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| February 2012 | Vol 1, Issue 1 |
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Breaking the Silence
Chapter Newsletter |
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| Greetings! | We hope this newsletter finds you doing well, enjoying this mild winter, and getting ready for Superbowl Weekend in Indiana!
Please take a moment to review all the information and upcoming opportunties to create awareness and educate Indiana about suicide prevention in each section of our newsletter.
As always, if you fear someone is in crisis- please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at the number below! Take every threat of self harm seriously! |
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THE CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP DRIVE FOR 2012 HAS BEGUN! SHOW YOUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT BY BEING A SPONSOR FOR ONE OF THE AFSP INDIANA EVENTS IN 2012
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Are you a small business owner? CEO of a large corporation? Know someone who is? AFSP needs corporate sponsors for our upcoming Out of the Darkness Community Walks in September & October around Indiana. Sponsorships can range from cash donations to food to raffle prizes and everything in between (e.g. drinks, snacks, fruit, pizza, gift certificates, hotel vouchers, airline tickets, theme park tickets, etc.).
We need volunteers to contact vendors/corporations for these donations! Even if you can call/email from home and make the arrangements, we can send someone locally to pick it up. Or, you may know of someone who would ship things to us - for example, an out-of-state corporate headquarters may want to donate items or gift certificates for a raffle prize and ship it to our Indiana Chapter office. (Hotels, airlines, national businesses, etc.)
Call us at 317.774.1377 for more details. We will supply the paperwork for you to give the vendors (AFSP annual report, 501c3 certificate, sponsorship letter, etc.). Vendors will be acknowledged at the event they choose to be a sponsor for, plus they get their names on our OOTD Walk T-shirts for that specific event, which is great exposure in the local area.
Visit the Chapter webpages at www.afsp.org (search Indiana), orwww.outofthedarkness.org for walk specific details.
Contact the Chapter Chair- Lisa Brattain at Lbrattain4afsp@aol.com or 317.774.1377 for more details. |
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Non- AFSP Event
Indianapolis OOTD Walk Sponsor
Indiana Psychiatric Society
2012 Tri-State Integrative Mental Health Conference
Hosted by the Indiana Psychiatric Society
West Baden Springs Hotel, West Baden Springs, Indiana
Accredited for 12.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits/12.0 CEO
This conference will offer interactive session on EHRs, as well as discussions on social media and technology, addiction, dual diagnosis, DSM 5, community health center update and more. Includes national speakers.
Regular rate in effect until March 31, 2012. Late fee applies for registration after March 31.
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| Survivor Outreach Program, Support Groups & Upcoming Training |  Survivor Outreach Program
Peer-Based Bereavement Supportfor Survivors of Suicide Loss
After a suicide, those left behind often: - wonder if there is anyone out there that understands
- need local resources for support
- want reliable information about suicide and its aftermath, but aren't sure where to find it
Through AFSP's Survivor Outreach Program, trained local volunteers are on hand to: - meet in person with newly-bereaved survivors and their families
- listen with compassion and offer reassurance that surviving a suicide loss is possible
- recommend helpful things to read
- provide information about support groups and other local resources
A sympathetic ear and a helping hand. Most survivors who have met others who have also experienced suicide loss can attest to the power of this shared connection. It is often a fellow survivor who can recommend a book, connect someone to a support group or another resource, or simply provide reassurance. LEARN HOW YOU CAN VOLUNTEER FOR THIS PROGRAM
How do I request an outreach visit? Simply contact your local AFSP Survivor Outreach Program Coordinator. (See below.) You'll be asked about your particular loss in order to match your request to a team of two trained volunteer survivors. Soon after, one of the members of the outreach team will contact you to schedule the visit at a convenient and comfortable location of your choice. The visit generally lasts about an hour.
I know someone who is newly bereaved. Can I request an outreach visit for this person? Please feel free to contact your your local AFSP Survivor Outreach Program Coordinator for more information about the program and share that information with anyone who needs it. AFSP volunteers only meet with bereaved families and friends who have personally requested a visit.
Is this a counseling service? No, this is not a mental health or counseling service. Outreach volunteers can provide information to the newly bereaved on how to find a qualified mental health professional.
I'm worried that a friend may be suicidal. Can I request an outreach visit for this person? Please call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) if you are worried that someone may be thinking of suicide so you can speak with a qualified crisis counselor. AFSP's Survivor Outreach Program is not appropriate in these cases.
______________________________________________________________________________ Looking for a Survivor of Suicide Loss Support Group in Indiana? Here is a current listing of the 18 support groups around the state of Indiana :Support Groups ______________________________________________________________________________ WOULD YOU LIKE TO START A SUPPORT GROUP IN YOUR COMMUNITY? Indiana is in need of more support groups in uncovered areas around Indiana. The Indiana Chapter of AFSP is hosting a facilitator training to teach those interested in hosting a support the skills necessary to run a peer based support group for your community. Facilitating Suicide Bereavement Support Groups This comprehensive hands-on training program helps survivors of suicide loss and interested others learn the "how-to's" of creating and facilitating a suicide bereavement support group for adults. The two-day program combines lecture, interactive discussion and role-playing with feedback. Who should attend? The program is appropriate for anyone who would like to start a new group, as well as those who currently facilitate a group and would like to increase their knowledge and skills. Survivors of two years or more, interested others and mental health professionals are all welcome. AFSP cannot provide any type of certification, endorsement of support groups, or continuing education credits, but can provide a letter confirming attendance.
