National Survivors of Suicide Day
What Is National Survivors of Suicide Day?
The Saturday before Thanksgiving was designated as National Survivors of Suicide Day by U.S. Senate resolution in 1999 through the efforts of Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, who lost his father to suicide. Every year, on this day, AFSP sponsors a worldwide event to provide an opportunity for newly bereaved survivors of suicide loss to come together for support, and healing, information.
On this day simultaneous survivor conferences take place around the world -- each conference site is organized locally and independently by an individual, organization, agency, or school, but they're all connected in spirit as they watch a special AFSP broadcast together. Conference sites show the broadcast from 1-2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Due to significant time zone differences around the world, international sites show it from 1-2:30 p.m. local time.
This unique network of healing conferences helps survivors connect with others who have survived the tragedy of suicide loss and express and understand the powerful emotions they experience. The broadcast is also available live online at www.afsp.org from 1:00-2:30 pm EST so survivors can participate even if there isn't a conference in their area, or if they find it difficult to attend in person.
Who can organize a conference site? Anyone. National Survivors of Suicide Day is designed so that anyone can organize a local conference site from anywhere in the U.S. or around the world. Click here for specific information on organizing a site outside of the United States.
How will putting together a local conference site benefit my organization or community?
- Because AFSP provides the 90-minute broadcast for free to every conference site, this is an opportunity to offer a high-quality program directly to community members at little cost. You have the choice of whether to add local activities, speakers, or break-out groups before or after the broadcast, which can provide new opportunities for peer support and networking.
- Many organizations co-host sites with other area groups to share resources, broaden audiences, and help develop a strong community network that otherwise might not exist.
- Survivors in your community will learn that they are part of a worldwide community of individuals and families who are coping with suicide loss.
What are local conference sites required to do?
Rest assured that organizing a conference site does NOT have to be a huge, overwhelming job. The only thing that sites are required to do is show the AFSP broadcast by webcast or DVD on Saturday, November 20, 2010. Some sites also choose to add local programming or activities before and/or after the broadcast, but that is totally optional.
What’s on the broadcast?
The 90-minute broadcast includes a blend of emotional support, information about resources for healing, and question-and-answer panels with "seasoned" survivors and mental health professionals. Panelists discuss their experiences and answer the questions that so many newly bereaved survivors face: Why did this happen? How do I cope? Where can I find support? The target audience is adults, but it is appropriate for most middle and high-school aged children to watch with a guardian. It is not intended for children under 12. If you've never seen the broadcast, we highly recommend that you watch one from previous years at www.afsp.org/survivorday.
The following two activities are built into the broadcast, giving attendees a sense of connection with the program they are viewing.
1. The opening of the broadcast includes a candle lighting ceremony, and all sites are warmly invited to participate. Each site needs two candles in candlestick holders, and matches. We invite each site to light the two candles, and then blow one of them out. The extinguished candle represents the darkness and pain that we feel in our grief, while the flame that continues to burn represents the strength to go on despite our loss.
2. Towards the end of the broadcast, we invite attendees across the world to join in reading a poem, entitled “We Remember Them” aloud with one of our speakers. (The words scroll down the screen during the broadcast.)
Is the broadcast available in languages other than English?
Yes, the 2010 broadcast on DVD features Spanish subtitles which be turned on or off. (Please be aware that the 2010 webcast is in English only with no subtitles. Otherwise, the content of the webcast and DVD are exactly the same.)
Thanks to last year’s local conference organizers in Hong Kong, we also have a DVD available with Chinese subtitles. If you would like a copy of this Chinese DVD to show at your conference site, or you have the technical capabilities to add subtitles to the 2010 DVD in your own local language, please email survivingsuicideloss@afsp.org.
Read more Frequently Asked Questions.
Introduction: Organizing a conference site does NOT have to be a huge, overwhelming job. Every year many first-time organizers put together successful sites. What follows is a detailed, step-by-step guide. Please don’t feel that you have to read the whole thing all at once.
Remember, AFSP provides the program content with the free 90-minute broadcast. It is up to each local conference site to decide if they'd also like to add local programming in the form of a local speaker, break-out groups, healing activities, or food. Our advice to new sites is to keep it simple the first year. The basic steps of putting together a conference are finding others who will volunteer to help you locally, finding a location, publicizing, and preparing the ‘day of’ logistics and details like preparing signage and materials. Our recommendation is that you start early and go step-by-step. The Frequently Asked Questions page* will address many common concerns, but you can also contact us at any time. We are here to help.
Rebecca Thorp, Survivor Initiatives Manager – rthorp@afsp.org or 212-363-3500, ext.33
Joanne Harpel, Director of Survivor Initiatives – jharpel@afsp.org or 212-363-3500, ext.32
Recommended timeline. Following this timeline will give you ample time to find a good location and publicize. However, if you haven’t started as early as we recommend, don’t be discouraged! You can absolutely still put a site together. The timeline is just a helpful guide.
STEPS 1-10 RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Step 1: Find Local Help............................... April- May
Step 2: Find A Location .............................. by May
Step 3: Determine Broadcast Method ......by May
Step 4: Register Your Site .......................... by June
Step 5: Plan Local Program/Logistics ..... May-August
Step 6: Publicize.. ....................................... June-November
Step 7: Prepare Materials ......................... October-November
Step 8: Prepare For The ‘Day Of’ ............. November
Step 9: ‘Day Of’.. ......................................... November
Step 10: Afterwards..................................... November-December
The Appendix contains forms, templates, and "toolkits" to help you every step of the way. Items that can be found in the appendix are marked with an asterisk *.
STEP 1: FIND LOCAL HELP
Establish a planning committee and/or recruit volunteers to help. This ensures that work is distributed among a number of people. Each person can be responsible for separate aspects of the conference. The following are roles that need to be covered.
