Symposium on suicide awareness

Gentiva Hospice and Coliseum Health Systems hosted a Suicide Awareness Symposium at Mikado Baptist Church in Macon on July 16.

The symposium began with a breakfast meet n’ greet and concluded after a guest panel and Question & Answer time.

The free event was open to professionals in the community to create more awareness and prevention in the area of suicide. Each attendee received a packet of information with community resources and referrals in middle Georgia.

In attendance were individuals from many organizations in the community; pastors and chaplains; fire and police department personnel; educators; medical personnel; social workers; funeral homes; and behavioral health centers to name a few. Many commented that suicide awareness is needed and relevant in the community.

Featured speakers included Lt. Colonel Jonathan Wade, wing chaplain for the 78th Air Base Wing at Robins Air Force Base. Wade spoke about the importance of community leaders training others in preventive steps of suicide. He emphasized that clear communication that each life is valuable and help is available is essential to preventive measures.

Another speaker Dr. Cesar Figueroa, Medical Director for the Behavioral and Psychiatric facility at the Coliseum Hospital, talked about triggers for suicide. Dr. Figueroa relayed to the audience some facts from a psychiatric perspective of when an individual may be more likely to commit suicide. The information included warning signs to look for and how behavioral health interventions can save lives.

The final speak, Dr. Joseph Wolstencroft, a licensed and professional counselor and clinical supervisor for the state of Georgia talked about the after math of suicide. He brought helpful information to the audience about the stigma of suicide and practical steps to help families cope after a suicide happens.

Gentiva Hospice and Coliseum Health Systems are already in the planning stages to bring this Symposium about suicide awareness to the community again in 2016.

For more information about this event or if you would like to be put on the email contact list for next year, email or contact Janet Smith, chaplain with Gentiva Hospice at Janet.Smith@gentiva.com or 953-1016.

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