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In This Issue:
  • Annual Memorial Service - Sunday, Jan. 31st 
  • Important Announcement: New support group for individuals and families supporting someone who has attempted suicide
  • Less Than $350 to go for the GivingGrid!
  • Meet Our 2016 Boston Marathon Team
  • NightSide with Dan Rea
  • Welcome Our Newest Board Member, Matt Caldwell
  • Upcoming Events
  • Open Positions
Annual Memorial Service - Sunday, Jan. 31GivingGrid
Samaritans' Grief Support Services program will host 
the Annual Memorial service on Sunday, January 31, 2016. You can contribute through song, poem, letter or silent obs

When and Where
: 3-5PM at the  Unitarian Universalist Church in Arlington Center(630 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington), a social hour will follow the program to build upon the community of support we have created at Samaritans.ervance to remember your loved ones lost to suicide.  By coming together and memorializing our loved ones, we are able to share the everlasting imprint they have left in our hearts.

If you'd like to RSVP, submit something for the program, or receive more information, please contact our Grief Support Services manager
Emily Britt.
Important Announcement: New support group for individuals and families supporting someone who has attempted suicide Talkwithme
Recently support groups have been opened across the country and within Massachusetts for survivors of a suicide attempt. We recognize a need for individuals and families who support someone who has made a suicide attempt, and are proud to announce that Samaritans will be starting a new support group along with Riverside Trauma Center for individuals to talk openly with others who are also dealing with the complicated emotions following a loved one's suicide attempt. Not only will participants have the peer-to-peer component, Riverside Trauma Center clinician will co-facilitate and be able to provide critical clinical guidance.
 
Our hope is to provide loved ones of attempt survivors with an opportunity to join a community of peers who understand; it is a space to share their personal experiences and to learn healthy coping skills while supporting their loved ones in their daily lives.
 
The meeting will take place on Thursday evenings in Needham for six weeks, starting February 25. This is not a drop in group, participants commit to attending for six week. Those who are interested in participating should contact Emily Britt to begin the intake process.

Less than $350 to go for the GivingGrid!Annualmemorial
We're less than $350 away from our goal of $7,500 through the GivingGrid.  Will you help us reach our goal with a gift and picture of your loved one today?

Thank you to everyone who helped us raise over $100,000 through our year-end giving last month to help us answer calls in the wee hours of the night, ensure overnight texts are answered, and that all of our other services reamin available to those in need as well.

Our volunteers are here over Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Eve, and every other day to provide compassion to those in need via phone, text and online chat. We're so lucky to have over 300 dedicated volunteers to offer empathy 24/7. We still need your help to reach our goal of $7,500 on the GivingGrid!

Please give generously
and help provide 24/7 Helpline Support, Grief Support to those who have lost a loved one to suicide, and suicide prevention training to our community. A gift of any size will help prevent suicide. 

Meet our 2016 Boston Marathon Team! marathon
In 4 months, 14 dedicated people will run 26.2 miles for suicide prevention in the Boston Marathon. Some are survivors, running to remember siblings, parents and friends lost to suicide. Others are running to celebrate their success in a personal struggle with depression and bi-polar disorder.
 
