The Stephen Ministry at Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peachtree City will present “Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention” Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. The workshop will address the general scope of suicide, research on prevention, and actions that can be taken to fight suicide. All are invited, and there is no charge. Participants are invited to arrive early. Refreshments will be available after 6:30 p.m.
The speaker will be Ellen Behm, Survivor Outreach program coordinator for the Atlanta Chapter, American Federation of Suicide Prevention. Behm lost her father to suicide in 1991 and, almost 23 years later, her uncle (her dad’s brother) also died by suicide.
A volunteer with AFSP since the beginning of 2015, she shares her experiences and leads a team of peer support volunteers to let other survivors of suicide loss know they are not alone, and that help and resources are available.
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U. S. and 11th leading cause of death overall in Georgia. It is the second leading cause of death for ages 25-34; the third leading cause of death for ages 10-24, and the fourth leading cause of death for age 35-54. In 2014 there were 1,294 suicides in Georgia. Nine out of ten people who die by suicide have a mental health issue condition contributing to their death.
AFSP raises awareness, funds scientific research, and provides resources and aid to those affected by suicide. For more information about AFSP, visit afsp.org.
For more information about the Oct. 20 workshop, call 770-487-8717.
