Event: International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day 2015 by SOS Date: 21 November 2015 (Saturday) Time: 12.00pm – 2.30pm Venue: Samaritans of Singapore

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is a day when suicide survivors gather in their local communities to remember those they’ve lost through suicide. In 2014, there were 278 locally organized events held around the world, including Singapore.

This will be the second consecutive year SOS (Samaritans of Singapore) is organising this event. The event is open to suicide survivors only and registration is compulsory.

A survivor of suicide is anyone affected by the suicide death of a loved or close one, such as family members, friends, and schoolmates. Survivors also include professional caregivers, and health and mental health providers whose client died by suicide.

This year’s event will feature a screening of Family Journeys: Hope and Healing After a Suicide. This new documentary produced by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention traces the ripple effect of a suicide through families and communities, and explores the challenges faced as they cope and heal.
A sharing session will also be facilitated by trained SOS professionals, creating a safe and confidential environment for suicide survivors to share their stories.

Executive Director of SOS, Ms Christine Wong, noted that reaching out to those left behind in the aftermath of a suicide is an essential aspect of suicide prevention as suicide survivors are at greater risk of suicide themselves. Ms Wong commented, “A suicide death can have complex and multi-faceted effects on the lives of those left behind. It is crucial to provide emotional support to suicide survivors as they cope and heal.”

Recognising the importance of reaching out to this group of individuals, SOS also runs the LOSS (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) initiative in partnership with the Singapore Police Force and Coroner’s Court. LOSS is the only programme of its kind in Singapore, providing emotional support to those affected by the suicide death of a loved one through email, phone calls, SMSes, mail, and counseling sessions where necessary.

In the last three years (FY12–14), the SOS LOSS programme has attended to approximately 800 suicide survivors, and initiated over 3900 calls and emails as follow up or to provide emotional support.

To register or find out more about International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day 2015, email SOS at pat@sos.org.sg or call the SOS 24-hour hotline at 1800-221 4444 (manned by trained volunteers). Registration closes 13 November 2015.