From WOOD COUNTY SUICIDE PREVENTION COALITION
The Wood County Suicide Prevention Coalition is dedicated to raising awareness of suicide in the community, conveying that suicide is preventable. Further, mental health conditions are treatable and decrease stigma as a barrier to someone seeking treatment. The coalition also wishes to support those in our communities who have lost a loved one to suicide.
To support suicide loss survivors, the Wood County Suicide Prevention Coalition is starting a Survivor of Suicide Loss Support Group. The first group will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at NAMI Wood County, 1250 Ridgewood Drive, Bowling Green. The group will meet regularly on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Registration is not required.
This peer-led support group will offer a safe, understanding space for those who have lost someone to suicide. Together, group members will share their stories, honor their loved ones, and find hope and healing in the Wood County community. Regardless of how recent your loss was, you are welcome to attend. It is encouraged to check in with yourself and make sure you feel emotionally ready to participate in discussions about loss. As a reminder, it is okay to take care of yourself in whatever way you need as your well-being comes first. This group is a great opportunity to connect with others who empathize in your experience, share and listen in a supportive, non-judgmental environment, and learn healthy ways to cope and heal.
Additionally, the Wood County Suicide Prevention Coalition will host their quarterly meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 17, from 3-5 p.m. The meeting will include a Question Persuade Refer (QPR) training at the beginning of the meeting. In this training, participants will learn how to recognize suicide warning signs and how to respond if these signs are present, how to ask someone about the presence of suicidal thoughts and/or feelings, and how to offer hope. If you are interested in attending, please visit https://namiwoodcounty.org/qpr/ to register.
The Wood County Suicide Prevention Coalition is a community of citizens from diverse backgrounds who are united in their resolve to save lives. They pursue coordinated strategies to educate and increase awareness that suicide is a public health problem, not a private shame. The coalition is committed to increased public understanding of depression, mental illness, and alcohol and drug abuse as treatable health conditions, not as signs of personal weakness. They are enemies of fear, ignorance, and stigma, all of which prevent people from seeking and finding help in times of great personal distress.
