'Healing After Suicide Conference' slated for April 26

Finding hope in the aftermath of the suicide of a loved one will be focus of annual conference sponsored by American Association of Suicidology

To assist those grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide, known as "survivors of suicide," the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) will host a special one day survivors' program in conjunction with its 36th Annual Conference.

Slated for Saturday, April 26, this 15th Annual AAS Healing After Suicide Conference will be themed "Exploring Avenues of Hope" and will include special display of "Faces of Suicide" Quilts, a national textile arts project to demystify and destigmatize suicide. The Healing After Suicide Conference will take place from 8:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico. For more information or to register, visit www.suicidology.org or call 202-237-2280.

Addressing grieving issues related to survivors if suicide is an important component of suicide prevention efforts, as survivors are themselves more prone to suicide. There are now at least 4.5 million Americans who are survivors of suicide, with 180,000 new survivors being added every year. These numbers are based the approximately 29,000 suicides annually in the U.S., and estimates that for every suicide there are six survivors profoundly impacted by that death.

The 15th Annual Healing After Suicide Conference will feature:

• Author and survivor Iris Bolton, who lost her son to suicide
• A teen grief panel featuring the Colorado-based "Youth Survivors of a Loved One's Suicide, " comprised of young people ages 11 to 23
• Survivor Erik Hendin, who will perform selections from his music of hope
• A multi-cultural grief panel with discussions on how different groups (African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic, and Native American) grieve
• Special workshops for survivors including a male-only group
• A traditional outdoor remembrance ceremony to conclude the conference

Co-chairs for the AAS Healing After Suicide Conference are:

MICHELLE LINN GUST
Gust was 21 years old when her younger sister completed suicide in 1993. She wrote about this experience and issues surrounding sibling survivor grief in the book, Do They Have Bad Days in Heaven? Surviving the Suicide Loss of a Sibling, published by Chellehead Works.

JAMES EARLE, Ph.D.
Earle's son completed suicide in 1999. He experienced secondary trauma after a difficult encounter with lawenforcement officials in the immediate aftermath of his son's death. Earle is working to form a comprehensive nationwide program to educate first responders about the trauma of suicide.

Consultant LaRita Archibald is also assisting with planning of the survivors conference. Archibald's son completed suicide in 1978. In the aftermath of that profound loss, she formed one of the first support groups for survivors. Called HEARTBEAT, this support-group network has spread to other states, and Archibald has received recognition for her work including the AAS "Survivor of the Year" award. She also co-chaired the first-ever survivors' conference sponsored by AAS.

The American Association of Suicidology (AAS), based in Washington, DC, is the oldest and largest scientific and professional organization in the United States representing the field of suicide prevention and suicidology (the study of suicide). Founded in 1968, AAS works to advance an understanding of suicide, its causes and its prevention, through researching and implementing strategies for reducing risk of suicide among all populations. The organization publishes the oldest peer-reviewed journal in suicidology, Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior. AAS has a diverse membership base that includes researchers, clinicians, educators, public health specialists, crisis workers, students, and "survivors of suicide," that is, those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Through its five divisions, AAS works to forge public and private partnerships that will increase the focus on suicide as a public health issue and best practices in suicide prevention. For more information about AAS, its membership, mission, the 36th Annual Conference of the American Association of Suicidology and the 15th Annual Healing After Suicide Conference, visit www.suicidology.org.