NEWS
Survivors of Suicide Teleconference in the Valley
McKinsey Harris
It's estimated that more than 80 Americans try to take their own lives every day, leaving their loved ones with question that may never be answered.
Survivors of suicide aren't people who tried to take their own lives, but anyone who's lost a family member or friend to suicide.
After his 22-year-old son took his own life three years ago, Sean McGowan has come a long way in dealing with his loss.
"The first year was extremely difficult. Couldn't talk about it and mention his name, we would cry. But again in a group environment the strength of the group gives you a stronger process in healing," says McGowan.
McGowan works with local support groups to help and connect with others, like Bill Day.
"Our son, Joel, took his life in July a year ago. He was 43," says Day.
Day says his son was depressed.
"Well every day I keep thinking I've got something I want to tell him. Or he always helped us around the house, when we get a big leak or we get a problem, I say, "I'll call Joel." And I can't call Joel," says Day.
To help cope with the loss, grief support specialist Dr. Cynthia Long says you need to have a support group.
"Neighbors and friends kind of shut them down and tell them that they should be over it, that they shouldn't talk about it, that their grief's not validated. And so we find people that are very much alone in their grief and so when they come to the group they find a safe place of support and consolation," says Long.
That support group, and events like Saturday's teleconference, are exactly what McGowan and Day say is getting them through.
"People don't know what to say to you. They're afraid if they talk you cry, then they've got you all upset. But when you go to a support group you can say anything you want. If you want to cry, you cry, because people have been there," says Day.
During the teleconference, people listened to testimonies from other survivors of suicide, and also shared their own stories.
This was the second survivor teleconference held here in the Valley.
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