FSPC January 2018 Newsletter

January2018NewsletterFLORIDASUICIDEPREVENTIONCOALITION

Astatewide,grassrootsorganizationofsurvivors,crisiscenters,&interestedcitizens

FSPCMINI-CONFERENCE–PLANTOATTEND

FSPCisfinalizingPreparationsforthe2018Mini-Conference

TheFSPC2018ThirdAnnualFloridaTakingActionforSuicidePreventionMini-Conferenceisatwo-halfdayconferenceinTallahassee,February19(afternoon)&February20(morning).EarlyRegistration,forreducedconferencerate,isduebyJanuary19,2018.Theonline2018FSPCConferenceRegistrationlinkis:http://floridasuicideprevention.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2018-mini-conf-Registration.pdfThisvaluableeducationalopportunityisbeingheldjustpriortoFlorida’sAnnualSuicidePreventionDayattheCapitoladvocacyevent(2/21),SuicidePreventionCoordinatingCouncilMeeting(2/20),andLightingtheDarkness–EveningofRemembrance(2/20)byBigBendHospice.PleasecontactStephenRoggenbaumatroggenba@usf.eduor813-974-6149ifanyquestions.FSPChasreservedalimitedblockofroomsatCandlewoodSuitesTallahassee(2815LakeshoreDr.,Tallahassee,FL32312)forabout$106-$114pernightjustafewmilesfromDFC,mini-conferencelocation.Callsoontoreservearoomatthespecialrate:850-597-7000(usegroupname–FloridaSuicidePrevention).BECOMEAFSPCMEMBERTODAY!JoinFSPC,animportantstatewide,grassrootsorganizationofsurvivors,crisiscenters,&interestedindividuals.Collaboratetoadvancesuicidepreventioneffortsinlargernumbers:getinvolved,volunteerwithlocal&stateFSPCactivities,&obtainreducedorfreeorreducedregistrationatFSPCeventssuchastheFSPCMini-Conferencementionedabove).Membership

FSPC REGIONAL DIRECTORS

R1 Rachelle S. Burns (Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton) R2 Pam Mezzina (Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf Homes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla, Washington) R3 Ali Martinez (Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Putnam, Suwannee, Union) R4 Lisa Zeller (Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, St. Johns) R5 Vacant (DeSoto, Pinellas, Sarasota) R6 Betsey Westuba (Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco) R7 Tara Sullivan (Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Seminole) R8 Sue Opheim (Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee) R9 Doris Carroll (Palm Beach) R10 Rene Barrett (Broward) R11 Elizabeth Quizena (Dade, Monroe) R12 Kelly Sousa (Flagler, Volusia) R13 Judy Broward (Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, Sumter) R14 Betsey Westuba (Hardee, Highlands, Polk) R15 Doris Carroll (Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, St. Lucie)

