CMHA HKPR and Hospice Peterborough Partner on Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group this Spring

Feb 23, 2023

For Immediate Release:  February 23, 2023

 The Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) is pleased to announce support for Hospice Peterborough’s Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group, running in spring to Peterborough and the surrounding areas thanks to support from community donors.

The group is an eight-week program designed to provide participants with information and support as they navigate the changes in their life following the death by suicide of someone close to them. The group will explore aspects of suicide loss, such as stigma, the neurobiology of suicide and tools for coping with grief after suicide as well as connecting participants and encouraging self-care.

“ We are delighted to partner with Hospice Peterborough to support the Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group. This partnership further strengthens this important resource in our community.” says Tracy Graham, Director of Programs and Services with CMHA HKPR.

“It is difficult to come to a group like this one, because acknowledging and accepting the death is one of the hardest yet most essential steps on our grief journey. A group of complete strangers connecting with one another from such a deep, painful, and honest place allows an indescribable magic to unfold. They are committing themselves to this group because they don’t want to go through this alone.” says Group Facilitator, Alice Czitrom.

“We are so pleased to have this partnership with CMHA HKPR to serve our community. This funding will help provide meaningful connections and give those grieving a suicide loss a place to turn to,” added Hospice Peterborough Executive Director Hajni Hős.

After participating in the 8-week program, participants are invited to attend monthly follow-up groups where they can connect with peers from their group as well as attendees from past Survivors of Suicide Loss Groups. Plans are also underway for a one-day retreat this summer.

Grief programming is not government funded and has been made available through the combined efforts of our community. Upcoming Survivors of Suicide Loss groups are made possible through this new partnership between Hospice Peterborough, CMHA and its community fundraising initiatives, such as CMHA HKPR’s 2019 Ride Don’t Hide event.

CMHA HKPR and Hospice Peterborough will also be launching a program for people who have experienced the death of someone close to them as a result of opioids in the fall of 2023.

Individuals can register for the Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group by calling Hospice Peterborough at 705-742-4042 ext. 251.

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Media Contacts:

Caitlin Morris
Communications and Community Relations Specialist, CMHA HKPR
cmorris@cmhahkpr.ca
905-706-0511

Aimee O’Reilly
Manager of Development, Hospice Peterborough
aoreilly@hospicepeterborough.org
705-742-4042