St. Bonaventure University is hosting the Survivors of Suicide (S.O.S.) bereavement support group.
The group is aimed to help those who have lost a friend or loved one to suicide. S.O.S. will hold meetings at 7 p.m. every Tuesday from Oct. 23 to Dec. 4 in St. Bonaventure’s annex room 156 in Plassmann Hall.
The group is being offered through the St. Bonaventure Counselor Education Collaborative Clinic.
According to Amy Hohman, one of the students working on putting S.O.S. together, the idea was sparked in a crisis class last year. Hohman, a counseling education major from Jamestown, had learned that neighboring counties had suicide support groups and Cattaraugus County did not have one established.
“Our group wants to let others know that they are not alone in this process,” Hohman said. “Suicides are never expected and leave friends and loved ones left with many unanswered questions. This can be one of the loneliest times that a person can experience.”
Feelings of responsibility, shame, shock and uncertainty are common feelings of those who have lost someone to suicide, she said. Acceptance as a whole and knowing that the death was not the fault of friends or loved ones will be emphasized through workshops and activities. S.O.S. is exclusively for those 18 and up due to the types of discussions.
The first meetings will serve as a trial run, Hohman explained. The members of S.O.S. want to see how the meetings go before making plans on furthering the group.
Suicide can be something that many people are unable to accept, Hohman said. The group activities will give helpful skills to those who are going through the loss.
“When I went through losing someone to suicide there was not a support group that I could go to. I want to help be someone else’s support system to get them through their tough time,” Hohman said.
“This is something that is very near and dear to my heart and I would love people to attend and get the support that they need,” Hohman said.
If you are interested in signing up to join the group and attend meetings, call the Counselor Education Collaborative Clinic at (716) 372-0101 and your name will be added to the list of those interested in being a part of S.O.S.
The School of Education at St. Bonaventure University offers a Collaborative Clinic that includes a Counseling Center and a Reading Center. The Collaborative Clinic serves the counseling and literacy needs of children and adults in the Southern Tier of New York and the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania.
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About the University: Inspired for more than 150 years by the Catholic Franciscan values of individual dignity, community inclusiveness, and service, St. Bonaventure University cultivates graduates who are confident and creative communicators, collaborative leaders and team members, and innovative problem solvers who are respectful of themselves, others, and the diverse world around them.