National Suicide Survivors Day

From Christina Benton, Suicide Prevention Manger, Virginia Department of Health

On November 19, 2011, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) will sponsor an event to provide an opportunity for the survivor community to come together for support, healing, and information. Simultaneous conferences for survivors of suicide loss will take place throughout the U.S. and internationally.
Each conference site is organized locally, but they’re all connected in spirit as participants across the globe watch a special 90-minute AFSP broadcast together. In the U.S., conference sites will show the broadcast together from 1-2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

In Virginia, there are four local conference sites taking part in this event. These events are taking place in Fishersville, Richmond, Salem, and Woodbridge. For information about each of the four events please see the contact information included at the bottom of this email.

For those survivors of suicide loss who don't live near a conference site or who find it difficult to attend in person, the 90-minute broadcast will also be available live on the AFSP website from 1-2:30 pm, Eastern Standard Time, with a live online chat immediately following the program. It will then be saved on the website so that survivors can watch it again throughout the year at anytime.

To register to watch from your home computer or to learn more about the event, please use the following link, http://www.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=FEE7D778-CF08-CB44-DA1285B6BBCF366E

Information on Local Virginia Conference Sites (all will take place on Saturday, November 19, 2011)

FISHERSVILLE
Augusta Health Community Care Building, 64 Sports Medicine Drive, Fishersville, VA 22939
Conference Starts: 12:30 p.m. EST
Contact: Nancy Koplin, nkoplin@augustahealth.com, 540-332-4012

RICHMOND
Richmond Public Library, 101 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23219
Conference Starts: 12:30 pm EST
Contact: Ashlee Witt, richmond.afsp@gmail.com, 804-894-7158

SALEM
Education Center Auditorium/Lewis-Gale Medical Center, 1900 Electric Road, Salem, VA 24153 Conference Starts: 12:30 pm EST
Website: www.mharv.com
Contact: Diane Kelly (MHA of Roanoke Valley), mharv@infionline.net, 540-344-0931

WOODBRIDGE
Sentara (Potomac) Hospital 2300 Optiz Blvd. Woodbridge, VA 22191
Conference Starts: 12:30 pm EST
Contact: Victoria Graham, vickyilynngraham@hotmail.com, 703-221-1144


There are also two local conferences taking place in the Washington DC Metro Area. Their information is:

Alexandria
Residence Inn Alexandria Old Town, 1456 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Conference Starts: 12:00 p.m. EST
Website: www.afsp.org/ncac
Contact: Dennis Tackett, isos.afspncac@gmail.com, 703-644-2112

Washington DC
Howard University, 2455 6th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Conference Starts: 12:00 p.m. EST
Website: www.zphibalpha.org
Contact: Zikia Jones-Martin, 678-437-7727, zikiajones@yahoo.com