Panelists from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention talk about suicide and what we can do. From their personal stories and the work they do to educate, research, support, and advocate, the panel sheds light on the many faces of suicide. Learn how you can reach out to prevent suicide, support those bereaved by suicide, stand in solidarity with survivors, and help those at risk.
PANELISTS: Amanda Harmon, MSW, LCSW, is president of the Board for the Southern CT Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She is a psychotherapist, an Adjunct Professor at Fordham University, and a sought-after presenter in the area and on the media, including Good Morning America and News 12.
Yania Padilla, MS, is an experienced educator who has provided extensive suicide prevention program development, implementation, and evaluation solutions to healthcare, educational, LGBTQ, and military organizations since 2008. She is chair of the Southern CT chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She is a survivor of suicide loss, and an outspoken veterans’ rights and suicide prevention advocate. She has appeared on 60 Minutes, Al-Jazeera, and BBC to discuss suicide prevention initiatives from the perspective of a survivor. Her research interests include the use of creative expression and indigenous rituals/medicines to integrate trauma.
Jennifer Pasieka is a suicide survivor and a survivor of suicide loss. She is training to become a mental health advocate, and shares her personal experience to give insight into what is like to live with depression as well as to encourage others in need to seek assistance.
The event will take place at 7:30 pm on Thursday, September 10, 2015 at the Greenwich Town Hall, 101 Field Point Rd., Greenwich. Hosted by the Southwest CTaffiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the presentation is free and open to the public. Call 203 -388-1603 for info.
NAMI is a national, grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with mental illness and their families. Check the website, www.namisouthwestct.com, for more details.