Over 25 years ago, Samaritans developed the first suicide survivor support group program in NYC.

Today, Samaritans introduces Changing the Conversation/Beyond Surviving, which will provide an ongoing series of positive, life-affirming events (presentations, workshops, creative gatherings) for suicide survivors and their families that will allow them to explore the aftermath of suicide in a manner that promotes hope, resiliency and healing.

These events are meant to complement and supplement survivor support group programs and professional treatment, fill-in gaps in the available modes of services and programs available to survivors, build the survivor community in NYC and increase the information and resources available to survivors themselves and those who care for, respond to and treat them.

The primary goals of Changing the Conversation/Beyond Surviving are:

  1. to fill-in the gaps in what is available to survivors of suicide loss
  2. to begin to modify the narrative associated with losing a loved one to suicide that emphasizes a more positive, life-affirming focus
  3. to enhance the experiences available to members of the suicide survivor community in healing and recovering from their loss
  4. to provide survivors of suicide loss and their families with more positive, life-affirming outlets for healing, personal growth and development
  5. to design and host motivating, stimulating and creative activities and events that will provide an additional outlet that will assist  survivors in their recovery
  6. to increase outreach and support to families effected by suicide loss

To help us kick-off Changing the Conversation/Beyond Surviving, Samaritans invites you (an individual who has attended Safe Place only) to join us for light refreshments and to talk with fellow survivors, providing your input and suggestions as we develop this initiative.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013, 7-8:30 pm

Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
281 Park Avenue South (at 22nd Street)
New York, NY10010

Please Note: To maintain Samaritans focus on maintaining participants’ comfort and the sanctity of this meeting, only those who have attended Safe Place will be allowed entrance. There will be no exceptions.

We hope to see you there, Tuesday, December 10 at 7 pm.

Changing the Conversation/Beyond Surviving is part of Samaritans ongoing efforts to build a caring community, an initiative supported by funding from the NYS Office of Mental Health.

For more information on our Safe Place Program, click here.

To learn more about attending a Safe Place meeting, click here.

To download a Suicide Survivor Support Group Flier, click here.