FSPC January 2018 Newsletter

information:http://floridasuicideprevention.org/membership/FSPCNEWSLETTERSIGN-UPSignuptoreceiveanemailannouncementdirectlytoyourinboxwheneachNewsletterispostedontheFSPCwebsite.EmailSteveRoggenbaum,ViceChair,toregisteratroggenba@usf.eduNEWSWORTHYEveryHealthcareProviderinWashingtonWillSoonBeTrainedinSuicidePreventionByAndyHurst(KUOW.org)November27,2017ArticleLink:http://kuow.org/post/every-healthcare-provider-wa-will-soon-be-trained-suicide-preventionEveryhealthcareworkerinWashingtonwillsoonberequiredtoundergosuicidepreventiontraining.Thatincludesnurses,dentistsandevenchiropractors.Inordertohelpmedicalworkforceprepare,UniversityofWashington(UW)researchershavedevelopedaninteractive,onlinetrainingprogramcalledAllPatientsSafe.Theprogramteachesmedicalproviderstorecognizepossiblewarningsignsofsuicideintheirpatients.Italsotrainsthemhowtoeducatepatientsaboutkeepingtheirhomessafe.Anexample;howtosafelystoregunsorprescriptiondrugs.JenniferStuberisthefacultydirectorwithForefrontSuicidePreventionattheUW.Shesayshealthcareprovidersareonthefrontlinesofprevention."Weknowthatalotofpeoplewhodiebysuicide,theydon'tevergettoseeamentalhealthprovider.Buttheydogoseetheirdoctor-theirprimarycaredoctor,"Stubersays."Weknowroughlyhalfofpeoplewhodiedbysuicidesawtheirdoctorinthemonthleadinguptotheirdeath.Andthatmakessense,becauseprimarycareiswherewe'retreatingthebulkofdepressioncareinourcountry."In2016,1,123peopleinWashingtondiedbysuicide.It’ssecondleadingcauseofdeathamongpeopleaged10to24inthestate.Washingtonisfirstinthecountrytorequiresuicidepreventiontrainingforallhealthcareproviders.ThelawtakeseffectonJuly1.TheonlinetrainingwillbefreetoallmedicalprovidersaffiliatedwiththeUniversityofWashington.Thenationalsuicidepreventionlifelineis1-800-273-TALK. ALSONEWSWORTHYFSUResearcherFindsLinkBetweenExcessiveScreenTimeandSuicideRiskFrom:FloridaStateUniversityNews:TheOfficialNewsSourceofFloridastateUniversityBy:DaveHeller|Published:November30,2017ArticleLink:http://news.fsu.edu/news/2017/11/30/fsu-researcher-finds-link-excessive-screen-time-suicide-risk/

LeadingsuicideresearcherThomasJoiner,FSU'sRobertO.LawtonDistinguishedProfessorofPsychologyispicturedatleft.

FSPC January 2018 Newsletter

Newresearchpresentscompellingevidencethatthemoretimeteenagersspendonsmartphonesandotherelectronicscreens,themorelikelytheyaretofeeldepressedandthinkabout,orattempt,suicide.FloridaStateUniversityRobertO.LawtonDistinguishedProfessorThomasJoiner,whoco-authoredastudypublishedinthejournalClinicalPsychologicalScience,saidscreentimeshouldbeconsideredamodern-dayriskfactorfordepressionandsuicide.“Thereisaconcerningrelationshipbetweenexcessivescreentimeandriskfordeathbysuicide,depression,suicidalideationandsuicidalattempts,”saidJoiner,whoconductedtheresearchwithpsychologyProfessorJeanTwengeofSanDiegoStateUniversity.“Allofthosementalhealthissuesareveryserious.Ithinkit’ssomethingparentsshouldponder.”

Joinerencouragedparentstotracktheirchildren’sscreentimebecauseteenagersarespendingmoretimeonscreens,andthatactivityislinkedtodepressionandsuicide-relatedbehaviors.Depressionandsuicideratesforteensbetweentheagesof13and18increaseddramaticallysince2010,especiallyamonggirls,accordingtotheU.S.CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.Thestudyidentifiesexcessiveuse

ofelectronicdevicesasalikelyculprit.CDCstatisticsshowthesuiciderateincreased31percentamongteenagersfrom2010to2015,whileanationalsurveyshowsthatthenumberofadolescentsreportingsymptomsofseveredepressionrose33percent.Thoseincreaseswerelargelydrivenbyteenagegirls.Theirsuicideratesoared65percentandthosesufferingseveredepressionincreased58percent.Therateofsuicide-relatedbehaviors—feelinghopeless,thinkingaboutsuicideorattemptingit—increased14percent.Thestudyfoundtheriseinmentalhealthproblemsamongteenssince2010coincideswithanincreaseinownershipofcellphones.In2012,abouthalfofAmericansownedsmartphones.By2015,92percentofteensandyoungadultshadone,andtheirscreentimealsorose.Researchersdiscovered48percentofteenagerswhospentfiveormorehoursperdayonelectronicdevicesreportedasuicide-relatedbehavior.Thatcomparedto28percentofadolescentswhospentlessthananhourusingelectronicdevices.Twengesaidtheresultsclearlyshowedthatteenswhospentmoretimeonthedevicesweremorelikelytobeunhappy.Thosewhofocusedmoreonnonscreenactivitieslikesportsandexercise,talkingtofriendsfacetoface,doinghomeworkandgoingtochurchweremorelikelytobehappy.

