February 2014

Notes and Events

Surviving Suicide Loss

Coping with Complicated, Traumatic Grief

By Julie Anne Wilbert, M.S., M.A.

For Anne Helgason, losing her 20-year old son, Shamus, to suicide resulted in severe anxiety. She'd wake up in the night with horrible panic attacks. Feeling as though she was going to "crumble," severe anxiety landed Helgason, 55, in the emergency room.

Read the full article here.

Julie Anne Wilbert, M.S., M.A. is a public health professional, freelance writer, and survivor of suicide loss.

Welcome to the Team

Sarah Hellier joined SAVE as a Program Assistant in January, 2014. Sarah recently returned home from a year long volunteer program with Americorps NCCC. Sarah is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where she majored in Political Science and Journalism.

As SAVE's newest employee Sarah works with the Business Manager Francene Rolstad in processing incoming orders and requests for educational materials, assists with coordinating the volunteer program, and assists with programs and events as needed. Sarah said she is excited to work in a non-profit organization and added, "working at SAVE is great because you're constantly surrounded by people that have an incredible passion to gets things done. I truly feel like I help someone every day."

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ACT NOW!

Suicide Prevention Legislation Introduced in Congress on 2/25/14

Suicide prevention research is vitally important to understanding how we can prevent suicide. SAVE believes that the Federal Government must substantially increase funding of suicide research in the hopes of obtaining similar reductions in mortality that have resulted from strategic investments in other major public health concerns.

SAVE was an instrumental part of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention's three-year study of what became the Research Prioritization Task Force (RPTF) and urges Congress to carefully evaluate the recently released recommendations.

What can you do?

Contact your Representatives in Congress and let them know you support this legislation! Use the following information to contact your Legislators:

The Message

SAVE urges Senator X to support (S.2035) or Representative Y to support (H.R. 4075), the Suicide Prevention Research INnovaTion Act of 2014 (SPRINT ACT).

S. 2035 (Begich D-AK) and H.R. 4075 (Barber-AZ-2), the Suicide Prevention and Research Innovation Act (SPRINT), provides funding to the National Institute of Mental Health to support suicide prevention and brain research. Including studies designed to reduce the risk of self-harm, suicide, and interpersonal violence, especially in rural communities with a shortage of mental health services. New funding of $40 million a year, 2015 through 2019.

How to Contact

Phone: US Capitol Switchboard

202-224-3121

Website to find email: www.senate.gov or www.house.gov

Find your Representatives by zip code!

Thank the Authors!

Please also reach out to both Representative Barber and Senator Begich to thank them for their leadership on suicide prevention research!

Contact

Rep. Barber's staff: Lauren Alfred

Senator Begich's staff: Diane DiSanto

Calendar of Events

Emotions in Motion 5K

Chesterfield, VA 3/8/14

Richmond, VA 3/22/14

Marlborough, MA 4/5/14

South Boston, VA 5/17/14

Suicide Awareness Memorial

Minneapolis, MN

April 26th

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

SEETHER Presents Rise Above Fest

May 10th, 2014

Banger, ME

Darling's Waterfront Pavilion

Get your tickets here!

9th Annual Fashion Show

May 29th, 2014

Minneapolis, MN

Nicollet Island Pavilion

Tour de SAVE

August 2nd, 2014

Want to organize a Tour de SAVE in your city? Email Linda Mars.

November 1st - Save the date for SAVE's 25th! This event will be held at the Minneapolis Airport Hilton at 6pm.

View our full calendar of events here.

For more info on hosting an event in your community, contact Linda Mars @ lmars@save.org.

Research Agenda

First-Ever National Research Agenda for Suicide Prevention

The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention's Research Prioritization Task Force (RTF) was tasked with developing a national research agenda aimed at identifying research pathways to reduce morbidity and mortality by at least 20% in 5 years and 40% or greater in 10 years, if fully implemented. The RPTF announced that A Prioritized Research Agenda for Suicide Prevention: An Action Plan to Save Lives is now available and can be accessed electronically at www.suicide-research-agenda.org.

SAVE played a lead role with the Task Force in developing this national plan for suicide prevention research. We hope that this Agenda will help move the field forward and to save lives!

Rise Above Fest

SAVE is excited to partner with multi-platinum rockers Seether for the 2nd "Rise Above Fest" on May 10th in Bangor, ME. The festival received its name from the song, "Rise Above This," written by Seether member Shaun Morgan. The song was written as a message to his brother, who died by suicide six years ago and before he had the opportunity to hear it.

SAVE Executive Director and national expert on the topic Dan Reidenberg, says "We are thrilled to have Seether join us in promoting awareness about mental illness, depression and suicide prevention. Suicide is a national public health crisis and The Rise Above Fest provides exposure and increases our efforts in helping those struggling with suicidal thoughts and intentions."

Headlining this year's festival will be Avenged Sevenfold and features Motorhead, Hellyeah, Black Stone Cherry, Trivium, Kyng, Devour the Day, Muckler's Circle, Skindred, and others at Darling's Waterfront Pavilion in Bangor, ME. This all day, multi-stage festival will feature local artists as well. Tickets are on sale and proceeds from the sale of VIP Experience packages will benefit SAVE. In addition, $2 per general admission ticket sold will be donated to SAVE! Custom designed limited edition festival posters and t-shirts will be available, along with an exciting festival auction.

