Samaritans' Snapshot: Make a Difference!

"Don't ever doubt for a minute that what you do saves lives."

- Helpline Caller

In This Issue:

Make a Difference!
Register to Run or Walk for Suicide Prevention Today!

Every year, around 600 people in Massachusetts die by suicide. Samaritans strives to lower this number and reduce the stigma of talking about suicide. You can be a part of this effort at our annual 5K Run/Walk.

This year on September 23rd we will be hosting the 19th Annual 5K Run/Walk for Suicide Prevention at Artesani Park in Brighton. Year after year people who are passionate about suicide prevention run for those we remember, walk for those we love, and come together to make a difference. We encourage people of all ages, people who have personally been affected by suicide, and those who care about the cause to come join us in our effort to prevent suicide. You will enjoy a morning packed with festivities, including refreshments, family fun festival & children's activities, Red Sox championship trophies, Memory Ribbon Wall, and prizes for running and fundraising achievements for individuals and teams. You can register as an individual or part of a team at: Samaritans5k.org.

Don't want to run or walk, but still want to make a difference and be a part of the festivities on September 23rd? Volunteer at our 5K this September! We need help with the following race day positions:

Registration
Course Management
Parking
Raffle/Silent Auction
Food/Water Distribution
Family Fun Festival

To sign up as a volunteer or learn more about volunteer opportunities, email us at 5k@samaritanshope.org .

Support Team CHowder on August 12th!

Save the date for Team CHowder's fundraising event - August 12th at 7:00pm at City Streets Restaurant in Waltham, MA. Team CHowder has been running/walking at our 5K for seven years,and they continue to set new goals in an effort to make a difference. This year, they are bringing special attention to the crisis with men ages 35-64. Last year Team CHowder had 3 men on the team. This year, Team Captain Carrie Howder is challenging her team to double that with 6 men!

A recent rise in suicides in Massachusetts - an increase of 40 percent from 2004 to 2014 - is driven by a rise in middle-aged men taking their own lives, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. In fact, 40 percent of all people who die by suicide in the United States are men between the ages of 35 and 64. It's a staggering number, especially since this demographic represents only 19 percent of the nation's total population.

For a $25 donation, you get a night of live music entertainment, delicious food, and the chance to bid on items and win various raffle prizes donated by friends & businesses in their community ! Help them break the stigma & make a difference! Learn more about their event on their Facebook page .

Support Group for Families of Attempt Survivors

This peer-to-peer group aims to provide a space for individuals to talk openly with others who are dealing with the complicated emotions following a loved one's suicide attempt or disclosure of suicidal ideation. Our hope is to provide individuals supporting a suicide attempt survivor or a loved one struggling with suicidality an opportunity to join a community of peers who can understand; it is a space to share their personal experiences and to learn healthy coping skills while supporting their loved ones in their daily lives.

Those interested in participating complete an intake by phone with one of the group facilitators and commit to attending all six sessions. There is no fee for participation.

Contact Debbie DiMasi, Director of Grief Support Services, to begin the intake process ddimasi@samaritanshope.org- 617-536-2460 ext. 5237

Thank you to Our Helpline Summer Interns

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." BB King

As we step into the summer months, Samaritans would like to give great thanks to our new Helpline summer interns, Erin, Assaf, Elizabeth, Sonia, Owen, Jojo, Giovanni, Brianna and Ella.

These students have committed 3-5 shifts per week this summer to support the crisis Helpline and provide the much needed support for all our callers. By the end of the summer, these students will have provided approximately 1850 hours in total - a remarkable commitment to serving those in need.

In addition to education and community service, the intern program gives students the experience of working in a non-profit organization and the opportunity to explore a possible career path in social work or psychology.

"The training at Samaritans has been a truly rewarding, challenging, and personally beneficial experience, not only in that it has helped solidify my desire to be a clinician, but also in terms of my personal relationships. I've always prided myself on my listening skills but the knowledge I've gained through befriending has taken that to a whole new level and changed me for the better." -Assaf

Working at Samaritans gives students an excellent opportunity to gain an understanding of suicidal feelings and behavior. In addition, they develop skills in providing non-judgmental, compassionate and empathetic support to individuals facing crises.

"I joined Samaritans because I believe that every person deserves to know that their story matters, fundamentally and absolutely." -Erin

Samaritans interns will take their learning wherever they go. On behalf of everyone here at Samaritans, thank you!

If you are interested in learning more about the internship programs, please contact Aram Seo.

Education and Outreach

June has been a great month for us on the prevention side of things. We wrapped up our school year with a visit to the 7th and 8th graders at Maimonides, a Modern Orthodox Jewish day school in Brookline. We had worked with the high school students from Maimonides in May, so it was wonderful to be back and speaking with their students once again. The 7th and 8th graders were great and shared so much about their experiences and concerns and asked many good questions. It was a wonderful way to end our school outreaches for the year as we head into the summer.

We also had the opportunity to train staff from NeedyMeds, an organization that takes and disseminates information to individuals looking for assistance on how to pay for their health care. The staff were very appreciative for the skills they gained, and our work with them has opened up more doors to support the organization and its clients going forward.

Suicide prevention training is an essential community need. If your school, company, or community organization is interested in arranging a training, you can find more information here, or contact Lauren.

Upcoming Events

August

Save the date for Team CHowder's fundraising event - August 12th at 7:00pm at City Streets Restaurant in Waltham, MA . Team CHowder has been running/walking at our 5K for seven years,and they continue to set new goals in an effort to make a difference. This year, they are bringing special attention to the crisis with men ages 35-64. Last year Team CHowder had 3 men on the team. This year, Team Captain Carrie Howder is challenging her team to double that with 6 men!

September

Samaritans 5K Run/Walk for Suicide Prevention Saturday, September 23, 2017 at Artesani Park in Brighton! Registration is now open!

May 2018

Mark your calendars for the 2018 Breakfast for Hope- Thursday May 12, 2018 at The Westin Copley Place in Boston from 7am-9am.

Opportunities at Samaritans!

Interested in preventing suicide as a Samaritans' Staff member, volunteer or intern? We are currently accepting applications for: