Candlelight Ceremony for Suicide Loss (2021)

3900 Old Mill Road,Fort Wayne IN 46807

09 September, 2021

Description

Join Stop Suicide Northeast Indiana to remember loved ones who have been lost to suicide and to support one another. This annual event will be held at Lakeside Park's Rose Garden - check in at Pavilion #2. Given the COVID uncertainty, please register all in your party so that we can communicate with you in case of a change in event. 6:30-7:00 Activities to Honor Your Loved One—Visit Seeds of Hope, Rock Painting, Pet Therapy Dogs, and Photo booth 7:00 Welcome 7:05 Remarks from Suicide Loss Survivor Megan Schneider 7:30 Lighting of Candles 7:40 Song 7:45 Sharing Words of Hope & Encouragement 8:00 Wrap up/End Thank you to our sponsors: Bowen Center and others to be named as the time nears. Stop Suicide Northeast Indiana is an alliance of stakeholders who seek to raise awareness and take action to stop suicide. Background: The coalition began in 2013 to work collaboratively to combat suicide and support families following a loss by suicide. Since the inception, more than 30 organizations have come together to work on organization and community strategies to reduce suicide risk and loss in northeast Indiana. Mission: Stop Suicide Northeast Indiana is an alliance of stakeholders who seek to raise awareness and take action to stop suicide. Values:   Stop Suicide Northeast Indiana embraces these values: PREVENTION IS POSSIBLE: Suicide can be prevented. EVERYONE CAN HELP: Through direct and open conversation, anyone can play a role in suicide prevention.  ACCESS TO TOOLS: Community members and organizations need access to evidence-based strategies for preventing and responding to suicide risk. COMMUNITY COLLABORATION: Collaboration is essential to finding realistic solutions to stop suicide. SUPPORT AFTER A SUICIDE: It is important that family members and loved ones receive support and resources after a suicide. Goals: Facilitate a prevention, intervention, & postvention-focused coalition in northeast Indiana that will: Utilize data to identify evidence-based practices and drive coalition interventions. Educate community members on how to identify and respond to someone at risk for suicide. Develop and disseminate information to improve awareness of and access to available local and national resources. Promote collaborative suicide prevention and intervention strategies. Provide opportunities within the community for survivors of suicide loss to receive support, connect with others, and build hope for the future. Promote evidence-based practices among professionals who interact with persons at risk for suicide. Improve communication and information between organizations to tighten the communities’ suicide safety nets. Key Partners: Mental Health America of Northeast Indiana (fiscal agent), Parkview Behavioral Health, Park Center, Bowen Center, Meridian Health Services, Fort Wayne Community Schools, St Joe Behavioral Health, FWPD Police Chaplains, Mental Wellness Ministry at The Chapel, IPFW Behavioral Health & Family Studies Institute, Trine University, Visiting Nurse, The Carriage House, NAMI, Rescue Mission, RemedyLIVE, Erin’s House, and The Lutheran Foundation. Key Accomplishments: Help & Hope: For Survivors of Suicide Loss toolkit; Finding Hope: A Suicide Prevention Toolkit; Speakers Bureau; annual candlelight bridge ceremony to remember those lost to suicide; a website (www.stopsuicidenow.org); educational events such as Assessing & Managing Suicide Risk training and Postvention Workshops; community conversations about having a common language for suicide (C-SSRS). Meeting dates: Bi-monthly (even months), second Mondays at 11:30 at Chad’s House, 3327 Lake Ave, Fort Wayne, IN 46805. Contact: www.stopsuicidenow.org, Co-facilitators: Colleen Carpenter, 260-438-6763 and Jessica Ryan, 422-6441.