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National Survivors of Suicide Day in Seattle

Seattle Times article, Sunday, November 21, 2004:
UW event offers a chance to mourn, discuss suicide
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YSPP and the Nursing Program at the Bothell campus of the University of Washington hosted this year's AFSP teleconference November 20, 2004. The webcast featured a panel discussion of survivors, including a man who had lost both his wife and his daughter to suicide, who spoke eloquently about how they coped with their personal tragedies and how much they have learned about the mental disorders that were the root causes of their loved ones' suicides.

	Leigh Manheim, Leah Simpson, Sue Eastgard and Renee Arcement

After the teleconference, we had our own panel discussion of mental health professionals, including Dr Charles Huffine, Dr. Peggy West and Trez Buckland, who answered questions from the members present. One of the first questions about getting help for survivors came from a young man who revealed that his father had died by suicide mere days previously. There was a collective gasp from the audience, and the panel, as well as several people offered advice for getting help as well as expressing admiration for his courage in being there and sorrow for his family's loss. There was also some discussion about the current controversy regarding antidepressants and teenagers.

Flemming Funch was given the 2004 AFSP-NW Youth Suicide Prevention Award by Sue Eastgard. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor.

Leigh Manheim gave an impassioned plea for activism in the legislative arena. Pointing out that at present, all school districts are free to discuss or ignore the subject of mental health and suicide, while they are mandated to discuss other health problems such as AIDS, Leigh urged the group to demand of our legislators that they take action to place mandatory mental illness and suicide prevention information into the health curricula of our public schools statewide.

We Remember Them

At the rising of the sun and its going down,
we remember them.

At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,
we remember them.

At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring,
we remember them.

At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer,
we remember them.

At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn,
we remember them.

At the beginning of the year and when it ends,
we remember them.

As long as we live, they too will live;
for they are now a part of us, as we remember them.

When we are weary and in need of strength,
we remember them.

When we are lost and sick at heart,
we remember them.

When we have joy we crave to share,
we remember them.

When we have decisions that are difficult to make,
we remember them.

When we have achievements that are based on theirs,
we remember them.

As long as we live, they, too, will live;
for they are now a part of us, as we remember them.