Today is the 11th annual National Survivors of Suicide Day, a series of nationwide conferences to support healing and suicide prevention. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers online information if you or someone you know is contemplating suicide. For immediate assistance, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).


What is National Survivors of Suicide Day?

National Survivors of Suicide Day is a day of healing for those who have lost someone to suicide. It was created by U.S. Senate resolution in 1999 through the efforts of Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, who lost his father to suicide. Every year, AFSP sponsors an event to provide an opportunity for the survivor community to come together for support, healing, information and empowerment.


www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/19/suicide.survivors.irpt/index.h tml

http://www.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_ ID=FEE7D778-CF08-CB44-DA1285B6BBCF366E


This is very dear to me as I have lost friends in high school to suicide as well as suffer from Bipolar I and have had suicidal tendencies and numerous near fatal attempts during severe depressive episodes.

Although I always have these thoughts through medication and therapy I am able to keep it under control.

I wanted to be sure that others knew about this and are aware that there is help available and that they are not alone.

It is never something to be ashamed of.

The shame would be if you do not reach out to others to seek help.

 VERY interesting, Teena, and thanks so much for posting about this ..  

 I was not aware there was a day to remember the victims of suicide, whi*****lude not only the deceased but their friends and family.    

 I have long had a dream of a national memorial for the victims of suicide some day, something perhaps along the lines of  the H & R Block family's Cancer Memorial in K.C.,  or the Vietnam Veteran's Wall in D.C.   

 In fact, I posted on the main forum my idea on this a couple of years ago, to see what people would think of my vision, but I was shocked at the overwhelming number of responses that said it would not be a good idea, that it was an outright bad/stupid idea, and such ..  These folks basically seemed to hold those who committed suicide contemptuously, as being someone who took the easy way out, "cowards of life", or some such ..   and questioned why we would want to even remember them, much less build a "shrine" to them   ...  Very sad to learn that so many  people felt that way (I wonder how many of them actually lost someone they loved to suicide?  )  ..  

   You posting gives me hope again on this dream, and I may contact the dear Senator's office about my idea to see if he can give it some impetus ..  

That is sad.

Most of them have probably never experienced the loss of a friend or a loved one from suicide hence their stupidity on the subject.

I for one am glad that a day like this has been created so we all can remember our loved ones in a dignified manner and bring awareness to the prevention of suicide.

Bringing awareness to the prevention of suicide is commendable, and I would love to see that happen. Bringing awareness to the true victims of suicide - the family and loved ones who are left behind - is also commendable.

Glorifying the act of suicide and the people who have committed that act? Not so much.

And this is coming from me - I have lost the following people to suicide:

My father - July 27th, 2003.
My cousin - December 25th, 1996
My best friend - November 14th, 1995
My grandfather - April 21, 1996

Jackie,

Thank you for being open and honest with your loss from suicide.

I too have lost an aunt and uncle on my biological fathers side and friends in high school.

I do not see this day as glorification of suicide, but some do and that is a stigma that needs to be erased.

The day is to remember their lives and not glorify their last act on earth.

The more people that understand that the better off we will be.

Once again thank you for sharing.

I see this day as recognizing the true victims of suicide which are the loved ones that are left behind - and until YOU have personally dealt with a family member or loved one that has committed suicide, I don't expect you to understand where I'm coming from.

If a national memorial is built, then it too should honor the family members and loved ones, not the person that committed suicide. To me, that would simply glorify an act that is truly not worthy of such a thing.

I guess I see it as both ways.

It remembers both the life of the person who committed suicide and the survivors for me.

I know that I was left with a lot of questions and feelings of abandonment afterwards.

The recognition of our pain after a friend or a loved one is something that needed to be addressed as well.

It took me a while to come to terms with it, but I have done so.

I hope you have been able to as well.

Thanks for posting this Teena, you always share such important things with everyone. I think this time of year can be a depressing year for alot of people with holidays and all.  I have always gotten depressed around thanksgiving and lasts until January so it's good to bring this to light for everyone to see that it really does exist.  Hope you are well and all is good.  maryjo

 Not only are the Holidays a "depressor", but keep in mind this is also the shortest time of the year (days are the shortest), which has a profound negative effect on persons afflicted with S.A.D.D..s  (Seasonal-Affective Depression Disorder), caused by the decreaed amount of daily sunlight/UV exposure ..  

 It's always worth it, IMHO, for anyone who experiences heightened depression during the fall and winter months to get checked out for S.A.D.D.s.   

I agree, but I know for me it is my Bipolar I.

Thank goodness my meds and therapy keep it all under control or I'd be in a lot of trouble.