Memento Vivere — A Grief Memoir About Loss, Mental Health, and Living
Memento Vivere is a true story about loss, survival, and what happens when grief collides with shame, systems, and unanswered questions.
Written by Michigan author Dustin J. VerBeek — a father navigating grief and healing. after the death of his fourteen-year-old son, this book explores the reality of modern adolescence, mental health, alcohol, and the lasting impact of silence—on families, schools, and communities.
About the Book
Max VerBeek was a freshman. A twin. A kind, thoughtful teenager with a future still unfolding.
One night after a high school football game, everything changed—and life was divided into before and after.
Memento Vivere is a powerful grief memoir that traces the events leading up to that night and the months that followed through the eyes of a parent navigating unimaginable loss. This deeply personal story explores the realities of youth mental health, the weight of accountability, and how quickly ordinary moments can become permanent.
More than a memoir about loss, Memento Vivere is a reflection on silence, responsibility, and the urgent need for awareness around adolescent mental health. It asks difficult questions about how we listen, how we respond, and what it truly means to live with intention after tragedy.
This is not a book about blame.
It is a book about awareness, responsibility, and remembering what it means to live.
Teenagers Don’t Experience Shame as Temporary—They Experience It as the End.
—Memento Vivere—A memoir on grief, youth mental health, and the cost of silence
What Memento Vivere, A Grief Memoir Explores
- Teen mental health and adolescent shame
- Alcohol use and decision-making in youth
- Grief, trauma, and parental loss
- Bipolar disorder and addiction
- Faith, doubt, and survival
- The long-term impact of silence and inaction
- How families and communities respond after tragedy
The grief memoir is written with honesty and restraint, offering readers a clear-eyed look at grief without simplification or spectacle.
“Teenagers understand shame differently than adults do. To them, it feels absolute.”
—Memento Vivere—A memoir on grief, youth mental health, and the cost of silence
Why This Memoir Matters
Youth suicide and mental health challenges affect families in every community—urban and rural, large and small. These struggles do not belong to one type of household, one school system, or one set of circumstances. Memento Vivere adds a deeply personal voice to a conversation that is too often reduced to statistics, headlines, and abstract language.
By grounding the story in real places, real people, and real consequences, this memoir moves beyond numbers and theory to reveal the lived experience behind youth mental health crises. It invites readers to sit with the uncomfortable realities families face before, during, and long after tragedy—when public attention has moved on, but grief remains.
Through this honest narrative, readers are invited to better understand:
-How shame can overwhelm young minds, shaping silence and isolation in ways adults often fail to recognize.
-Why early intervention and attentive care matter, and how small moments of connection can change outcomes.
-How grief unfolds over time, continuing quietly and persistently long after the world expects healing to be complete.
Memento Vivere does not offer simple answers. Instead, it encourages awareness, empathy, and responsibility—reminding us that understanding youth mental health begins not with assumptions, but with listening.
Who This Book Is For
Memento Vivere may resonate with:
- Parents and caregivers
- Educators and school administrators
- Mental health professionals
- Faith leaders and counselors
- Readers of memoirs on grief and resilience
- Anyone interested in youth mental health and suicide prevention
It is especially relevant for readers seeking thoughtful, lived perspectives rather than abstract advice.
“There are moments that cleave a life cleanly in two. Everything before. Everything after.”
—Memento Vivere—A grief memoir, youth mental health, and the cost of silence
A Memoir Rooted in Real Life
Set in the Midwest and grounded in contemporary American life, Memento Vivere reflects the realities many families face today—social media pressure, adolescent vulnerability, institutional complexity, and the challenge of knowing when to step in.
The story does not offer easy answers.
It offers presence, reflection, and an honest account of survival.
“One hundred and thirty miles per hour is not a mistake. It is a decision made when the future feels unbearable.”
—Memento Vivere—A memoir on grief, youth mental health, and the cost of silence
Remember to Live
Memento Vivere is an invitation to pause, to notice, and to take mental health seriously—at home, in schools, and in our communities.
Not because tragedy demands attention,
but because life does.
Learn more about the book (Coming Soon)
Read Chapter One (Warning Graphic Content)
Join the conversation on youth mental health (Coming Soon)
About the Author
Dustin VerBeek is a Michigan-based author, digital strategist, and father whose work explores grief, mental health, accountability, and the will to remain alive after unimaginable loss.
Born and raised in West Michigan, Dustin brings a grounded, Midwestern voice to deeply human stories that many live through but few speak aloud. His writing is shaped by personal experience, professional rigor, and an unflinching commitment to truth. As the author of Memento Vivere—Latin for Remember to Live—he chronicles the aftermath of losing his son, Max, with rare honesty, examining not only grief itself but the systems, silences, and internal battles that surround it.
Dustin’s work sits at the intersection of memoir, mental health advocacy, and accountability. He writes for parents navigating loss, individuals living with bipolar disorder, and anyone searching for meaning after life fractures. His voice is direct, reflective, and unsanitized—offering neither platitudes nor easy resolutions, but clarity where confusion often lives.
In addition to his writing, Dustin has spent almost three decades in digital marketing and web strategy, helping organizations tell clearer stories and build trust through thoughtful communication. That background informs his approach as an author: intentional structure, emotional precision, and a deep respect for the reader.
