The HOPE Squad of Carbon, Emery, and Grand Counties is hosting an International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day event on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 11:00 am at the Carbon Country Club. Suicide Prevention Specialist, Amanda McIntosh took time to speak with Castle Country Radio to discuss all the details.

“International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is an event in which survivors of suicide loss can come together to find connection and understanding and hope, you know hope is my favorite word; through their shared experience. This year we’re going to have seven International Survivors of Suicide Loss Days across the state of Utah and we will be hosting one here in Price,” stated McIntosh. The event will be held at the Carbon Country Club with a free luncheon, speakers and a video presentation by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The documentary offers a message of growth, resilience and connection.

The gathering is for survivors wanting to connect with others that have gone through similar loss. “International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is important to the survivor community because it does give us that chance to come together with people with a similar loss, and have conversations that only survivors can relate to. There’s an extra level of grief that comes with a suicide loss and its hard to put that into words to somebody who hasn’t experienced that kind of loss,” explained McIntosh. Knowing and having a connection with other survivors helps with the healing process.

“We are asking people to register, so that take away activity that I have planned, I have enough materials for that, but also so that we can inform the Country Club so that we have enough food. Everybody that wants to attend, again it’s a free event happening on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 beginning at 11:00 am. They can go to https://afsp.org/survivorday to register for the event in Helper,” stated McIntosh. Of course, you can always register on the link listed on the Hope Squad of Carbon, Emery, and Grand Counties Facebook page.

Next up for the HOPE Squad of Carbon, Emery, and Grand Counties is the HOPE Festival set to take place on Dec. 15 at 6:00 pm inside the Notre Dame Hope Center on 185 North Carbon Avenue. Further details will be shared as the event approaches.