FSPC January 2018 Newsletter

“Teenswhospendmoretimeonscreensaremorelikelytobedepressed,andthosewhospendmoretimeonnonscreenactivitiesarelesslikelytobedepressed,”Twengewroteinherbook,“iGen:WhyToday’sSuper-ConnectedKidsAreGrowingUpLessRebellious,MoreTolerant,LessHappy—andCompletelyUnpreparedforAdulthood.”Previousresearchhasexaminedwhetherincreasedhomeworkloads,academicpressureorfamilies’financialproblemsraisedteens’riskofdevelopingmentalhealthproblems,butthisstudydidnotfindsuchlinks.JoinerandTwengeemphasizedtheirresearchdoesnotprovethatscreentimecausesdepressivesymptomsorsuicide-relatedbehaviors,butthefindingsdoshowalink.Theyalsosaidparentsshouldn’tthinktheyneedtotakeawaytheirchildren’ssmartphonesandotherelectronicdevices.Butlimitingscreentimetoanhourortwoadaywouldputachildintoastatisticallysafezone.“It’stotallyunrealisticandprobablynotevengoodtothinkkidswillstopusingscreens,”Joinersaid.“Itcomesdowntomoderation.Parentsshouldtrytomakenonscreenactivitiesasattractiveaspossiblebecausealotofthemareattractive.Itisfuntohangoutwithyourfriendsorplaybasketball.Justremindkidsthosethingsareavailable,andthey’rejustasfunastradingtexts.That’sthebottomline.”YETANTOHERNEWSWORTHYITEMMontanaSchoolCrisisActionToolkit-SuicideCAST-SByScottPolandDecember3,2017

Dr.ScottPoland,theCo-DirectoroftheSuicideandViolencePreventionOfficeatNovaSoutheasternUniversity,andDr.DonnaPoland,aformerschoolprincipal,havewrittenthesuicideprevention,interventionandpostventiontoolkitfortheMontanaschools.TheCAST-StoolkitisdesignedtoassistallschooldistrictsinMontanatoimplementthe2017MontanaHouseBill381thatrequiressuicidepreventioninschools.CAST-SisacollaborativeventurebetweenNAMIMontanaandBigSkyPsychiatryand

providesstep-by-steppracticalguidelinesforschoolsandmanydocumentationforms.TheauthorsareindebtedtotheMontanaOfficeofPublicInstruction,theMontanaDepartmentofPublicHealthandHumanServicesSuicidePreventionOffice,theSchoolAdministratorsofMontanaAssociationandtonumerousschoolandcommunityprofessionalsthatprovidedvaluableinputonthetoolkit.Thetoolkitisavailableatthefollowinglinks:http://www.namimt.org/http://www.bigskyaacap.org/cast-s.htmlINFOCUSBrevardCountyisFirsttoBringSourcesofStrength(S0S)toFlorida

ByLoriDuester,MEd,Children’sCenterManager,ParrishHealthcareInearly2015,ourcommunityexperiencedatragedywhenamiddleschoolstudentdiedbysuicide,whichopenedoureyestothecurrentratesofteensuicide,attemptedsuicideandself-harminNorthBrevard.OurcommunitymobilizedtogetherandHannah’sHeroeswasestablished,byHannah’smomand

