Baraga County Suicide Prevention Warr;or Walk

This event is free to register, however, we strongly encourage participants to donate what they are able to help support ongoing suicide prevention and support efforts in Baraga County.  Near the end of the registration process you will be asked to select a charity.  Please choose whether you wish for your donation to support the Baraga County Communities That Care General Fund (to address a wide variety of youth problem behaviors, such as drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, teen violence and delinquency, drop out rates, as well as depression and suicide prevention), or the Baraga County Communities That Care Suicide Prevention Fund (to address suicide prevention needs only).  Participants donating a minimum of $25 will receive a Warr;or Walk t-shirt.  Please register by August 30, 2019 to guarantee a t-shirt (After August 30th, t-shirts will be distributed on first come, first serve basis while supplies last).  Thank you in advance for your generosity and ongoing support of this much needed cause.  Together, we can make a difference!

Crystal Suzik is a Suicide Survivor of 22 plus years.  Her story starts with battling post-partum depression after the birth of her oldest son, Joshua.  With little preparation for the series of traumatic events in life experienced by the family, Crystal turned to advocating for prevention and education on mental health and suicide prevention.

Participants are encouraged to bring memorabilia in remembrance of loved ones lost to suicide.  Share your favorite photos, poems, letters, etc.  Items may be placed on the memorial table during the event and picked up following the event.  

Participants are also invited to stop by the memorial table and make a Support Stone.  Take a moment to decorate at stone in memory of a loved one or to encourage others who may be struggling.    Take your stone home or place it in a public space for others to see.  

“Stones are enduring, strong, and timeless. This stone is a symbol of the enduring memory of our loved ones, the timelessness of our grief, and the strength we embody as survivors of suicide loss.”

Participants are invited to share their story of hope and healing.  We want to hear from you.  We understand that sharing your story can be very difficult and therefore encourage you to use the guidelines provided by Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) listed below to share your story safely. 

Submission Guidelines 
Tell us about how you were able to cope with the loss of a loved one or ways in which you have been able to proceed through the grieving process. We also welcome stories about how you or someone you know was able to prevent suicide by identifying the problem and getting help.

We acknowledge that the realities of suicide loss are often less than positive, and it may be difficult or take some time to find a hopeful message. We’d like you to take a minute to evaluate if your story can provide hope, support, and guidance to those who have recently lost a loved one to suicide. If you’re ready to share how you found peace and even possibly persevered in the aftermath of a suicide loss, please share your story in hopes that it will provide others who are struggling through the grieving process hope as well. Follow the submission guidelines closely and note know that submitting your story does not guarantee it will be posted to this website. Thank you for your bravery and willingness to share and help others.

Why are there guidelines? 
Certain types of content related to suicide can increase the likelihood of suicide in vulnerable individuals. Risk of additional suicides increases when the story explicitly describes the suicide method, uses dramatic/graphic headlines or images, and repeated/extensive coverage sensationalizes or glamorizes a death. For this reason, we’ve laid forth evidence based guidelines to help you draft your story in a way that is helpful to readers and minimizes risk of further suicides.

By submitting your story, you agree to the Submission Guidelines outlined below.

Follow suicide messaging safety guidelines:
    Avoid showing or describing suicide methods or locations. We will not share your story if you include this!
    Do not include overly personal details of your loved one or yourself.
    Do not glorify or romanticize suicide. Suicide is not honorable or heroic.
    Do not try to explain suicide as the result of one cause or as inexplicable. Provide any clues or warning signs you observed. Provide context to the story and if     mental illness was present.
    Do not include a link in your submission to your story. Please type your submission in the space provided or upload your story in a PDF document.
    Do not include links in your story to products for purchase. This page is not meant for promotion of books, films, or other suicide prevention resources that are for purchase. If you’d like to share these resources with SAVE, you can contact us.
    Make sure enough time has passed and that you are mentally and emotionally ready to share your story.
    Share positive outcomes to educate or inspire hope. Stories of hope means someone has recovered, sought help, or have begun to heal after a loss. Think of the best way to get your message of hope across.
    Share any resources you used and provide those details where possible.           

Source: https://save.org/what-we-do/grief-support/stories-of-hope/                   

Additional resources for sharing your story from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), American Association of Suicidology (AAS), National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL), NAMI New Hampshire (National Alliance on Mental Illness New Hampshire), and Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE).                                                                                                                 

https://chapterland.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/12/13739_AFSP_SpeakingOutAboutSuicide_Flyer_m1.pdf

http://www.sprc.org/sites/default/files/migrate/library/Best%20Practices%20for%20Presentations%20by%20Suicide%20Loss%20and%20Suicide%20Attempt%20Survivors%20-%20FINAL%202012.1.pdf 

USE THE LINK BELOW TO SHARE YOUR STORY

https://bit.ly/2KYTetu