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 (Columbus Indiana, 2012)
Walking alongside 826 pairs of shoes which represent the number of Hoosiers that died by suicide in 2009 (most recent statistics) |
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Breaking the Silence
AFSP Indiana Chapter Newsletter |
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| Greetings! |  September brings with it lots of new information and opportunity to take action, create awareness, make a difference and education others. Please take a few moments to read through this months newsletter, you may find the gem that speaks to your heart. You may find your "call to action" for mental health. You may find an opportunity for healing, and opportunity to share your story- because each story is important!
The Public Policy Division of AFSP was recently involved in the Congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus in Washington DC- Read More
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| TEXT TO DONATE |  The easiest way to make a $10 donation to the walk of your choice: TEXT TO DONATE! To Give $10 to your walk Text: AFSP (CityCode) to 85944 and reply YES to confirm your gift!
CityCodes for Indiana: Bloomington IN - BLOOMINGTON
Chesterton IN - PORTER Evansville IN - EVANSVILLE Fort Wayne IN - FTWAYNE Northwest IN - MUNSTER Benton Co IN - BENTON Indianapolis IN - INDY South Bend IN - SBEND (walk will be posted soon) Terre Haute IN - HAUTE (walk will be posted soon) Union City IN - UNIONCITY
Please note: all Text Donations will be directed towards GENERAL walk funds, not a specific walker or team.
You MUST have a space between AFSP and CITYCODE in order for your donation to be processed. Please be sure to reply YES when you received the confirmation text message for your donation to be processed. |
| Survivor Spotlight ~ Carmen Diaz |
My name is Carmen Diaz. I am from Indianapolis, Indiana and recently started my junior year as a Social Work and Counseling student at Ball State University- Muncie,IN. 
I have two older brothers, Nicholas (21) and Lorenzo (23), and a younger half-sister named Gabrielle (13). I initially became an advocate for suicide prevention and awareness after the suicide of my father, Ricardo, in May of 2002, but it was not until I started college that I become comfortable, aware or understanding of my own grief so that I could apply this to serving others. In October of 2007, my father's half-brother, Tony, also died by suicide. My family took this loss especially close to heart. My grandfather is seen to us as a very strong and honorable man for having to bury two of his sons from suicide. When I was a senior in high school, one of my friends named Harrison also died by suicide in December 2009. I went to an alternative or also known as charter school, with only 135 students for the entire high school, so all of the students shared a closely knit and familiar bond with each other. I feel as though I have spent a large majority of my lifetime trying to avoid the scary yet oddly close ideal of suicide that I placed on the back burner because I was full of shame, guilt and lots of questions. I definitely felt alone, and that everybody who knew me would look at me and instantly think of my father in a negative way. There were a few things people could say that would hurt my feelings like, "I have so much to do I could just shoot myself" or "It is selfish and a sin to kill yourself". Another thing I noticed was that people typically did not feel comfortable talking about my father and suicide because it is such a blacklisted topic. Sometimes I feel like my father's suicide could have been prevented much more efficiently if the people closest to him were aware of the red flags or warning signs of mental illness and crisis intervention. I became involved with the suicide prevention and awareness club on campus, the Alive Campaign, after the first few months of my freshman year in 2010. This happened when the founder of To Write Love on Her Arms came to speak on his organization, and the Alive Campaign had an informational booth outside the hall. I immediately knew this was going to be great for me. In September of 2011 our club hosted a twenty-four hour balloon release. We were in the middle of campus in thirty degree weather, releasing balloons every 15 minutes because that was the statistical rate of suicide deaths at the time. I currently am the Director of Information on the Executive Board for Alive, and I am really looking forward to the events we have coming up this year. We were pleased with the number + variety of students who came to our first meeting last week as we finalized our plans for National Suicide Prevention Week. I am also an active member of the Indiana Suicide Prevention Coalition East Central District, which Alive is teaming up with to promote the week's events together in Muncie. Next week the Alive Campaign and myself are hosting a candlelight vigil in honor of those who have died by/attempted suicide. There will also be guest key note speakers who are familiar with the field. My goals for this year are to maintain a strong club attendance throughout the year so that the campaign can successfully continue after the graduation of many of our Executive Board members. Another goal is to silence the stigma of saying "committed suicide" or "killed themselves" to "died by suicide". Hopefully that can be a start to breaking down those uncomfortable walls people build up in fears that talking about the act will make it happen upon themselves. The Alive Campaign and ISPC East Central district are working to plan fundraisers and creating hopes of receiving grants and donations so that our active advocates and members may receive proper training on what to do during crisis intervention. My ultimate branding in life is butterflies, because my father used to always sing the song "Butterfly Kisses" to me as his precious, little girl. My ultimate motivation comes deep within my heart, because I send out those butterfly kisses to Heaven and back with my dad as I feel closer to him while I serve others in this field. I always said I would give it all away to have my dad back, but I am so thankful to be a part of something that allows me to live and work in his honor every day.