As they run the country's most prestigious marathon on April 18, 22 people will die by suicide in the United States. Another 550 people will attempt to take their own lives.  
Thanks to the John Hancock Boston Marathon Non-Profit, this is the 9th consecutive year that Samaritans will have a team running the 26.2 miles. Meet three members of our outstanding team:
  • David Johnson: David is a patent attorney living in Milton. Originally from Minnesota, he has found memories of sneaking into the principal's office on Patriot's Day to call the Boston Globe sports desk to find out who won the Boston Marathon. He is running in memory of his 15 year old nephew Mathias, who was lost to suicide this past September, as well as his colleagues Joe and Sarah, and for all who have lost friends or family to suicide. Thanks to three generous anonymous donors, all gifts towards David's run will be tripled up to a generous cap. To learn more about David or make a donation towards his goal of $15,000, visit his CrowdRise page .
  • Jeff Price: Jeff is originally from Dayton, Ohio, and moved to Boston a few years ago to continue work as a program manager for the U.S. Air Force at Hanscom Air Force Base. He is also a Samaritans helpline volunteer, who covers some of our least-coveted shifts from 3-7AM. This will be his first marathon, he was motivated to run on behalf of Samaritans both through his work taking calls at the Helpline and as a way to raise awareness for this issue that plagues current and veteran members of the U.S. military. To learn more about Jeff or make a donation towards his goal of $11,000, visit his CrowdRise page.
  • Jena Roma: Jena is originally from Reading and currently lives in Peabody with her husband, 2 children, Doberman and 3 cats. She is a registered nurse at Bayridge Psychiatric hospital where she takes care of patients with a wide array of mental illnesses. Jena is running her first marathon in memory of her uncle, whom she lost to suicide in September 2011. To learn more about Jena or make a donation towards her goal of $5,000, visit her CrowdRise page.
  • Make a donation. Donate to the Samaritans team or directly to individual runners by visiting CrowdRise.
  • Qualified for the Boston Marathon and want to make your run more meaningful? Join our team!
  • Sponsor the team! Corporate sponsorship comes with a variety of great benefits, learn more here
  • Do you have access to bib numbers? We still have one Alternate Runner waiting to receive a bib for the 2016 Boston Marathon, as well as others willing to start training and fundraising at a moments notice.  Contact us
Contact Team Manager Eve Eve Rabinowitz with questions or to learn about supporting or joining the team.
We were on NightSide with Dan Rea
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Last week, Executive Director Steve Mongeau and Training and Quality Assurance Manager Beata Momtaz sat down with former Samaritans board member and veteran Boston television journalist Dan Rae to discuss suicide prevention on Dan's show, NightSide.  Click here to listen to the interview at WBZ CBS Boston.

Check out our top 20 favorite articles on mental health and suicide prevention from 2015
here and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and now Pinterest to keep up-to-date with Samaritans and mental health news. 
Welcome our newest board member, Matt Caldwellvolunteerparty
Matt Caldwell is originally from Cape Cod, and currently resides in Boston with his 2 year old English bulldog, Blue. Matt is a registered investment professional with The Kelliher Corbett Group at Morgan Stanley. Matt began at The Kelliher Corbett Group as an intern while attending Suffolk University, right up the hill from Samaritans' office.

"Through a good friend and Samaritans advocate I was introduced to this wonderful organization. Upon meeting with several board members/staff and learning more about the impactful, hands-on work Samaritans does for our community I felt compelled to get involved. It's exciting for me to have the opportunity to work with such a passionate group of people that are fully invested in the organization and its vital mission!"

Matt will be co-chairing the Breakfast for Hope committee, and looks forward to meeting more members of our community at the Breakfast for Hope on May 26th. 
Upcoming Events events
January
  • Have fun with support suicide prevention at Marathon Team Member Andrea's ComedyNight with Joey Voices- Thursday, January 28th, doors at 7PM, show at 8PM at The Tewksbury Country Club (1880 Main Street, Tewksbury, MA 01876), $30, contact us for more info
  • Samaritans: You are Not Alone documentary will be shown at the Arlington Community Forum's Mental Health and Suicide Awareness Night. The film will be followed by a panel discussion with Samaritans' Executive Director Steve Mongeau and Community Education and Outreach Manager Lauren Gablinske, as well as Arlington Youth Health and Safety and Arlington Youth Counseling Center mental health clinicians - Thursday, January 28th, 7:30 - 9:30PM at the Arlington High School Lowe Auditorium;   contact us to learn more
  • Remember your loved one at the Annual memorial, and remember to contact Grief Support Services Manager  Emily Britt if you would like to add something to this year's program or program book -  Sunday, January 31st from 3-5PM with reception to follow at the Arlington Unitarian Universalist Church  (630 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington MA 02456)
  • Join Marathon Team Member Veronica to party for suicide prevention with silent auction, raffles, door prizes, and a DJ - Sunday, January 31st from 6-9PM at the Worcester Lodge of Elks (233 Mills Street, Worcester MA 01545), $25; contact us for more info
February
  • Zumba for Suicide Prevention with Marathon Team Member Veronica - Friday, February 5th from 6-8:30PM at Fit FRIENDzy Studio (196 Boston Turnpike Road, Shrewsbury, MA 01545), $15; contact us for more info
May
  • Grief Support Services Volunteer Training to be held in May and June of 2016. Contact Grief Support Service manager Emily Britt for more information 

  • Mark your calendars for this year's Breakfast for Hope -
    Thursday, May 26th
    reception begins at 7AM, program at 8AM 
    at The Westin Copley Place
Open Positionscareers
Interested in preventing suicide as a Samaritans' staff member or intern? We are currently accepting applications for: