Wednesday, April 30
Suicide loss support groups are being held at the following locations:

Pittsfield, MA (Berkshire County)

- 1st Tuesday of each month 5:30 p.m. at HospiceCare in the Berkshires, call (413) 443-2994 Peggy Zamierowski

East Longmeadow, (Hampden County)

- 1st and 3rd Monday of each month 7 p.m. Foresterie Funeral Home, call (413) 525-7752 Diana Lewis

Sunderland, MA (Franklin County)

- 8 Week Session begins April 23, Wednesdays 5:30 p.m., call (413) 774-2400 Judy Allen

For those left in the wake of suicide, the very nature of this loss can lead the newly bereaved into isolation, guilt, and depression. The guilt from being blind-sided by an often-illusive mental illness can complicate the entire grieving process, leaving the bereaved stuck in an emotional sinkhole, with an obsession for analyzing the suicide. Fearing that others may find it difficult to listen to their stories of suicide loss, they sometimes avoid more general bereavement groups. Those attending a suicide-loss support group are relieved to discover they are not alone, that others share their unanswered questions.

Because of the scarcity of these support groups, survivors sometimes

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must travel outside of their county of residence to participate. The AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) is offering training for facilitation of new support groups to address this need. Please contact AFSP survivor services for more information on training sessions, Rebecca Thorp at (212) 363-6237. In western MA, there are currently two established suicide-support groups, in Berkshire and Hampden counties. A third group will begin this month in Franklin County, please call Judy Allen (413) 774-2400, to register as soon as possible.

To assist the newly bereaved, the AFSP also offers an Outreach Program, providing a one-time visit by other survivors who share a similar loss. Contact Kimberly Gleason at (617) 439-0940 to learn more about requesting a home visit.