Honoring Your Grief Journey: Paths to Recovery

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1 Honoring Your Grief Journey: Paths to Recovery Sue Roche: Community Liaison, Carson J. Spencer Foundation Erin Ivie: Executive Director SpeakUpReachOut, AFSP Policy Advocate Stephanie Carlsen, MA, LPC, NCC

2 Honoring Your Grief Journey: Paths to Recovery 8:30am: Introductions and Overview 8:40am: Art Therapy and Journaling 9:30am: Break 9:40am: Advocacy and Action, Getting Involved 10:20am: Break 10:30am: Yoga and Breathing Techniques 11:25am: Wrap Up and Evaluations

3 Honoring Your Grief Journey: Paths to Recovery Grief never ends But it changes. It s a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith It is the price of love. -Unknown

4 Honoring Your Grief Journey: Ground Rules: Paths to Recovery Please turn off or silence your cell phones Be mindful that everyone s grief journey is different. Feel free to share your experience and what has helped you. We want to help each other. We will be available to talk if additional help or resources are needed.

5 Advocacy and Action One Suicide Loss Survivors Story and Journey to Healing

6 Erin s Story of Suicide Loss Luke McNeil May 19, 1984 May 15, 2007

7 Out of the Darkness Walk Chair of the 2012 Eagle Valley Out of the Darkness Walk for AFSP. Raised over $20,000 for suicide prevention and research. Shared the journey with more than 100 other suicide loss survivors.

8 Joining SpeakUpReachOut-2012 Became involved as a volunteer for the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Eagle County. Found out about the organization in the newspaper. Made a conscious effort to educate myself about suicide.

9 SpeakUpReachOutCommunity Walk Chaired the 2013 Community walk and Heartbeat Memorial Balloon Launch. Rain or Shine people still showed up for the event. I remember reminding our participants that walking 3 miles in the rain likely did not compare to the pain that our loved ones felt when they died by suicide. 2013

10 Getting Trained and Training the Public Became a QPR Trainer. Learned the Signs of Suicide Act, Care and Tell training. Took Applied Suicide Intervention Skill Training.

11 Public Policy Advocate for AFSP Work to promote legislation by contacting your State Congressmen and Women. Learn about the legislation and public policy around suicide prevention. Advocacy Forum Feb Visit Washington DC Promote public policy Hear keynote speakers on a variety of topics around suicide prevention.

12 SpeakUpReachOutCommunity Walk 2014 Gave a young lady who lost her dad to suicide an opportunity to share her story. The sharing and support that happens at these walks is so inspirational.

13 SpeakUpReachOut Recognized for Service Tri Club Rotary Public Safety Awards. That moment when you know what you are doing in the community IS making a difference.

14 2015 SpeakUp ReachOut Our programs take off. Organizations come to us instead of us going to them. Our Vice President loses her brother to suicide on Christmas Day, 2014 we hold the walk in memory of him in I re-live the death of Luke and realize maybe I never actually dealt with his death.

15 Getting Involved Suicide Prevention and Loss Survivor Support Efforts

16 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Out of the Darkness Overnight 1-2 Overnight Walks are held annually in major metropolitan destinations. Raise funds for AFSP; minimum required to participate. Walk overnight more than 16 miles. May 21- San Francisco June 4 New York City TheOvernight( ) Colorado Campus & Community Walks Held in a variety of communities annually. Raise funds for AFSP-CO Chapter; no fee to participate. Fundraiser incentives Walk 3-5 miles Denver Metro- Sept. 24 Fort Morgan Oct. 1 SE Colorado Oct. 1 code=co

17 One Survivors Journey No one s journey is the same. We can empathize with each other, but to truly understand how I feel is not possible. It was at the Overnight that I finally began to feel like I wasn t alone, and that Matt s death wasn t my fault. -DenaeErickson-Pottembaum, HuffPostArticle, Suicide Loss Survivor

18 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Denver Metro Community Walk 2015 Video

19 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Volunteer for the AFSP CO Chapter

20 International Survivors or Suicide Loss Day Saturday before Thanksgiving November 19, 2016 Plan or attend one in your community Link to Trailers for Documentaries

21 Field Advocate Our Public Policy team gives our volunteers the tools they need to advocate for suicide prevention at both the state and federal levels. Field Ambassador Lead AFSP Chapter Advocacy and Public Policy Committee activities at the state and local level. Annual Advocacy Forum and State Capitol Days AFSP organizes advocacy days in DC and at state capitols to meet with our representatives and encourage them to support suicide prevention policies. Public Policy Internships Are you an undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate student seeking an internship in the field of advocacy and public policy? If so, we hope you will consider an internship with AFSP s Advocacy and Public Policy Office.

22 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention September 9-11, 2016 Chicago, IL

23 Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado The Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado (SPCC) was formed in 1999, whenconcerned citizens set out to create a statewide agency with the purpose of preventing suicide and creating a resource network for those who were working to prevent suicide around the state. Today, SPCC s membership of concerned agencies, organizations and individuals who are working in the areas of suicide prevention, intervention and postventionhas statewide reach. Directory of State Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Resources Statewide Directory of Resources info@suicidepreventioncolorado.org Membership levels from $50-$1850

24 Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado Advocacy is one of the core parts of SPCC'smission. As a single voice of hundreds of individuals and dozens of organizations across Colorado, SPCC is able to effect change among policymakers and ensure that suicide prevention and mental health stay on the legislative agenda. To get put on the SPCC advocacy list, and stay up-to-date on issues involving suicide prevention and mental health policy, info@suicidepreventioncolorado.org Advocacy Action Alert: Zero Suicide Model SB 088 SPCC Advocacy Toolkit SPCC Advocacy Webinar Visit SPCC Advocacypage to learn more.

25 Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado SPCC Educational Sessions and Meetings April - Clinician Loss of Client to Suicide May - Bridging the Divide Summit June Mental Health & the Criminal Justice System July Veterans and Military Topics or interest? Possible presenters?

26 Local Suicide Prevention Coalitions Get involved locally: Teach in Schools Health Fair Booth Farmers Markets Spread the Word Find a Coalition Peer Mentors Share your Story Reduce Stigma Make a Difference

27 Local Suicide Prevention Coalitions

28 Local Suicide Prevention Coalitions

29 Getting Trained in Suicide Prevention Living Works: SafeTALK ASIST Carson J Spencer Foundation: Working Minds The Fire Within Other Educational Resources: ManTherapy.org Question, Persuade and Refer Signs of Suicide-School Program SPRC.org

30 HEARTBEAT A peer support group offering empathy, encouragement and direction following the suicide loss of a loved one. Heartbeat Website Founded by LaRita Archibald Join a group for continued healing. Start a group in areas that do not have a chapter.

31 A Quick Reminder You are a survivor of suicide loss. And survival takes strength, tenacity, courage and resilience. -Deborah Greene