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| Quick Links |
AFSP Indiana is looking for Indiana Colleges to sponsor using ISP- contact the chapter for more information. |
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More Than Sad
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Are the Schools in your community using
If you aren't sure, We recommend that you ask.
More Than Sad is an AFSP program, listed on the SPRC.org Best Practices Registry, created specifically for Middle School and High School students to educate them about varied forms of depression and how to get help for themselves or a peer that may be showing signs of a depressive illness. Depression is the leading cause of suicide. It is much easier to talk to teens about preventing suicide if we first educate them on the possible causes of suicide. More Than Sad also has an accompanying DVD Presentation for teachers. staff and parents. The program can be administered by a school counselor or other appointed staff as deemed by the school. Each program comes with a facilitators guide with step by step instructions on implentation. The Indiana Chapter of AFSP offers this program to ALL Indiana schools for FREE! Please have your school contact the Chapter at 317.774.1377 or at Indiana@afsp.org to get their FREE copy of More Than Sad.
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| Walk Day Details |
All the Out of the Darkness Walks are Rain or Shine Events. If it happens to be raining on your walk day, please be prepared by bringing an umbrella or coat.
The walks take place in a variety of places in each location has their own specific rules. Some are wheelchair accessible, some are not (some take place on wooded paths in parks or nature preserves). Some are stroller friendly and some are even pet friendly as long as your pet is on a leash and doesn't bite. If you have questions about a specific walk location and what is allowed or not allowed, please contact the walk coordinator that is listed on the specific event page to get more details about the location.
If you take pictures during the walk, please be sure to share them with the chapter, so they can be shared with the other walkers that attended the walk. Please use a program called "Dropbox" and send them to Indiana@afsp.org |
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| Indiana Out of the Darkness Walk Season begins! | |
The Indianapolis Walk, on September 15th, will be the first walk to kick off the 10 Indiana OOTD Walk Season at the end of National Suicide Prevention Week (September 9-15) Video provided by DoItIndy (a sponsor of the Indianapolis Walk). DoItIndy Video Promo for Indy OOTD Walk. Hope to see you there!
Click the date to register online today!
South Bend OOTD Walk - TBA in September (watch the website)
Terre Haute OOTD Walk - TBA in September (watch the website)
Donations can be made online, or mailed in to our National Office (please include this form with each donation mailed in), or you can turn in walk donations when you arrive at the walk.
in the United States, a person dies by suicide every 14.2 minutes, claiming more than 36,000 lives each year. It is estimated that an attempt is made every 38 seconds, with close to one million people attempting suicide annually. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. among adults 18-65, the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults, and individuals ages 65 and older account for 16 percent of all suicide deaths. This is a public health issue that does not discriminate by age, gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. Walk to save lives, find an event near you and register today!
AFSP funds research aimed at improving our understanding of suicide and ways to prevent it as well as educational programs to increase awareness about prevention, warning signs and the psychiatric illnesses that can lead to suicide.Walk to raise funds, find an event near you and register today!
Suicide is a national health problem
that takes an enormous toll on family, friends, co-workers, and the entire community. AFSP provides opportunities for survivors of suicide loss to get involved through a wide variety of educational, outreach, awareness, advocacy and fundraising programs. Walk to honor loved ones, find an event near you and register today!
