Survivors of Suicide Loss Day event Saturday

By BARBARA ANN HORTON

Staff Writer

Loosing a loved one to suicide is traumatic and often tough for a friend or family member to recover.

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is an event in which survivors of suicide loss come together to find connection, understanding and hope through their shared experience.

The day is held every year before Thanksgiving and is hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Normally, the events are held in person, but due to COVID restrictions, this year’s event from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, will be a virtual statewide event. There is no charge to participate.

On this day, there will be events held all over the world to offer hope and healing to those who have lost a loved one to suicide, said Linda Fehrmann, president of the Missouri Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

“It doesn’t matter if the loss was very recent or some time ago,” Fehrmann said. “This is a day when survivors of suicide loss come together to find connection, understanding and hope through their shared experiences.

“The program helps loss survivors in that it is an opportunity to connect with others in their community who have been affected by suicide and who understand. It helps the loss survivors to realize that they are not alone.”

She explained the e-program will begin with a film from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention called “The Journey.”

The film depicts a variety of suicide loss survivors who talk about their losses and their journey toward healing.

“We will have a panel discussion of longer term loss survivors who will share their experiences,” she said. “The participants will then have the opportunity to join a breakout room according to their loss for interaction with loss survivors who have had a similar loss. We will end the day with a candlelight memorial of those lost to suicide.”

The agenda:

10 a.m. Welcome and Introduction

10:05 a.m. view “The Journey”

10:35 a.m. 10-minute break

10:45 a.m. Loss Survivor Panel Discussion

11:15 a.m. 10-minute break

11:25 a.m. Breakout sessions by loss

12:05 p.m. 5-minute break

12:10 p.m. Candlelight Memorial and closing

12:30 p.m. Adjourn

Those who are interested in attending may register at isosld.afsp.org. Non-Loss Survivors may also register to attend.

Host contacts include: AFSP Missouri Chapter: Phyllis Blackwelder, Missouri area director, email: pblackwelder@afsp.org; AFSP: Fehrman, Kellen Wolters, Nikki Thomas, Lauren Ross, Amber Stepp, Whitney Shumway and Megan Harter.

Rebeca Pacheco with the Butler County Community Resource Council and Rhonda Lesley with the Suicide Prevention Coalition of the Ozarks also are sponsors.