International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day

On Saturday, November 23, Hospice of San Luis Obispo County (Hospice SLO County) will sponsor a series of events promoting a sense of community and healing for suicide loss survivors. San Luis Obispo is one of hundreds of locations worldwide in which survivors of suicide loss will gather on this day to connect with and find support from one another. Hospice SLO County will join The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to offer a special program for those who have lost someone to suicide. At 11 a.m., the program will begin with a presentation of Pathways to Healing, a new AFSP-produced Survivor Day documentary that traces the grief and healing journey following a suicide loss. The presentation will be followed by a discussion and a light lunch. From 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., Marriage and Family Therapist/Art Therapist Anne Kellogg will hold a workshop using art to express feelings related to a loss by suicide. Registration is not required, but greatly helps with planning “This day is an opportunity for people who have lost somebody to suicide to be with others who have shared that experience,” said Tony Huffaker, Director of Counseling at Hospice SLO County. “To interact with others who have had a similar experience can be invaluable.”