The training is not a good fit for survivors who have lost a loved one to suicide within the last two years because it is not meant to serve as a healing conference.
Indianapolis, IN: April 13-14, 2012 - Radisson Hotel Indianapolis Airport - Click here for registration details
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| Survivor Spotlight ~ Hoosiers travel to Washington DC |  Our Voices, Our Stories, Our Desire to Encourage Change, Our Loved Ones~ and their stories... It ALL matters! We have the ability and the opportunity to BE the change we want to see in the world.
On February 8th, 6 Indiana Residents/Chapter Volunteers/Survivors will be joining approximately 240 representatives of 53 AFSP Chapters across the Country for 5 days in Washington DC to attend the 3rd annual AFSP Advocacy Forum and the annual AFSP Leadership Conference. February 9th will be a day of meetings on Capitol Hill with both Senate Offices and all 9 Indiana Congressional Representative Offices to discuss Federal Suicide Prevention priorities for 2012. We will then spend several days learning about new AFSP programs, research, awareness opportunities, etc. We will have lots of great ideas and resources to bring back to share with our chapter committees and volunteers, to continue to grow the AFSP resources and opportunities for the State of Indiana!
Indiana attendees: District 2- Carrie Kush-South Bend District 7- Lisa Downs- Indianapolis (Former Los Angeles, Calif. Chapter Chair- Vignette)District 9- Gage Donahue-Indiana Resident/ Louisville Chapter Leader
Interested in promoting change both on Capitol Hill and in our own back yard here in Indiana? Become an Indiana Field Advocate TODAY! Happy 25th Anniversary to AFSP! Thank you for your dedication to Suicide Prevention, for giving Survivors of Suicide Loss a place to employ our voices and an opportunity to make a difference! We are grateful to be a part of such an amazing organization! |
| AFSP Indiana Events planned for 2012 | 
Out of the Darkness Campus Walks
Spring is just around the corner, and we have several schools planning to host Campus Walks around Indiana to bring awareness to their schools, peers and communities.
Currently- the school that has officially posted their event to the www.CampusWalks.org website is:
Keep watching the website in the next few weeks for Spring Campus walk events to be posted at Ball State University, Butler University, Columbus Indiana, Purdue North Campus, and possibly one for IUPUI.
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Don't forget the Facilitator Training listed in an above section for April 13 & 14! We need your help to build resources for survivors of suicide loss in the state of Indiana.
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3rd Annual Ride to Silence the Stigma
June 9, 2012
Harley Davidson of Indianapolis (Northside)
Ride in MEMORY of a loved one lost to suicide, Ride in HOPE for those living with depression, Ride in SUPPORT of survivors of suicide loss and those who struggle daily with depression...
Registration 9:30am / Kickstands Up at 10:30am
Harley Davidson of Indianapolis (Northside) - 4146 East 96thStreet, Indianapolis
Pre-register online at http://afsp.donordrive.com/event/INride/
Registration : $25 Per Bike
Join us for the Ride, PRIZES & Food (provided before and after)
For additional information, please contact Doug at DBrattain4afsp@aol.com ,
Jerry at JHellyer@HDofIndy.com or (317)774-1377
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The 2012 Out of the Darkness Fall Community Walks are beginning to be posted!
Save the Dates
Register Online Today, Start a Team, Help us raise our fundraising goals to provide free programs to schools in the state of Indiana.
9-15-2012 - Indianapolis Out of the Darkness Walk
10-27-2012 - Bloomington Out of the Darkness Walk
Watch the website for walks to be posted in Chesterton, Munster, Fort Wayne, South Bend, and possibly Evansville, Terre Haute and Benton County
If YOU are interested in participating on the planning committee for a walk in your community or starting a walk in a community that currently doesn't host this event, please contact the chapter chair, Lisa Brattain at Lbrattain4afsp@aol.com (or) 317.774.1377
Awareness is the beginning of a healthy conversation about depressive illnesses and suicide prevention.
Help us Silence the Stigma that keeps so many struggling alone!
Please also keep an eye on our Chapter Webpages for updated information about events and programs being provided by the AFSP Indiana Chapter.
Volunteers are always needed for all AFSP events~ please don't hesitate to ask for more information if you are interested in getting more involved!
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Peace & Blessings,
Lisa Brattain - Chapter Chair
& The AFSP Indiana Board of Directors
~ 2010 Chapter of the Year for a Mid-Size Market
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Indiana Chapter
P.O. Box 1793
Noblesville, Indiana 46061
317.774.1377
Join our efforts to Silence the Stigma of Suicide and Depression!
In the US, a person dies by suicide every 14.6 minutes.
Every 15 minutes, someone is left to make sense of this tragic loss.
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