If you are unable to attend the event in person, you can still feel like you are a part of it and help SAVE. We will be having an online auction that will include unique items from the bands as well as many other great packages. Some of the items that have already started to roll in include signed vinyls and a custom made Rise Above Fest poker table valuing over $60K. Artists such as Tom Morello and Ke$ha have already contributed. Stay tuned to learn more about the auction and new information on the event at http://riseabovefest.com/. Also, please share this with your family and friends so we can have a sell out crowd at the event!

Click here for Tickets!

College Students

Are you a Minnesota college student? Get involved today! SAVE in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health is hosting a VIDEO PSA CONTEST.

Create an original 30-second PSA (Public Service Announcement), and submit your entry by March 31, 2014. A panel of mental health professionals will select a winner to receive $500 in cash! Second place, third place and audience choice prizes too!

Click HERE to read the Rules and Regulations and learn how to get started!

Follow contest updates on Facebook or like and share with friends.

25th Annual Suicide Awareness Memorial

Join us for the 25th Annual Suicide Awareness Memorial on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina, MN for a remembrance and tribute to lives lost to suicide.

This year's keynote speaker is visual journalist Scott Nychay. Recipient of over twenty awards, Nychay is a survivor, sharing his personal journey with mental illness and how creativity and art have become coping mechanisms for mood disorders and stigmas.

Registration for the event is at 8:30 a.m. and the Memorial is from 9 a.m. - 12 noon. For more information, visit our events calendar.

High School Youth

SAVE and the MN Department of Health invite all Minnesota youth grades 9-12* to participate in SAVE's Youth Summit and $1,000 Video PSA Contest!

This year's Youth Summit will be held at the MSP Airport Hilton in Bloomington, MN on Sunday, October 12 through Monday, October 13, 2014.

Summit participants will learn about suicide prevention, mental health and wellness, resiliency, team building, conflict resolution, and how to create a safe and effective video PSA. After the Summit, teams will return home, and work together under the leadership of an adult advisor to develop their public awareness videos using their own writing, design, illustration, photography and film making skills. Prior experience with filmmaking or video production is not necessary! Just bring your creativity and desire to make a difference in the lives of others.

Winners of the PSA video contest will share in the top prize of $1000, with the second place team sharing $500, and the third place team $250. Additionally, the winning team will have its message submitted for broadcast during a Minnesota Twins game, and across the state and worldwide through social media, SAVE's website, and news releases.

To follow the Youth Summit on Facebook, click HERE!

*Applicants and contest participants must be in high school during the Fall 2014- Spring 2015 School Year. Seniors graduating in 2014 will not be eligible to participate. If you are a graduating senior, click here

for details about the college PSA Contest!

Miss Minneapolis to be a SAVE Ambassador

Julia is a senior at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, studying Political Science and Sociology. She is running for Miss Minnesota in order to be the change she wants to see in this world.

In January of 2013 Julia lost a high school and college friend to suicide. After finding out that he suffered from extreme untreated depression for four years, she decided to never again remain silent about seeking treatment for depression, and was going to make sure as many people as possible treated it before it was too late for them too.

Read Julia's full article here.

Puravida Bracelets

A five week college graduation trip to Costa Rica turned into a business venture for two Southern California friends Griffin Thall and Paul Goodman.

During a visit to a small community in Costa Rica, they crossed paths with two men named Jorge and Joaquin who were peddling bracelets on the street.

Upon returning to California, Paul and Griffin decided to put the bracelets into a bowl at a local boutique shop close to home. It didn't take long until they all sold out and people were asking for more. They realized these simple string bracelets were more than just your everyday bracelet, they were a movement. Pura Vida is more than just a saying, it's a lifestyle representing the simple things in life.

Charity Collection

The 'Charity Collection' was created to #GIVEBACK! Pura Vida Bracelets has been able
to raise thousands of dollars for over 100 different charities through the 'Charity Collection'. SAVE is happy to partner with Pura Vida. For every SAVE Pura Vida bracelet sold, 20% is donated back to SAVE. Get yours today here: SAVE Pura Vida Bracelet.

Read the full article here.

SAVE Partners with POS REP

A mobile, proximity-based network made expressly for the military veteran community.

Short for Position Report, POS REP connects veterans who served together but more importantly allows veterans to discover local peers and resources. POS REP will also serve as a universal mobile platform for the non-profit, government and private sector organizations that support veterans reintegration. For more information please visit: www.pos-rep.com.

Psychosis and Suicidality in Adolescents

Patients who suffer from psychosis have a high risk of suicide. 20% to 40% of all psychosis patients will attempt suicide during their lifetime, and about 8%-10% will die by suicide. Adolescent patients run an even higher risk of suicide, especially for those experiencing their first episode of psychosis.

Psychosis includes a broad range of mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD and drug abuse. As many as 26% of patients with schizophrenia have attempted suicide by the time they are admitted to the psychiatric hospital for the first time. In some cases, FEP (first episode psychosis) can be triggered by substance abuse such as alcohol and cannabis. Hambrecht and Hafner reported the frequency of alcohol abuse in FEP was double that of the general population. Studies have also shown that patients with FEP have an increase in the use of cannabis up to 70%.

To view the entire article in the Psychiatric Times, select more.

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VOICES of SAVE is a production of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education. For more information, go to save.org or call 952-946-7998.

Annual Campaign

Thank You!

Thank you to all of those who contributed to our 2013 annual fundraising campaign. We truly appreciate your incredible generosity. Each contribution received is critical to continuing our important work of saving lives!