International Survivors of SuicideLossDayisSaturday, Nov. 23. The Chickasaw Nation Department of Family Services is working in collaboration with the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to host “Love Lives On,” an event for individuals who have lost loved ones to suicide.
The two-site event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22 at the Ada Community Center, 700 N. Mississippi Ave., Ada, Oklahoma, and the Tishomingo Community Center, 818 E. 6th St., Tishomingo, Oklahoma. Onsite registration begins at 10:45 a.m.
“We decided to call it ‘Love Lives On,’ because Officer Cassie Sawatzky will speak at the Tishomingo event.
Attendees of both events can honor their loved ones throughremembrancecrafts. Corn husk flower creation classes and honor bead necklace and bracelet booths will be present at both “Love Lives On” events.
Lunch will be provided duringascreeningofanAFSP filmdepictingtheimportance of mental health resources and suicide prevention.
“It’s hard for people to come to an event like this, but it’s good because it focuses on the fact that there are others out there,” Carpitche said. “Sometimes survivors can feel like they’re the only one this has ever happened to and that’s not true.”
Carpitche said survivors of suicide loss can find it difficult to make connections with other survivors, but “Love Lives On” gives them that opportunity.
“Love Lives On” is open to the public.
For more information, contact Deanna Carpitche at (580) 421-8734 or Deanna. Carpitche@Chickasaw.net.
though our loved one has died by suicide, our love for him or her lives on,” Deanna Carpitche, senior prevention coordinatorfortheChickasaw NationDepartmentofFamily Services, said.
Ch ickasaw Nat i on Department of Family Services Secretary Jay Keel will speak at the Ada event. Chickasaw Nation Department of Family Services Interim Executive