In observance of International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, the local chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will host an event from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Cape Public Library.

Laura Matlock-Hill, director of the Eastern Missouri chapter, said there is no cost to attend, and lunch is provided.

The event includes two guest speakers and a screening of the new Survivor Day documentary produced by the foundation titled "Family Journeys: Healing and Hope After a Suicide." There also will be time for group discussion.

Participants are asked to RSVP by emailing laura_afsp@yahoo.com.

"Whether your loss was a month ago or 20 years ago, this event allows a safe and comfortable environment for sharing stories of healing and provides hope for those that may feel alone in their journey," Matlock-Hill said.

Survivor Day is the one day a year when people affected by suicide loss gather around the world at events in their communities to find comfort and gain understanding as they share stories of healing and hope, according to the foundation.

For many survivors, attending a Survivor Day event is the first time they realize they are not alone.

Hearing the stories from people at all stages of healing can be helpful, the foundation said, and the gathering provides participants with a chance to share their own stories with those who understand firsthand the challenges of living in the aftermath of a suicide loss.

In 1999, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nevada, a survivor of his father's 1972 suicide, introduced a new resolution into the Senate. With its passage, Congress designated the Saturday before Thanksgiving "National Survivors of Suicide Day."

The foundation's program is called "International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day," because events are organized around the world, the foundation said, and suicide knows no geographic or national boundaries.

klamb@semissourian.com

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