heavy to ignore. My dear friend Christina died by suicide in 2012. Three years later, on October 12, 2015, while sitting in a Walmart parking lot, I had a revelation that changed everything. It was as if God whispered, “The elephant in the room is there, but nobody wants to talk about it.” 

That day, I went home and drew the yellow elephant that now lives on decals, tattoos, and in hearts across the country. What began as one drawing to honor Christina’s life became a ministry built on the belief that no one should ever feel like a burden, and that every story truly matters. 

The first few years were small but meaningful — a handful of decals, conversations in coffee shops, community talks, and prayer circles. People opened up about their losses, struggles, and silent battles. We cried together, prayed together, and started breaking the stigma around mental health and suicide. It wasn’t organized at first. It was simply love. People showing up for one another in moments of darkness. Little by little, The Yellow Elephant grew roots. 

The Reason for the Elephant in the Room 

In 2012, my best friend ended her life. Before her death, her family and friends were at a loss and didn’t know what else to do. The stigma around mental illness was heavy — it still is. We tried to protect her, but our hands were tied. 

Fast forward to the fall of 2015: I was sitting in a Walmart parking lot, thinking about my friend and her quiet love for elephants. She had an elephant in her room that was broken a few days before her death. That detail stayed with me. In that moment, I had a light-bulb realization that I know was God speaking to me. 

The “elephant in the room” became clear. Everyone knows mental illness is real, and suicide is a heartbreaking way out, but few feel comfortable talking about it or know how to. The stigma is powerful. People are afraid to seek help for fear of being labeled “crazy” or not taken seriously, often until it’s too late. 

That night, I drew the yellow elephant with the hope that people would see it and know they’re not alone. I wanted it to be simple enough that even a 10-year-old could understand, because tragically, 10 is the youngest age represented in suicide statistics in the United States. 

The Symbolism of the Elephant 

The elephant carries deep meaning. The elephant in the room represents the stigma — the truth many avoid discussing. The color yellow stands for light and hope. It’s inspired by John 1:5: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” It also reflects a light-bulb moment — the spark that started it all. The tusks are semicolons, symbolizing that your story isn’t over yet. The different colors of elephants represent solidarity — reminding us that suicide and mental illness do not discriminate. The lack of words is intentional. The elephant is meant to start conversations, not end them. 

Where We Are Now 

Today, The Yellow Elephant Ministries serves families and communities across countless counties in Georgia and beyond. We’ve walked alongside families not just here at home, but across the United States, in Canada, and even Ireland. 

Through the Elephant Love Fund, we’ve helped families facing the unthinkable — covering funeral costs, travel expenses, and counseling support when tragedy strikes. We’ve prayed with them, cried with them, and helped keep their loved one’s light shining through memorial decals. 

Over the years, The Yellow Elephant has worked with various organizations, Community Service Boards (CSBs), communities, schools on all levels, and privately with families. Together, we continue to bring prevention and postvention resources to areas that are often overlooked, building stronger and more connected networks of support. 

We’ve carried this message from foster parent trainings and suicide-prevention conferences to international presentations. Every time, the message remains the same: there is hope, and you are not alone. 

From Pain to Purpose 

When I look back, I see how God took something broken — Christina’s elephant — and turned it into a movement of hope. What started in a small corner of South Georgia has become a network of light, reaching across state lines and hearts. 

The Elephant isn’t about one person. It’s about all of us carrying the weight together, finding joy after mourning, and continuing to speak the names of those we’ve lost while shining hope for those still here. 

Because every story matters. 

Because no one is a burden. 

Because even in the darkest night — the light still shines. 

If You or Someone You Know Needs Support:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 for free, 24/7, confidential support.

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) — Resources for prevention, survivors, and education.

• Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) — 24/7 crisis support across Georgia (1-800-715-4225)

• Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) — A national hub offering training, technical assistance, evidence-based programs, and best practices in suicide prevention

• Resilient Georgia Resource Pages: A curated collection of guides, tools, and informational materials focused on promoting trauma-informed practices, resilience, and mental health for youth (ages 0–26) and their families. Its aim is to help providers, caregivers, and community members find accessible, relevant resources to support resilience and healing across Georgia, including mental health resources for specific populations and backgrounds.

Author Bio:

Michelle Cope is the Founder of The Yellow Elephant Ministries, a faith-based suicide awareness and prevention organization based in South Georgia. Inspired by the loss of her best friend and a powerful moment of revelation in 2015, Michelle turned grief into purpose — creating a ministry that helps families and communities break the silence around mental health and suicide.

She also serves as a Certified Care Specialist – Parent with Aspire’s IMPACT Program, where she supports families through lived experience, compassion, and connection. Through both roles, Michelle continues to partner with organizations, schools, and communities across Georgia to bring prevention, postvention, and hope to those who need it most.