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1 (855) 894-5658
September 2022
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ERICSHOUSE
September Newsletter
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Dear EricsHouse Community,
Welcome to September 2022! It is so very important to advocate and raise awareness about suicide prevention. It is a stigmatized tragic topic. Suicide sadly affects all walks of life. This month can be used to provide hope and share essential resources to those in need of support. You are not alone. Your presence is so very valuable.
-EricsHouse
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A Letter From Our Founder-
Marianne Gouveia
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Dear Friends,
“If only the whole world could feel the power of harmony”.
----Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
September is here and this is the month when we raise awareness for the often-stigmatized topic of suicide. This is a month when we spread the word about the many resources out there to support people who are struggling. This is a month where we spread hope and encourage education so that lives can be saved.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, there are an average of 130 completed suicides per day, and there were an estimated 1.3 million suicide attempts, 2.7 million adults have had a plan to attempt suicide and 9.3 million adults have had suicidal thoughts. Unfortunately, the “S” word is a label that permanently brands an individual. It is often viewed as mark of disgrace or a reproachable stain on an individual or family. For those individuals struggling, societal stigma can cause social isolation and contribute to a feeling of hopelessness.
People who are experiencing suicide ideations, they are likely suffering deeply and should seek treatment. Unfortunately, the myths surrounding suicide can prevent people from getting the help they need to get better. For most people, attempted or completed suicide is not about death or wanting to die but rather about living with profound feelings of despair. It can feel like there is no beginning, middle, and end to the suffering, and that it is never going to end.
If you can help someone stay safe, including providing support and taking whatever steps are needed to help them get through this period of feeling suicidal, lives can be saved. By reaching out to someone who is struggling, we can connect them with people who can help them. We should not hold back on reaching out to people who are struggling because of discomfort, fear of doing something “wrong,” or somehow making things worse
We should work on feeling comfortable asking questions about how our friends and loved ones are feeling. If someone is clearly depressed and/or suffering, we should ask them about how they are feeling, and even about whether it has ever gotten to the point of thinking about harming themselves or ending their life. Healing someone who is struggling is no different than helping with a medical condition such as cancer or heart disease, and although you may be uncertain as to how to approach someone, simply being aware and knowledgeable about how to help can save a life.
Here are evidence-supported action steps developed by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention that you can take if someone you know is in crisis.
ASK
Asking “Are you thinking about suicide?” communicates that you’re open to speaking about suicide in a non-judgmental and supportive way. Asking in this direct, unbiased manner, can open the door for effective dialogue about their emotional pain and can allow everyone involved to see what next steps need to be taken.
BE THERE
Being there for someone could mean physically being present, talking on the phone, through video chat, or any other means of showing support. It is very important that you do not commit to things you are not willing or able to accomplish and ensure that the ways you say you will provide support happen.
KEEP THEM SAFE
If you have determined your loved one is thinking about suicide it is then important to establish immediate safety. This can be done by asking questions like “Have you tried to do anything to harm yourself?” “Do you have a specific, detailed plan? If so, what are the timing and their access to the method?” Knowing the answers to each of these questions can help you determine the level of danger the person is in. For example, the more specific steps they have in place for their plan, the higher their severity of risk is.
HELP THEM CONNECT
Connect them with the new 988 Lifeline and the Crisis Text Line’s number 741741. Help them explore their options. Have they seen a mental health professional in the past? If so, could they see them again? What mental health resources are available in your community? Do they have a safety plan in place?
FOLLOW UP
After you have connected them to the immediate support they need, it’s important to follow up to see how they are doing. Following up allows them to ask for more help if needed and you an opportunity to do anything you said you would do but haven’t gotten the chance to do yet. Suicide is not inevitable for anyone. By starting the conversation, providing support, and directing help to those who need it, suicides can be prevented, and lives can be saved.
While EricsHouse focuses on supporting those bereaved by suicide, we join with others across the nation in prevention efforts to prevent suicide. Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month is a chance to take time to stop and assess yourself and those around you to ensure those who need help have access to it, but what do you do if someone you love may be having thoughts of
suicide?
If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately. If you are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Much Love and Many Blessings,
Marianne Gouveia
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Virtual Fundraiser 10/8
Noon-4pm AZ time (3-7pm EDT)
Please join EricsHouse for an afternoon of health & wellness, special guest speakers, and stories of hope and healing. This program is designed to support anyone impacted by a suicide, alcohol, or drug overdose loss. We have guests and events slated throughout the afternoon that are both fun but also heart-warming as we hear stories from some of our clients. Our goal is to raise $100k so that we can continue to support people who feel alone in their grief and have nowhere to turn. No father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, friend, or relative should ever have to face devastating loss alone.
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Magical Moments in Sobriety
by Barbara Nicholson Brown
Publisher, Together AZ
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As a woman in long term recovery from alcohol and drugs it’s so important I never forget how my journey began. I was chained to the dark side for over 20 years, so the first few days; even weeks without any substances were terrifying. I had reached a point of being ‘too scared to live and too scared to die’, and was overwhelmed with guilt, shame and remorse. All the times I used drinking or drugs, I was living a lie and it was impossible for me to admit I needed help. But when the moment did arrive when my world came crashing down; the message came through loud and clear — and I have never turned back. Honestly there isn’t enough room on this page if I wrote out the many reasons I love sobriety.
I’ve learned what gratitude means; what service is; that asking for help doesn’t make me weak; I can tell my story and not feel shame; I’ve learned the power of forgiveness and being forgiven. I’ve learned and continue to realize that I can’t change you or the world to suit my wants and needs. My most important lesson? I have been graced with a connection to a Higher Power, always available— always constant.
