(NAPSA)—There could be help and hope for those in a devastating situation. A person dies by suicide every 18 minutes in the United States, and hundreds of thousands of family members, friends and coworkers—“survivors”—are left behind to cope with their pain and their questions. Thousands of these survivors of suicide from across the nation will join together for support, healing, information and empowerment on Saturday, November 22, as part of the Fifth Annual National Survivors of Suicide Day, sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Linking over 50 simultaneous local survivor conferences across the U.S. through a live satellite broadcast, National Survivors of Suicide Day helps survivors express and understand the powerful and troubling emotions they experience, and connect with others who have survived the tragedy of losing someoneto suicide. The program will feature panel discussions and a scientific presentation. The event is broadcast live on www.afsp.org. An online chat immediately following the Webcast enables survivors nationwide to connect with others and share their stories. “The purpose of National Survivors of Suicide Day is support and healing—to let survivors know that they are not alone,” said Robert Gebbia, executive director of AFSP, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to funding suicide research and developing suicide prevention initiatives and education programs. “This year’s enhanced Webcast and online chat will help reach an even broader audience of survivors nationwide, especially those who may not live near a conference site or be ready to attend in person.” For more information, log on to www.afsp.org.
