Ninth Annual National Survivors of Suicide Day

November 17, 2007 was the ninth annual National Survivors of Suicide day and with over 130 cities participating, many were expected to attend and help heal. Our area had its forth annual event at the Pocono Medical Center's Learning Institute in Stroudsburg where about 15 survivors from our area attended to get support as well as give support to others.

Event organizers, Erin Baehr, Beverly Baker and Marie Andrysiak set up the event and made sure it all ran smoothly. Baker was able to get food for the attendees from a very generous Subway in Bartonsville. "It was very generous of them to donate a variety of subs for the event. We were hoping to get a discount but they decided to just donate it all to us," Baehr explains.

At the beginning of the event, two candles are lit. Shortly after that, one candle is blown out. That candle signifies the life that was lost to suicide. The candle that remains lit during the entire event represents the survivor whose life has to go on.

During the event, a pre-taped internet broadcast consisting of a panel of five survivors is shown at all event sites across the country. It can also be viewed on the internet for those that couldn't get to an event site. One panelist was from our area and was in attendance at the Stroudsburg event location. Morgan Gable of Easton, lost her son a few years ago to suicide. It is a big struggle to recover and move on after the loss of a loved one by suicide. "An online support group called Parents of Suicide has helped me a lot," Gable says during the panel discussion. Gable was chosen to be on the panel this year because of her feedback on past events. "You can really see the depth of how suicide affects people and in prior years, people didn't seem to really open up on the panel," Gable explains.

Adele O'Brien of Chester, NJ was at the event supporting her daughter as well as receiving support herself. She lost her son three years ago and said, "It is nice to interact with people who have experienced the same pain as I have." Her daughter is Erin Baehr, one of the event organizers. Their family took a big hit when they lost their loved one, just as any family in the same position does.