Suicide Prevention Forum Touches Many Lives

Internal Ways® in the media - 11/6/2011

Grafton, Mass -Internal Ways' first Grafton Suicide Prevention Forum took place Friday night inside Grafton High School Auditorium wiht a number of presenters and families in attendance. Representatives from Internal Ways, Depressed Anonymous, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Samaritans, PFLAG, as well as family members who had survived a suicide attempt all spoke to Grafton residents about the signals of depression and suicidal behavior.

Presenters Included Roger Trahan, Jr. (Grafton Resident), Steve White (Depressed Anonymous), Julie Pingree (Internal Ways), Kimberly Gleason (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention), Debbie Helms (Samaritans), Susan Flynn and Molly Flynn (Family Survivors) and Zac Brokenrope (PFLAG).

Vickie Harding Wakeen of Wakeen Photography in Grafton, one of the evening's sponsors, thanked Pingree in a message, saying that suicide prevention is an important matter that needs to be talked about.

"I truly believe that what you did and are doing is so important to this community," Wakeen said. "If we don't all start with our small towns, and with the people we know, this movement to decrease the stigma over talking about suicide prevention will never happen. "Could you please express my gratitude to all the presenters last night, most especially to those who shared their personal and painful stories.  They should be proud of their courage to push through the pain and come out of it a stronger person.  I would really like to see another forum in town real soon, perhaps in the early spring.  I'd like to send these thoughts also to the powers that be ... principal, superintendent, media, etc. and I hope others will too.  We need to get this out in the open to save more lives." Internal Ways intends on making the forum a twice-yearly event.

Grafton Suicide Prevention Forum 2011 - Presenters: Roger Trahan, Jr. (Grafton Resident), Steve White (Depressed Anonymous), Julie Pingree (Internal Ways), Kimberly Gleason (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention), Debbie Helms (Samaritans), Susan Flynn and Molly Flynn (Family Survivors) and Zac Brokenrope (PFLAG) Photo Credit: courtesy Wakeen Photography