FSPC January 2018 Newsletter

agoodfriendwhowantedtohelpbringawarenessandadvocacytothishugeproblem.Additionally,ParrishMedicalCenter,UnitedWay,BrevardPublicSchoolsandmanyotherlocalorganizationscametogethertoworktowardsolutionstotheproblem.Inworkingintheworldofearlyinterventionforover30years,Icouldonlythinkthatweneededtolookforaprogramofprevention.OurgroupresearchedmanybestpracticesuicidepreventionprogramsandchoseSourcesofStrength,notonlybecauseitislistedbySubstanceAbuse,MentalHealth,ServicesAdministration(SAMHSA)asthemostheavilyresearchedandevidence-basedteensuicidepreventionprogramsintheUnitedStates,butalsobecausethefocusisonhealthandwellness,andbuildingtrustingrelationshipsandresiliencyinourchildren,teensandyoungadults.Theprogramisdesignedtoharnessthepowerofpeersocialnetworkstochangeunhealthynormsandculture,ultimatelypreventingsuicide,bullying,self-harmandsubstanceabuse.ThemissionofSourcesofStrengthistopreventsuicidebyincreasinghelpseekingbehaviorsandpromotingconnectionsbetweenpeersandcaringadults.SourcesofStrengthmovesbeyondasingularfocusonriskfactorsbyutilizinganupstreamapproachforyouthsuicideprevention.Thisupstreammodelstrengthensmultiplesourcesofsupport(protectivefactors)aroundyoungindividualssothatwhentimesgettoughtheyhavestrengthstorelyon.ThankstofinancialsupportfromtheJessParrishMedicalFoundation,weareinourthirdyearofbringingSourcesofStrengthtothefivemiddleandhighschoolsinnorthBrevard.TheChildren’sCenterismanagingthethree-yeargrantandwearenowintheprocessofdevelopingoursustainabilityplanwithBrevardPublicSchools.TheSchoolDistricthascommittedtoprioritizesocial/emotionallearninginourschoolsandthecommunityhasestablishedaYouthMentalHealthTaskForcetocontinuetheworkonbringingawarenessandmessagingonseekinghelpformentalhealthissueswhilebuildingaresilientcommunity.Keypoints...• Helpsteensidentifythestrengthsintheirlivesandhowtheycanusethoseintimesofneed• Curriculumisrootedineight"strengths"factors

thatresearchhasshownareprotectiveagainstsuiciderisk

• AllmessagingisaboutspreadingHOPE,HELP&STRENGTH

• Usesadultadvisers(teachers,parents,communityvolunteersandadministrators)asresourcesforthepeer-leaders

• Empowersteensthroughbuildingtrustandleadership

• Usespeerleaderstobreakdowncodesofsilenceandincreaseseekingadultsupport

• PeerleadersrepresentALLsocialgroupssoit’saverydiverserepresentation

• Teenshaveownershipoveractionstepscreatedduringeachmeeting

• Fostershopeforthefuturewhileallowingteenstofeelvaluedandunderstood

FSPC January 2018 Newsletter

• Thereisaprocessinplaceforthosemostinneed(suicidal)• Overtime,thereisacompletechangeincultureoftheschoolandcommunity

Formoreinformationaboutthisprogram,pleasecall321-264-0855oremaillori.duester@parrishmed.comContactwww.sourcesofstrength.orgtoseehowyoucanbringthisprogramtoyourcommunity.

RESEARCHFORTHERESTOFUS

Sometimesimportantresearchisfilledwithjargon,ishardtounderstand,ordoesn’tseemtomakesense.We’vetriedtosummarizeresearchincommonEnglishlanguage.PeerGriefSupportforSuicideasPostventionforLossSurvivors

