An event will be held in Hot Springs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Ouachita Behavioral Health and Wellness for anyone who has lost someone to suicide.
Nov. 17 is International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, and Garland County has hosted local Survivors Day events for the past four years. This year's event is being co-hosted by Suicide Prevention Allies and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
For this year's event, "A Daughter's Journey," a documentary produced by the AFSP will be shown. After the screening, there will be a discussion. Also, a couple of survivors of suicide loss have been invited to share their stories. They will also provide techniques to help cope with grief promote healing.
There will also be several memorial activities.
Suicide Prevention Allies Executive Director Susie Reynolds Reece said that the event is not a support group, but a once-a-year event that is used to help people who have lost loved ones come together.
Reece also said that they are not seeking donations. "We really just want to be there for people," Reece said.
At past events, they have seen between 20 and 30 people attend. Reece said that their goal is to keep expanding the number of people who attend so that they get to a point that the public is aware of the annual event every year.
The event is free, and there will be a lunch served during it. To ensure that enough lunches are ordered, event organizer Kay Ekey asks that those intending on attending register online at https://www.afsp.org. Once on that website, click on the Survivor Day graphic and select the Hot Springs location.
There is also a link on Facebook at Survivor Day-Hot Springs.
Local on 11/16/2018