Tasks that can be assigned to committee members and volunteers. Optional items are labeled as such – all other items are required:
Try to establish “who will do what” early on in order to keep things organized. Try to utilize the different strengths and talents of each volunteer. For example, someone who has a lot of connections in the community might be a good location scout, someone who is outgoing might do publicity, someone who is warm and friendly can serve at the registration or information table. A good cook or someone who works at a deli or restaurant can be in charge of food. Someone who wants to help, but can’t get involved in the advance planning can help set-up or clean up at the event itself.
Here's a great idea for finding local help, shared by AFSP Montana's Chapter Chair, Joan Nye: She's established a relationship with a local college, and professors who teach psych classes offer extra credit to students who volunteer to help with the event. If you do this, think about approaching programs for nursing, social work, human services, psychology, or psychiatry.
STEP 2: FIND A LOCATION
Minimum Location Requirements:
You want to find a space that will be quiet and comforting for recent survivors. Also consider convenience of location, parking, restroom availability, public transportation accessibility etc…To keep down costs, see if you can find an organization or company that can sponsor the conference by donating or renting a space at a low rate. Be sure to acknowledge this in your publicity and Event Program.
Possible Locations:
Optional Location Characteristics:
Some conferences (but not all) serve food or have break out groups, educational sessions, or healing activities before or after the broadcast. If you plan on doing so, arrange additional space or room(s).
STEP 3: DETERMINE BROADCAST METHOD
All sites show the free AFSP broadcast on Saturday, November 20, 2010. You can show it by webcast or DVD. The content is exactly the same, however with the DVD, you can turn on Spanish subtitles. The webcast does not have subtitles. Decide with your Local Technical Organizer which method will work best for your site. For complete details on each method, read the Technical Information Sheet*. If you have any questions after reading this Sheet, please contact AFSP's national technical coordinator, Kenny Reff of Limelight Communications Inc. at afsp@limelightdc.com or (703) 242-4596.
Basic Webcast Requirements: High-speed internet access, LCD projection system, audio system. Read the Technical Information Sheet* for complete details on showing the webcast and testing the connection in advance.
Basic DVD Requirements: DVD player or lap-top computer that plays DVDs with a large-screen TV or LCD projection system and audio system. Read the Technical Information Sheet* for complete details on showing the DVD and testing it in advance.The DVD will be shipped to the Primary Organizer by regular mail only. You may expect delivery during the week prior to the broadcast. AFSP will not pay for express mail delivery.
In order to preserve the integrity of National Survivors of Suicide Day, which was created by Senate Resolution in 1999, the DVD is being released for use no earlier than November 20, 2010. Local conference sites that receive the DVD must agree to show the broadcast uninterrupted, in its entirety, to an audience on this day. We further encourage local conference sites to show it from 1-2:30 pm EST. It is very emotionally powerful for viewers to know that they are watching simultaneously with thousands of other survivors. (After you initially show the broadcast on National Survivors of Suicide Day, you are welcome to show it again at any time throughout the year.)
STEP 4: REGISTER YOUR SITE
When the following information is finalized, you’ll be ready to fill out the Online Site Registration Form.*
STEP 5: PLAN LOCAL PROGRAM/LOGISTICS
The only requirement for this event is that you show the AFSP broadcast on National Survivors of Suicide Day. It's up to you to decide if you are going to provide the optional components of food, break out discussion groups, educational sessions, or healing activities. AFSP, of course, supports suicide prevention efforts, but because National Survivors of Suicide Day was created by U.S. Senate Resolution as a day specifically for healing after suicide loss, any local programming on this day should focus on helping the newly bereaved. Please do not plan on providing suicide prevention training, speakers on how to prevent suicide at your conference, or other suicide prevention programming. Likewise, this is not an appropriate event for those who have survived a suicide attempt to attend. For a detailed list of appropriate activities and programming, please see Ideas for Local Programming in the appendix. If you have questions, please contact survivingsuicideloss@afsp.org.
If this is your first time organizing a site, we recommend keeping your Day simple. This year, focus on finding a good location, doing publicity, and ensuring that the basic site requirements, like showing the broadcast, go smoothly. You can always expand the event next year to include more.
Prepare an Event Program to hand out to all attendees containing a detailed agenda, information on any speakers or panelists, and acknowledgements of any volunteers or donors. Sticking to the printed Event Program will help attendees to feel more comfortable at your conference, since they will know what to expect. See Sample Event Program*.
Budget. Creating and modifying a budget is an ongoing process, but it's important to arrange the budget under two categories: expected costs and anticipated revenue.
What AFSP Provides For Free:
Possible Costs:
Possible Revenue:
Keep track of advance registrants and requests for information. If you are letting individuals register in advance, make sure your Main Contact takes down their full names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. This is important so you can contact advance registrants with a reminder in the days before the event, and in the unlikely event that you need to change the site location or cancel. Also make sure that you are tracking any requests for information so you can follow-up as necessary. Taking down information like loss relationship or date of loss can also help you prepare for your day. See Sample Registration & Inquiry List.*
STEP 6: PUBLICIZE (Recommended Timeline: June through November)
AFSP publicizes nationally, but your local publicity is essential in order to attract local attendees. Be sure to publicize your site as a healing conference for survivors of suicide loss so that the purpose of the day is clear. Ideally, you’ll start publicity in June by distributing information to local grief support groups. Even if you don’t have a completed flier or brochure ready, you can still give them ‘save the date’ cards/fliers. Most support groups meet only once a month, and many survivors don’t attend every meeting, so starting early will ensure that most members receive the information.
Ten + Ways to Publicize Your Site
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