Dustin lives and works in Michigan, where he continues to write, advocate, and speak openly about grief, mental health, sobriety, and survival—not as a destination, but as a daily choice.
Memento Vivere is his most personal work to date.
Memento Vivere isn’t fiction.
It’s what remains when grief strips everything else away.
Join readers who have found truth, validation, and courage in these pages.
👉 Buy now and begin the journey.
“Grief does not wound—it disembowels.”
—Memento Vivere—A memoir on grief, youth mental health, and the cost of silence
Questions Parents Often Ask
What kind of book is Memento Vivere for parents?
Memento Vivere is a memoir written by a parent, for parents. It explores grief, youth mental health, and the moments that can quietly shape a child’s inner world. The book is reflective rather than instructional, offering perspective instead of prescriptions.
Is this book meant to scare parents?
No. While the story is honest and emotionally difficult, it is not written to alarm or shame parents. The intent is awareness and understanding—not fear. Many parents describe it as sobering, reflective, and grounding rather than frightening.
Does the book suggest that parents are to blame?
No. Memento Vivere does not place blame on parents. It acknowledges the complexity of adolescence, mental health, and hindsight, and reflects on how easily critical moments can be missed even in loving, attentive families.
Will this book help me better understand what my child might be experiencing?
Many parents find that the book provides insight into how teenagers experience shame, pressure, and silence—especially in moments that feel temporary to adults but overwhelming to young people. It can help parents better recognize emotional weight that may not be outwardly visible.
Is this book appropriate for parents with young children?
The book is written for adult readers. Parents of younger children may still find value in its reflections on mental health, communication, and awareness, but the subject matter is best suited for mature audiences.
Should I read this if my child is struggling with mental health?
If your child is currently struggling, this book may resonate—but it should not replace professional guidance or support. Memento Vivere is a memoir, not a clinical or therapeutic resource. Parents are encouraged to seek professional help when concerns arise.
Does the book offer advice or steps parents should follow?
No. This is not a how-to guide or parenting manual. Instead, it offers lived experience and reflection, allowing parents to draw their own meaning and insights without being told what they should or should not have done.
Is this book appropriate to read alongside my teenager?
That depends on the teen and the family. Some parents may choose to read it privately first and decide whether discussion feels appropriate. The book contains difficult themes that may require thoughtful context and conversation.
Will this book make me feel hopeless?
While the subject matter is heavy, many parents describe the book as grounding rather than hopeless. It does not offer easy answers, but it affirms the importance of presence, communication, and paying attention; especially when life feels ordinary.
What do parents typically take away from this book?
Parents often take away:
- A deeper awareness of how adolescents process shame
- A renewed attention to communication and listening
- An understanding that grief and love can coexist
- A reminder that mental health deserves ongoing care, not just crisis response
Ready to Learn More?
If you’re a parent who thinks often about your child’s inner world—the things they say, the things they don’t, and the moments that shape them—Memento Vivere may resonate with you.
The book does not offer answers or instructions.
It offers perspective, reflection, and a deeply personal account of love, loss, and awareness.
You’re invited to explore the story at your own pace.
“If even one person had spoken up, he might still be here.”
—Memento Vivere—A grief memoir, youth mental health, and the cost of silence
Reader Praise
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Memento Vivere is one of those rare books that doesn’t try to comfort you, it sits with you. The honesty is devastating and beautiful at the same time. I didn’t just read this book, I felt it. It changed the way I think about grief, silence, and what it really means to keep living.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As a parent, this book broke me open. Not in a hopeless way, in a necessary way. Memento Vivere says the things so many of us are afraid to say out loud. Every parent, educator, and caregiver should read this. It’s painful, yes — but it’s also deeply human.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The writing in Memento Vivere is sharp, restrained, and deeply moving. There is no self-pity here, only truth. Dustin VerBeek writes with a courage that invites the reader to be brave, too.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As a faith leader, I’ve walked with families through grief, doubt, anger, and silence. Memento Vivere reflects that sacred, painful ground with uncommon honesty. This book does not offer easy answers or tidy theology — instead, it bears witness. It reminds us that faith is not about having the right words in suffering, but about staying present when words fail. I found this memoir deeply human, deeply reverent, and quietly profound. It is a gift to anyone wrestling with loss while still longing to believe that life is worth living.
Mental Health & Grief Resources
Visit National Alliance on Mental Illness for resources on grief and mental health.
If you’re looking for understanding and practical resources, Mental Health America provides accessible tools and support for those facing mental health struggles.
If you or someone you love needs help, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7 support.
Disclaimer
This book is based on the author’s personal experiences and reflections. While the events described are true to the author’s understanding, memory is subjective, and some details have been altered, condensed, or re-imagined for clarity and narrative flow. Names, identifying characteristics, locations, and certain circumstances have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, beyond those expressly acknowledged, is coincidental.
The perspectives expressed in this book are solely those of the author and do not claim to represent an objective or comprehensive account of events. This work is not intended to defame, misrepresent, or harm any individual or organization.
This book contains discussions of sensitive subjects, including but not limited to mental health, grief, trauma, loss, suicide, and emotional distress. Reader discretion is advised. The content is presented for literary and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, psychological, legal, or professional advice. Readers experiencing distress are encouraged to seek support from qualified professionals or trusted resources.
By continuing to read, you acknowledge that you are engaging with this material voluntarily and understand the nature of its content.