National Suicide Survivor's Day

[rainyday]

On Saturday, November 21, 2009, simultaneous conferences for survivors of suicide loss will take place throughout the U.S. and internationally. This unique network of healing conferences helps survivors connect with others who have survived the tragedy of suicide loss, and express and understand the powerful emotions they experience.

Each conference site is organized locally, but they’re all connected in spirit as participants across the globe watch a special 90-minute AFSP broadcast together on that day. In the U.S., conference sites will show the broadcast together from 1-2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and international sites will show it from 1-2:30 p.m. local time. Many conference sites plan their own local programs around the broadcast, including panels and breakout groups, all aimed at helping survivors heal.

Info about the screenings here

This event takes place every year the Saturday before Thanksgiving. If you've lost a loved one to suicide, please consider attending a screening of the conference at a local location. I went to one last year and it was well worth it. This year I think I'll just watch it online, but I'd recommend going to a screening in person at least once. There's something powerful about being in a room with others who exquisitely understand the same feeling of loss.

Some general stats from that site:

• Over 33,000 people in the United States die by suicide every year.

• In 2006 (latest available data), there were 33,300 reported suicide deaths.

• Suicide is fourth leading cause of death for adults between the ages of 18 and 65 years in the United States, with 27,321 suicides.

•*Currently, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States.

• A person dies by suicide about every 16 minutes in the United States. An attempt is estimated to be made once every minute.

• Ninety percent of all people who die by suicide have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death.

• There are four male suicides for every female suicide, but three times as many females as males attempt suicide.

• Every day, approximately 90 Americans take their own life, and 2,300 more attempt to do so.

 

[saucywench]

 

[DeniseW]