Healthy Living
According to the CDC, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in America with 1.7 million adults attempting suicide in 2021. Ranking 25th, Alabama’s suicide rate consistently ranks higher than the national rate. Due to the rise of suicides during the Covid-19 pandemic, Birmingham-based Community Grief Support (CGS) is hosting a suicide awareness conference August 17-18, 2023 at Canterbury United Methodist Church called, “Unmasking the Complexity of Suicide: Prevention, Survivorship, and Grief Support.”
“Simply put, there isn’t enough education on suicide prevention. We wanted to create space where the public and mental health professionals can learn more about suicide,” Catherine Pittman Smith, Administrative Director at CGS explains, “including what resources are out there, how to help, and how to make a difference.” Adding that the goal of the conference is to provide a safe, stigma-free place for anyone to ask questions around suicide like:
How can I help?
What do I say or not say?
What signs did I miss?
How is suicide different than another loss?
How do I grieve?
The two-day conference will kick off with three keynote speakers: Noah Galloway, Veteran and Purple Heart recipient and inspiring 2015 “Dancing with the Stars” contestant; Karen Cook Thomas, Chaplain/board member of Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition (ASPARC); and Cheryl Dodson, Executive Director of ASPARC and featured on the popular S-Town Podcast.
A suicide prevention advocate, Dodson lost a close friend named John to suicide in 2015. “After a suicide loss, you’re living with a complicated grief,” Dodson says. Dodson plans to speak on suicide prevention including what signs to look for, how to talk with someone you are worried about, and more. “I’ll share what I have learned through grieving my friend. Some think it’s a contradiction, but the prevention work is also healing after a loss,” she says, adding, “I want people attending the conference to understand that there is support and healing available to them.”
After each keynote speaker shares their personal stories of struggles, loss, grief and hope, Steve Sweatt LPC-S, LMFT and Judith Harrington, PhD, LPC-S, LMFT, will host a Q&A panel discussion with Janice Rogers of WBRC Fox 6 News as moderator. The audience will be encouraged to ask questions. “This conference is a safe place where there is no condemnation and no shame,” Smith says, adding, “I think we—as a society—have put a mask on the complexity of suicide with myths, misperceptions, and misinformation. Community Grief Support is providing an opportunity to remove that mask.” CGS hopes that each person who attends the conference will leave feeling inspired and equipped with resources to make a difference. Admission is free to the public; registration is required. A total of 8 CE credits are available for professionals at an additional charge. To learn more and register, visit www.communitygriefsuppor
-Melissa Armstrong
