Local Issue - Suicide

Hi everyone. It's not a feminist issue per se, but in light of recent suicides in the valley, including the death of Snake River Brewery baker Mike Webb on Tuesday, I wanted to offer some resources for survivors and for people struggling with depression. The Brew Pub is a favorite meeting spot of the Cowgrrl Up crew, and I think I can speak for us all in sending our love and thoughts to Mike's family and friends.

On a personal note, I lost one of my best friends, Stephen, to suicide four months ago. It's been utterly devastating. I didn't know before Stephen died that there is a name for those left behind after suicide: we are known as suicide survivors. At first I thought this term referred to those who had attempted suicide but had not succeeded. In fact, it's for those of us in this "club nobody wants to join," people who have lost love ones to suicide.

I HIGHLY recommend the monthly suicide survivor support group that meets at St. John's Medical Center the third Thursday of ever month. It's held from 6-7:30 PM in the Eagle classroom, downstairs. For more information, please contact the Jackson Hole Community Counseling Center at 733-2046. There is no charge for the group.

If you need help for depression or suicidal thoughts, call the Jackson Hole Community Counseling Center at 307-733-2046 or by calling 911. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).

If you are a suicide survivor, I recommend Carla Fine's book No Time to Say Goodbye: Surviving the Suicide of a Loved One.

Also, these websites have information for survivors:
www.save.org
www.afsp.org
Wyoming Suicide Prevention Initiative

There is a lot more information out there, so please know that you are not alone. There are many caring individuals and professionals in our community who want to help.
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