Cookandcolleaguesreviewedresearchonpeergroupsupportservicesforthesuicidebereaved.PeerGriefSupportforSuicide(PGSS)referstospecialized,organized,andtargetedsupportofthesuicidebereavedbyotherswhohaveexperiencedsuicidebereavement,butarefurtheralongintheirgrievingprocess.PGSSisseeninmanyforms(e.g.,online,inperson,viaphone,writtencommunication)andcandifferinreach,helpinglargegroupsofpeople,onespecificbereavedfamily,oranindividualwiththeiruniqueaspectsofsuicidelossandgrief.VariousformsofPGSSarepresentedanddescribedbytheauthors.LocalOutreachtoSuicideSurvivors(LOSS)teamsoftenprovidenear-immediatesupporttofamilysimultaneouslyrespondingwithpoliceandemergencymedicalpersonnel.SurvivorOutreachPrograms,throughtheAmericanFoundationforSuicidePrevention(AFSP),enlistspairsofpeerhelperswhovisitandsupporttofamiliesoflossweeksorafewmonthsfollowingadeathbysuicide.Supportgroupsspecifictosuicidelossandbereavementarenumerousandnearly¾areledorco-facilitatedbysurvivorsofsuicideloss.TheAllianceofHopeforSuicideLossSurvivorsisanonlinecommunitysharingpersonalexperienceswithlossandgriefinordertohelpothers.TheTragedyAssistanceProgramforSurvivors(TAPS)offersaPGSSprogramthatcanbeusedtoexemplifywhatasystematicPGSSprogramshouldresemble.TAPSprovidescomprehensive,specializedpeer-to-peerservicestoaspecificpopulationofpeoplebereavedbysuicideandcandeliversupporttonearly7,000people.SeveralexamplesofTAP’sservicesinclude24/7helpline,mentoring,griefsupportgroups,healingseminars,andpeerhelpers.ThenationcurrentlylacksacentralnetworksupportingthepracticeofPGSSthatofferstechnicalassistanceforsuchgroups.However,CookandcolleaguesidentifiedbasicprinciplesforimplementingPGSSservicesincluding:providedwithinequalandcollaborativerelationships,guidedbythehelpee,welcomesindividuality,strengthenstheindividual,andacceptsmanyroutestorecovery.(SummarybyYaritzaCarmona&StephenRoggenbaum)Cook,F.J.,Langford,L.,&Ruocco,K.(2017).Evidence-andpractice-informedapproachtoimplementingpeergriefsupportaftersuicidesystematicallyintheUSA.DeathStudies,41(10).648-658.doi:10.1080/07481187.2017.1335552

FSPC January 2018 Newsletter

WHAT’SHAPPENINGJanuary25,2018(6-8pm),SuicidePreventionthroughEducation&Awareness.FloridaA&MGrandBallroom.ClarkFlatt,President,JasonFoundation.PleaseRSVPto850-325-3627

February19&20,2018(Monday&Tuesday).FSPC2018ThirdAnnualFloridaTakingActionforSuicidePreventionMini-Conference.Atwo-halfdaymini-conferenceinTallahassee.

February20,2018(1-3pm),FloridaSuicidePreventionCoordinatingCouncilmeetingatDCF.

February20,2018(7:00pm),LightingtheDarkness–EveningofRemembrancebyBigBendHopsice.GFWCWoman’sClubofTallahassee1513CristobalDr.,Tallahassee

February21,2018(Wednesday).SuicidePreventionDayattheCapitol.ThisadvocacyeventisinTallahassee(CapitalBuildingandDisplaysinRotunda).

RESOURCES

Ifyouorsomeoneyouknowisincrisis,pleasecall1-800-273-8255(NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline).

CrisisTextLine–text“start”to741-741

Veteran’sCrisisLine1-800-273-8255,press1&https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

ResourcesforSurvivorsofSuicideLoss.SAVE.SuicideAwarenessVoicesforEducationmaintainsaresourcelistat:http://suicidegrief.save.org/ResourceLibrary

SuicideLossSurvivors.TheAmericanAssociationofSuicidology(AAS)hostsawebpagewithlistedresourcesforsurvivorsofsuicidelossathttp://www.suicidology.org/suicide-survivors/suicide-loss-survivors

SuicideGriefResources.Helpfulinformation,tools,andlinksforpeoplebereavedbysuicideathttp://suicidegriefresources.org/

