save a life prevent a suicide

Support Group Facilitator e-Bulletin
January 2011

* Drop-in Conference Calls for Facilitators
* Facilitating Suicide Bereavement Support Groups for Children and Teens
* AAS/AFSP 23rd Healing After Suicide Conference


Drop-in Conference Calls for Facilitators
Whether you're brand new or have been running a group for years, learn how to become a more effective facilitator. Join us in these open forums for asking questions and engaging in interactive discussions moderated by Wendy Resnick, a member of AFSP's facilitator training corps.

Tuesday, January 11th - 8:30 pm Eastern / 7:30 pm Central / 6:30pm Mountain / 5:30pm Pacific
Wednesday, January 12th - 4:00 pm Eastern / 3:00 pm Central / 2:00 pm Mountain / 1:00 pm Pacific

They're free -just dial in to 800-270-1153 and enter passcode 146300#. (To participate from outside the U.S., please contact us in advance at survivingsuicideloss@afsp.org or 212-363-3500 x33.)

Full schedule January-May, 2011


NEW TRAINING PROGRAM:
Facilitating Suicide Bereavement Support Groups for Children and Teens

Cincinnati, OH on March 4-5, 2011: Details and Registration
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Developed in collaboration with The Dougy Center for Grieving Children & Families, this new hands-on training program is designed for adults who are interested in learning the how-to's of creating and facilitating a peer support group for children and teens ages 5-18. The two-day program is conducted by experts in the field of childhood bereavement and experienced support group facilitators, and combines lecture, interactive discussion, and practice activities with individualized feedback.

While the training will focus primarily on suicide bereavement, it will also be of help to those wishing to facilitate a general grief support group for children and teens. You don't need to be a mental health professional or have experience working with children to attend - you only need an interest in helping children and teens cope with the death of someone in their lives. Attendees must be 18 or older.

Questions? Please email survivingsuicideloss@afsp.org or call 1-888-333-AFSP (2377), ext 33.


AAS/AFSP 23rd Healing After Suicide Conference:
Living through the Legacy of Suicide: Hope and Healing for those Bereaved

Saturday, April 16, 2011 in Portland, OR

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and the American Association for Suicidology (AAS) present this annual one-day conference for survivors of suicide loss, support group facilitators, mental health professionals, and interested others in order to:

* Provide survivors with educational tools and resources to help with their individual journey of healing and transform their experience into action
* Assist mental health professionals and other caregivers in understanding the needs of survivors
* Provide assistance to facilitators of survivor support groups

The day-long program will begin with a presentation entitled, “Stories Left to Tell” by Kathie Russo, survivor of the suicide of her husband, playright Spalding Gray, followed by sharing and educational sessions. Topics covered include:

* Is Suicide the Result of a Diseased Brain?
* Grief After Suicide: Where Should the Survivor Movement be Headed?
* Hearing from Teens and Young Adults: What They can Teach us about Ways to Support Them After a Suicide Death
* Survivors in Action--Suicide Prevention and Education Advocacy 101
* Suicide Postvention in Schools
* A Changed Bond: Messages from those Who have Died
* In Treatment: When Clinicians and Families Meet

Learn more (Information about the Healing After Suicide Conference starts on page 20)
Register online now. Registration is being coordinated by the American Association of Suicidology (AAS). If you have questions, please email info@suicidology.org or call (202) 237-2280.