Food for thought: Individuals that come together for any cause have usually been touched personally by the causes they are willing to volunteer their time to, and will financially support these causes. Very much in the same way that those affected by breast cancer, or any other form of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc have come together to form a community to raise awareness about these causes, raise funds to drive progression in research for improvements in detection and treatment options for the future of the people they care about, and to drive public policy that supports their causes.
WE are the survivors that will be the voice for depression illnesses and suicide prevention. If WE aren't willing to take action, create awareness, share our stories, support each other, raise funds to help drive research, educate our schools and communities, etc... WHO WILL?
Each survivor (survivors of loss, attempt survivor, depressive illness survivor) is invited to become part of this community and we will welcome the strengths that you each bring to the table. AFSP provides the avenue for each survivor to take action, employ their voice, make a difference, find healing and community, and be a part of the AFSP movement in Indiana ... joining efforts with the other 54 AFSP chapters across the country. Help us silence the stigma of suicide and depression in Indiana! We Need You!
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We are appreciative of your past support and we are asking that you continue your support of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Indiana Chapter by participating in one of the Out of the Darkness Walks this Fall 2012! It is a great way to raise awareness about Mental Health and support Suicide Prevention in the State of Indiana. There are several opportunities to get involved:
There is NO registration fee to participate and NO minimum fundraising requirement. Note: To get the free walk shirt, walkers will need to collect $150 in donations. All donations to the walk allow the Chapter to provide much needed resources to our communities for free.
2. Organize a Walk Team! Get friends, family, colleagues, alumni, neighbors, etc to join you on a walk team. Creating a team is simple and east to get the the word out. Click "Register Now" on the walk page and it will take walk you through the step by step process of creating your own team. You simply need to share that team page with all your potential team members and ask them to join the team. Don't forget to print your PARTICIPANT PACKET for team members. It contains team building tips and fundraising tips along with lots of other helpful event information!
3. Volunteer! You can sign up to volunteer at the event when you click "Register Now". Then you can choose to Volunteer and Walk, or Just one or the other. It is up to you. Volunteers should reach out to the walk chair listed on the event page.
4. Be a Walk Sponsor! Sponsorships begin at $250! For more information on sponsorship packages- please contact the walk chair posted to the walk page of your choice for details. It would show the community that you care about Mental Health and it affect on individuals, families, friends and communities by adding your logo to the backs of the 2012 walk shirts. Help us build a STRONG COMMUNITY!
5. Help SPREAD THE WORD! Post Flyers around town, email your friends and family about the event, share why you are walking and encourage others! Please help us get the word out!
6. Donations! Donations can be made online to support a specific walkers, a specific team or just making a general donation to a specific walk. Donations can also be made by writing a check payable to AFSP, or cash donations are welcome as well. A suggestion for donations needing to be turned in within 2 weeks prior to a walk date- please hold on to them and turn them in when you check in at the walk. Mailing a donation into the National office to be posted will likely take atleast 2 weeks to post to your walk donordrive page. Turning your collected donations on walk day will help us have a more accurate totals on walk day. If you need to mail a check or cash donation in to National, please be sure to use the Offline Donation Form with each individual donation you collect.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE SUPPORT OF SUICIDE PREVENTION! |
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| World Suicide Prevention Day & National Suicide Prevention Week | 
Take 5 to Save Lives on
World Suicide Prevention Day
SEPTEMBER 10
AFSP, as part of the National Council for Suicide Prevention, is spreading the word about World Suicide Prevention Day on Sept. 10 and Take 5 to Save Lives, a new public awareness and education campaign that encourages everyone to take five minutes to help prevent suicide.
By taking five minutes to get involved and become informed, you will be part of a national movement to save lives. The campaign asks supporters to take five steps:
- Learn the warning signs for suicide
- Join the online movement to prevent suicide
- Spread the word
- Support a friend
- Reach out if you need help
AFSP is encouraging everyone to use their social media channels to spread the word about World Suicide Prevention Day and lend their support. For more information, go to Take5ToSaveLives.org.
