Showing Support for Survivors of Suicide

Tomorrow, November 19th, National Survivors of Suicide Day will be observed in the United States.  These days of mental health observance create a societal shift from mental illness and suicide stigma towards a platform of awareness about the incidence of mental illness and ways to aid its prevention.  However, as important as it is to focus attention on educating the masses on how to “Know the Signs,” or to understand the importance behind the tagline “Pain Isn’t Always Obvious,” it is also essential for us to show our support for the friends and family of people who have attempted or completed suicide.

Let’s spread the word about resources and events in the Bay Area that are ready to support you or someone you may know on National Survivors of Suicide Day. Remember, however you choose to participate on November 19^th, the strength of love and comfort is found in communal unity.

 

Local Events:

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)– Greater San Francisco organized gathering all over Northern California to offer support and practice healing as a community. Additionally, the AFSP documentary, Life Journeys: Reclaiming Life after Loss, will be shown and additional programming is specific to each event and may include presentations by loss survivors and mental health professionals, as well as small group discussions that bring together people who have experienced similar losses.

All events will be held on November 19^th, 2016.

Time: 8:30 – 11:30am Eureka, CA: St. Joseph Hospital, Conference Center 1 2700 Dolbeer Street Eureka, California  95501	Time: 9am – 11:30am Fremont, CA: Ohlone College, Building 7 43600 Mission Boulevard Fremont, California  94587	Time: 8:30am – 12:30pm Livermore, CA: Hope Hospice, Inc., Suite 100 6377 Clark Avenue Dublin, California  94568	Time: 9am – 12pm Palo Alto, CA: CHC 650 Clark Way Palo Alto, California  94304
Time: 10am – 2pm Seaside, CA: Veterans Administration Monterey Outpatient Clinic 3401 Engineer Lane Seaside, California  93955	Time: 9am – 12pm San Francisco, CA: UCSF Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute 401 Parnassus Avenue San Francisco, California  94143	Time: 11am – 3pm Santa Rosa, CA: Sonoma County YMCA 1111 College Ave nue Santa Rosa, California  95124	Time: 9am – 12pm: Walnut Creek, CA: John Muir Health TBD Walnut Creek, California  94596

Resources:

• Helping others or yourself recover from losing a loved one as they grieve can be a difficult process – especially if unsure of what to say or do. Friends For Survival, Inc. offers an amazing way to remember the keys to help the healing process, called the Six T’s: Time, Tears, Talk, Touch, Trust, and Toil.
• To find local grief support groups, please visit the American Association of Suicidiology to search for opportunities for self-help or supporting others. Additionally, if you know a child or teen who is grieving, please visit Children’s Grief Awareness Day, which is on November 17^th, to learn how to their grief-recovery.

 

Article by Chenece Blackshear, Intern with the Office of Diversity and Equity