People are not alone when they lose someone to suicide. That’s the message the Suicide Prevention Resource Centre wants to spread this Saturday. On November 17th, it will be holding Survivors of Suicide Loss Day at Nordic Court in Grande Prairie.
Program Coordinator Faris Jean Atkinson says the event provides a safe space for people to come and talk to others also dealing with a loss.
“Sometimes it’s really hard to talk about. Sometimes it’s really hard to find a safe place that you can talk about it so this is an opportunity where we can all gather and talk about the people that we’ve lost.”
International Survivors of Suicide Loss day was first started in the United States in 1999. Atkinson attended one of the first events ever held in Canada in Calgary around 10 years ago and decided she would bring it to Grande Prairie.
At this year’s event, there will be a video presentation, a ceremony and a full lunch provided. People are also encouraged to bring a photo of their loved one. Atkinson says she really wants people who come to the event to know that they are not alone.
“It’s that sense of belonging and that sense of hope. You don’t have to go through this on your own. It can be very, very difficult to move through the healing process when you’ve lost somebody to suicide. To be able to have those connections and to know that there are other people out there that are going through a similar thing as you.”
The event will take place at 12 p.m. at the SPRC training room at Nordic Court.