In addition, the NCSP along with federal agencies will be announcing the formation of an Action Alliance to Prevent Suicide on Sept. 10 from the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. A press conference has been scheduled to recognize World Suicide Prevention Day and lay the foundation for a national suicide prevention effort through this partnership.
World Suicide Prevention Day is sponsored by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organization. Click here to learn more
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What can YOU do to help raise awareness during
National Suicide Prevention Week?
September 9-15
Sunday, September 9th - Write a Letter to the Editor of your local newspaper sharing your story and why suicide prevention efforts are important to you, reminding them that this is National Suicide Prevention Week.
Monday, September 10th - WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY- Take 5 to Save Lives (See above). Take a moment to familiarize yourselves with Indiana's "state suicide prevention plan" which will be launched by the Indiana Department of Mental Health and Addiction during National Suicide Prevention Week (weblink to view the plan will become available upon launch). The Plan will be displayed at the Indianapolis OOTD Walk. Plan Pamphlets will be available as a take away (see the DMHA booth at the walk).
Tuesday, September 11th - Help circulate the electronic petition (as soon as it is available we will share it with you! Be sure to sign the petition that will be present at ALL Indiana OOTD walks this FALL) that will call on the winner of the Presidential election in November to implement the final mental health parity act regulations.
Wednesday, September 12th - Those Participating in Out of the Darkness Community Walks: Extend an invitation to your local, state, and federal elected officials to educate them about the important efforts being made in the communities they serve to Prevent Suicide. If you are unsure what district you live in or who your elected officials are, please let us know, we will get you the correct contact information.
Thursday, September 13th - A CALL TO ACTION! Increase community awareness of military personnel, military families, and veterans in our communities and share what WE can do to help if someone we know is at risk of suicide. The local VA is a great resource for getting our Veterans HELP! Please see the Veterans Crisis Line Website for more details, or visit the Richard L Roudebush VAMC website for more details.
Friday, September 14th - Indiana FIELD ADVOCATES and volunteers, consider submiting your story to be shared in future AFSP Indiana Breaking the Silence Newsletters. In a few paragraphs, share why suicide prevention is important to you, how suicide and/or depression have impacted your life, and what you are doing today to raise awareness. Be sure to send a seperate jpeg file photo of your loved one, or you and your loved one. We will contact you prior to your story being shared. Send all stories to the attention of Lisa at Indiana@afsp.org
Saturday, September 15th - Walk in the Indianapolis Out of the Darkness Walk Register TODAY!
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| International Survivors of Suicide Day |  November 17, 2012
14th Annual International Survivors of Suicide Day
Day of Healing for Bereavement After Suicide
1 million people die by suicide every year. They leave behind countless family members and friends to make sense of it.
In November, survivors of suicide loss come together at healing conferences in their communities and online for support and guidance.
If you have lost someone to suicide, this conference is for you. You'll get to hear from other survivors about how they cope. The program also features experts sharing what we now know about suicide and grief.
There are currently 5 Sites registered for Indiana. If you are interested in hosting an International Survivors of Sucide Day Event in your city, Please See the step by step instructions on How to Organize a Conference . Please contact the chapter to ensure that your event is included as a chapter sponsored event. |
| Survivor Outreach Program & LifeKeeper Quilt Program | 
Survivor Outreach Program
Peer-Based Bereavement Support for 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 and visit 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
If you are interested in becoming an Outreach Volunteer in your community or you are interested in an Outreach Visit, Please contact the Indiana Survivor Outreach Coordinator: Lisa Downs at 317.493.6738 or LisaDowns4AFSP@yahoo.com
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Thank you for your continued support of AFSP and the Indiana Chapter! Our volunteers are amazing!
If you are unsure of what to do, do not hesitate to call the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for help!
Sincerely,
Lisa Brattain, Chapter Chair
& the AFSP Indiana Board of Directors
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Indiana Chapter
PO Box 1793
Noblesville, IN 46061
317.774.1377
In the US, a person dies by suicide every 14.2 minutes, every 15 minutes someone is left to make sense of this tragic loss.
Silence the Stigma of Depression and Suicide
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