STOPSuicideNortheastIndiana.(2016).Help&Hope:ForSurvivorsofSuicideLoss.Retrievedfromhttp://www.stopsuicidenow.org/toolkits-now-available/

Florida’sStatewideOfficeofSuicidePrevention(DCF):http://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/mental-health/suicide-prevention

NationalActionAllianceforSuicidePrevention:ThePublic-PrivatePartnershipAdvancingtheNationalStrategyforSuicidePrevention:http://actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org/resources

IstherealocalNAMIChapterinmyarea?http://www.nami.org/Local-NAMI?state=FL

ControlledSubstancePublicDisposalLocations.Properdisposalofexpireddrugsorunusedmedicationscanbeaneffectivesuicidepreventiontoolbyeliminatingaccesstolethalmeans.Manycommunity-baseddrugtake-backprogramsofferthebestoptionfordisposal.Fordisposallocationshttps://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s3

FSPC January 2018 Newsletter

ProjectChildSafe®iscommittedtopromotingfirearmssafetyamongfirearmsownersthroughthedistributionofsafetyeducationmessagesandfreefirearmSafetyKits[cable-stylegun-lockingdeviceandaninformationalbrochure(alsoinSpanish)].FindFloridaLawEnforcementpartnerstoinquireaboutafreeSafetyKitfromProjectChildSafe.http://www.projectchildsafe.org/safety/safety-kit/Florida

ANEXTRAHELPING...ThoughtsonGriefbyAnOldTherapistByJohnB.Mayo,M.A.,L.M.H.C.Co-FounderandDeputyExecutiveDirectorSuccess4Kids&Families

Volumeshavebeenwrittenaboutthestages,processes,andtherapeuticinterventionsregardingtheeffectsandresolutionofgrief.However,griefinmyexperiencehasbeencomplex,dynamic,andverypersonalforeachofus.Thishasbeentrueregardlessofwhetherit’saprofessionalorpersonalrelationshiporasituationI’mexperiencingmyself.Eventhemostblessedofusexperiencegriefthroughthelossoflovedones

througholdage,sickness,oraccidents.Forothers,ourexperienceofgriefmeanswehavedealtwiththemorecomplexandtraumaticaspectsofsuicide,mentalhealthissues,andaddictions.Greifisdeep,gutwrenching,andverypersonal.Someofusgetstuckandremainingrief.Weerectfencesaroundusforprotection,defense,anddenial.Descendingintodepressionanddespaircanbeaconsequence.Wemaystayinthisimposed“state”foranindeterminateamountoftime,someofusfortherestofourlives.Contemplationofsuicideisariskandsometimesareality.Mostofus,though,manageandrecover.Mysisterpassedawaytwoyearsagofromalong-termillnesswellbeforehertime,inmyopinion.ShewasthelastofmysiblingstopassandtheoneIwasclosestto.Iwasabletomakefinalpreparations,talkandsupportfriendsandotherfamilymembers.Iwrotehereulogyandworkedwiththepriestsonherservice.Wehaddecidedthatitwastobeacelebrationofherlifeofservicetootherssinceshewasaformernunandnurse.TheonlythingIcouldn’tdowastalktomygrandsonaboutherdeath.Tothisday,Ihaven’tsaidawordtohim.Luckily,mywifetookoverthatjob.Aftertwoyears,thepainofmysister’slosshasdulledbutI’mnotatpeacewithit.Icanreminiscewithfamilyandfriendsbutnotwithmygrandson.Ihaveacloserelationshipwithhimandwetalkaboutsomeprettydeeptopics...withtheexceptionofmysister.Idon’tunderstandwhyhe’stheonlyoneIhaven’tbeenabletodiscussmysister’sdeathwith.Thetherapistinmeknowsthatithastodowithmypersonalanduniquejourneythroughthestagesofgrief.Probablysomethingaboutfeelingasimilarkindofloveforbothofthemandafearoflosingmoreofmyfamilyastheyearspassby.Igivethisexamplebecauseitdefiesmysenseoflogicandit’sagoodexampleofwhyallresponsestogriefneedtoberespected.That’snoteasyforthoseinthehelpingprofessions;especiallythoseofusdedicatedtofosteringpositivechangeandrecoveryinthepeopleweserve.It’sneverinourpower.It’salwaysintheirs.

