Website To Launch This Weekend on National Survivors of Suicide Day
MILWAUKEE, Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ — Suicide hurts. According to the Center for Disease Control, there are approximately 30,000 suicides annually in the United States. It is estimated that for every suicide, there are approximately six Survivors of Suicide, the loved ones who are left behind.
This weekend, Survivors of Suicide will be able to access a new website, called Sunday Morning, which will provide educational information, links to national organizations, and helpful tips to assist them in their healing process. The website www.sunday-am.org will be launched on November 17, which is with the Ninth Annual National Survivors of Suicide Day, sponsored by the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention.
“As a Survivor of Suicide, I found myself desperately searching for information and support on the internet,” said Nepherterra Skala, founder of Sunday Morning. “Over the past seven months since my husband’s suicide, I have found many priceless resources that have been helpful for me as a survivor. By launching this website I am sharing these resources with other survivors. As survivors, we oftentimes feel alone and think that there isn’t anyone who can understand the pain, guilt, anger and sadness we are experiencing. But we are not alone. In reality, there are far too many of us.”
The website will also feature a special section that focuses on suicide and mental health in the African American community.
Currently, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States, and suicide is the third leading cause of death among black youth, after homicides and accidents, according to the American Association of Suicidology.
“We need to educate ourselves. Suicide is a silent killer in every community, and the African American community is not an exception,” said Skala. “We cannot address the issues of suicide and depression in our community unless we start having honest conversations about this traditionally taboo topic. It is my hope that the Sunday Morning website will be a catalyst for some of those honest discussions and hopefully some of the solutions.”
About Sunday Morning
Dr. Martin King Skala died by suicide on March 7, 2007 at the age of 36. For more information about Sunday Morning please visit www.sunday-am.org or email survivorsofsuicide@gmail.com.
First Call Analyst:
Source: Sunday Morning