There have been many magical moments, and snippets of hope when I need them most. There are so many people who have helped me along the way, and I would have never met any of them if I was not in recovery. One of the beautiful gifts of being sober is the understanding we have for each other.
During this month of Recovery Awareness, I am one of the many who have the disease of addiction, and am not ashamed to say it out loud. If I keep silent it will continue to feed the stigma.
The goal throughout September is to come together, celebrate individuals in recovery, and offer hope to those who are struggling. National Recovery Month reinforces the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover.
Through the years there is an ever growing movement of people who are speaking out and stepping out of the shadows. Why do we do this? How else will people know that continuous recovery from addiction is real? That people like you and me can lead successful lives; we work, we marry, we raise families, and we love, we laugh and we show others that while this deadly disease cannot be cured, it can be treated.
Recovery reminds people in recovery and those who support them that no one is alone in the journey through recovery. Everyone’s journey is different, but we are all in this together. And pay attention to your magical moments!
Sobriety date: June 17, 1990
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Every fall EricsHouse collaborates with our members and donors to celebrate the spirit of giving. During the months of September and October, our team of volunteers, staff, and supporters of EricsHouse organize to raise funds for much-needed bereavement support services.
Every day, donations are used to provide support services for people bereaved by alcohol, drugs, or suicide so that they may improve their lives after devastating loss. We rely on generous contributions to make our work possible. Since 2017, we have supported over 400 clients and conducted 2600 sessions with people who need help after devastating loss.
We make hope possible! In honor of World Mental Health Day on October 8th
we host an afternoon where we bring experts together virtually to talk about how to live with loss in a healthy way. Stay tuned for details.
If you interested in making an early pledge, please contact Marianne at marianne@ericshouse.org or Patty at patty@ericshouse.org.
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Cooking for Comfort Class with
Jan D'Atri and EricsHouse!
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We had a wonderful Cooking for Comfort class hosted by Jan D’Atri at Sweet Basil! We celebrated our loved ones and cooked some of their favorite dishes.
If you missed this one, don’t worry we will be hosting more in the future. Thank you so much to Jan, Sweet Basil, and all of the attendees. It was an honor to hear about your beautiful loved ones.
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The Leftover Pieces; Suicide Loss Conversations
with Melissa Bottorff-Arey Episode Featuring Marianne Gouveia
COMING SOON!
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Life after suicide loss is indeed nothing short of a wasteland of the leftover pieces of your shattered heart, of your former self. As the host, Melissa, a mother who lost her 21-year old son Alex to suicide in 2016, has real conversations with other loss survivors, healers and mental health experts. In these conversations she explores the relevant topics and asks the hard questions we all need to talk about and hear answers to. Nothing is 'off limits' as she delves into areas such as trauma, hope, healing, self-care, stigma, grief & mental health. Melissa believes that we learn to live alongside our grief, not get over it.
Only through real, honest talk and mindful choices can we make a real difference. For a supporter, or educator, these conversations hold nuggets of awareness and shine a spotlight on suicide and mental health in a real, and unapologetic, way. As a suicide loss griever, one can find the comfort of a community, and hope for a little brighter tomorrow. Melissa wants to help others, like herself, go from surviving to finding a life with meaning, maybe even happiness, amid their own leftover pieces.
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Join EricsHouse as we participate in the Water Lantern Festival on Saturday, November 12 from 2:30-7 p.m. at Kiwanis Lake in Tempe. Gates open at 2:30.You’ll want to arrive at least by 5pm to decorate your lantern in anticipation of release at sunset.
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Holiday Virtual Support Groups for Parents Who Have Suddenly
Lost a Child
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This group is open to parents or couples who have lost a child to suicide, substance abuse, homicide, illness or any sudden loss.
Grieving the loss of someone you love is difficult at any time of year. During the holiday season, we often experience intense emotions surrounding our loss. It seems impossible that the world is celebrating, but for those grieving, a sense of loneliness and sadness can overshadow the holiday. Traditional holiday celebrations might feel very triggering and it might feel like we want to avoid the holiday altogether.
This group will provide you with support and helpful tips on how to survive. We will discuss your loved one, our emotions, how to handle family and triggering events, and will provide options for navigating family and social events. It’s important to know that you aren’t alone, and you can survive the holiday season in a way that allows you to be comfortable and to honor your grief and remember your loved one in ways that are helpful to you.
- Every other Thursday from October 27 to January 5. This group is for those who live in Mountain and Pacific time zones.
- Every other Thursday from November 3 to January 12. This group is for those who live in East & Central Time Zones.
For more information email marainne@ericshouse.org or madison@ericshouse.org.
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EricsHouse Tree of Life - A Way to Memorialize Your Loved Ones
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The Tree of Life is a custom art installation, created by local artists to help us remember our loved ones. This unique exhibit is displayed in the center of the EricsHouse facility on a 7′ x 11′ birch panel.
Our Tree of Life holds the names of people lost to suicide and substance abuse in the leaves on the tree. When you donate $100 in the name of your lost loved one, a personalized leaf will be placed on the tree as a lasting memorial. Only donations through the Tree of Life campaign will receive a leaf. Leaves may also be purchased for friends and family as a gift in their loved one’s honor.
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Donate your car, truck, motorcycle, RV, or boat to EricsHouse by simply clicking the button and completing the form. Car Easy will reach out to you to arrange the pick-up of your vehicle donation, at no cost to you. You may qualify for a tax deduction while supporting a cause that is near and dear to your heart! |
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EricsHouse Inc.
1 (855) 894-5658
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