FSPC January 2018 Newsletter

Therefore,I’vefoundthattheindividualthoughtsandfeelingsofgriefcan’tbedealtwithasaconceptwithouttheconceptsofresilience,acceptance,supportandmostimportantlyHOPE.ANEXTRA,EXTRAHELPING...SuicidePreventionFortheSuicideBereavedByGraceTerry,MSW,Mind/Body/SpiritPainManagementCoach

Researchhasrepeatedlydocumentedthatthosewhohavehadalovedonediebysuicidearestatisticallyathigherriskforsuicidalideation/behaviors/completions.Itfollowsthenthatthosededicatedtosuicideprevention(whetherprofessionalsorconcernedlayadvocates)canproactivelyprovideinformedcaretothesuicidebereavedandtherebysuccessfullyreducesuicideattempts/completionswithinthishigh-riskgroup.

Toprovidemeaningfulcaretothesuicidebereaved,theproviderneedssensitivitytotheuniquechallengesofthispopulation.Forexample,inastudyofparentswhoseoffspringdiedofsuicide,researchersfoundtheseparentswhoseoffspringdiedofsuicideexperiencedmore:1)griefproblems,2)complicatedgrief,3)posttraumaticstress,4)depression,and5)psychologicalproblemswhencomparedwithparentsofchildrenwhodiedfromnaturalcausesoraccidentalfatalities(Feigelman,Jordan,McIntosh,&Feigelman,2012).Theseandothernuancesofthesuicidebereavedrequirenotice.Effectivecareforthesuicidebereavedcanincludepsycho-education,pharmacotherapy,andemotionalandspiritualsupportwithafocusondepression,guilt,andtrauma.Thepsycho-educationalcomponentofcarecanincludeclarificationforcommonlyheldmisconceptionsaboutgriefthatarerampantinaculturethatrepressesanddeniesallgrieftoagreatextent.ThosewhomournANYsignificantlossneedtoknowthereisacalm,reliable,caringpresenceavailableforcompanionshipthroughthelabyrinthofgrief.Theyneedtoknowtheyarenotalone.Toprovideeffectivesupportforthebereaved,caregiversmustbemindfulaboutattendingtotheirowngriefwork.Otherwise,thecareprovidercanbecomefloodedanddistractedwithpersonalpainwhileattemptingtoconsoleanother.Anothernegativescenarioisthatthecaregivercanbecomeundulycontrolling–subtlyorblatantlymessagingthatthemournershouldjustgetonwithhis/herlife(becauseyouractivemourningremindsmethatIaminpainand,consistentwithculturalconditioning,Iwouldratheravoiditthanfeelit).Griefworkisopen-endedandintermittentandcanbere-activatedbyvarioustriggers,evenamongprofessionals.Theeffectivebereavementcaregiverneedsthematurityandself-awarenesstomanagehis/herowngriefinordertobefullypresenttothepainofanother.On-goingpersonalgriefsupportishighlyrecommendedforthosewhocovenanttoserveasgriefcompanions,especiallyforthoseamonghigh-riskspecialpopulations.GraceTerry,MSW,isaMind/Body/SpiritPainManagementCoachspecializinginthesafe,effectivemanagementofrecurringpain,whetherphysical,emotional,orspiritual.Sheisasurvivorofmultipletraumaticlosses,life-threateningillness,andclinicaldepressionwithsuicidalideation.FSPCMEMBERSHIPNewFSPCMembershiporRenewalinformationavailableonlineat:

http://floridasuicideprevention.org/membership