![]() Texting "nice" to 741741 (Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan Crisis Text Line) is a good way to cool down and get some positive coping mechanisms to manage how you're feeling right now. ![]() If you are using self-harm to manage your emotions, we want you to pause and reach out to one of the numbers above. Emotions can be really painful sometimes. If you are thinking of harming yourself or you are in emotional distress, please reach out. The Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan educates all ages to recognize the signs of mental illness.Īs the go-to source for mental health education, the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan educates communities, schools, workplaces, faith communities, and individuals of all ages to recognize the signs of mental illness and have the confidence to take action when helping themselves or others using the be nice. The International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day event will take place at the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, 160 South West 68th St., Suite 120. Just seeing that you're not alone, that could be enough for some people - to be gentle with yourself and realize that everyone grieves differently.” Maybe you just want to listen this year, and you don't want to share or ask a question. “If you walk in, and you need to walk out, we all understand because we've all been there. “There are no expectations of you having to get out of the car when you park in the parking lot,” Olson says. Olson recommends that those thinking of attending for the first time take the event at their comfort level. After hearing their story, Olson says it may be uncomfortable for a survivor of suicide loss to say their loved one died on purpose - even though mental illness is as much of a disease as cancer is.ĭue to the complexity of suicide grief, events like this can be uncomfortable or overwhelming to guests. Grief support groups not focused on suicide grief may include people whose loved ones died after living with a disease like cancer for years. Therapy for suicide loss survivors addresses unique situations other patients may not experience. program, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services and Forest View Hospital will have information about their services including therapy and suicide education. In addition to Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan and its be nice. ![]() ![]() Taylor will offer a clinical perspective to the discussion and work with anyone who begins to feel overwhelmed and needs to speak with a professional during the event.Īs guests socialize, they will have opportunities to visit a range of attending organizations to learn about the services they offer. The Ursos will speak about the loss of their son and how they were moved to create their organization, the work it has accomplished, and how it provides support for survivors.Īs moderator for the event’s discussions, clinician Ben Taylor specifically counsels people who have lost someone to suicide. The Ursos are cofounders of Kevin’s Song, a nonprofit they created after the death of their son that is dedicated to suicide prevention and supporting loss survivors.Ĭlinician Ben Taylor will moderate the event. The five-hour event also includes panel discussions and keynote speakers Gail and John Urso. "Be gentle with yourself and realize that everyone grieves differently.” “It just gives them a place to connect and know that they're not alone on this day.” “We tend to find that people hear others with very similar stories to their own, whether it was a loss of a spouse or a child,” Olson says. The color-coded honor beads help guests find other people who have experienced similar losses. Different colors represent parents, siblings, and friends or communicate if the person wearing them is attending to support others. These signify the loved ones whom they have lost. “We actually close out the day by turning the lights down, lighting some candles, playing a song, and having one of our team members read the names of those that have been lost by those in attendance that day.”Ī station where guests can make multicolor honor beads to wear. “It’s a really important part of our day … a reading of the names,” says board member Rebecca Olson. As people arrive, Rebecca Olson and her father, who died by suicide.those attending can write the names of people they want to honor on cards placed on the dining tables. The event is held annually on the Saturday before Thanksgiving as the holidays are a particularly difficult time of year for loss survivors. ![]() On November 18, the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan will host the West Michigan Survivors of Suicide Loss annual event, which brings together people impacted by a death by suicide. The Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan will host the West Michigan Survivors of Suicide Loss 2023 event. ![]()
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