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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, August 15, 2014 | 4 New group to help those coping with loss from suicide by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff A new volunteer group called Heartache2Hope will be holding support meetings in Oakville for those who have lost someone to suicide. Flavia Ceschin, who worked as program director of Oakville's Lighthouse Program for Grieving Children from 2008-2012 and is now in a private grief support practice, is coordinating the effort. "The reason I became interested in starting a program like this was because when I was at the Lighthouse Program, I didn't have anywhere to send people, who had experienced a suicide loss, for support in our community or even anywhere nearby, especially adults," said Ceschin, who holds her Ph.D. in clinical psychology. "The only place I had to send them was to the Toronto Distress Centre or some suicide loss groups run intermittently out of Hamilton throughout the year." Ceschin said she learned through her work that many people who have lost someone to suicide tend not to join support groups. She believed a specialized group was the answer. "People who have experienced suicide loss tend to feel very different, very alone, very isolated. Suicide is still very much a stigmatized event in society and people don't talk about it very freely because they are afraid how people From left, Peggy McGillicuddy, Flavia Ceschin, and Nina Menrai, are creating a support group for people who have experienced loss due to suicide. | photo by Franki Ikeman ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) are going to react to it," said Ceschin. She said a support group, where everyone has experienced suicide loss, should provide an environment in which people are comfortable about speaking. She said it is important for those touched by suicide to get help because the loss can be traumatizing. Halton Regional Health Department reports there were an average 31 suicides per year in Halton from 2005-2009. Updated statistics are not yet available. However, from 2009-2013 the Region recorded 241 hospitalizations per year in Halton due to someone intentionally trying to harm themselves. Ceschin said she and her steering committee, have been working for about a year to turn Heartache2Hope into a reality. The steering committee includes program directors and support group leaders from Friends in Grief -- Hamilton and Bereaved Families of Ontario -- Halton/Peel as well as a local psychotherapist. "We want people to know they are not alone," said Ceschin. "We want them to get the support they need in order to get through this loss, to get to a better place, to get hope basically that they can not only survive this, but live well again." Ceschin said times and locations for the support groups have yet to be finalized although the group is planning to hold its inaugural meeting Oct. 2. The organization will provide more frequent support group sessions as necessary. For information, contact 905-599-4673 (HOPE) or heartache2hope@gmail.com. RNAO to host Dialogue on Suicide Awareness The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) will host a Dialogue on Suicide Awareness at the Milton Sports Centre, 605 Santa Maria Blvd., Milton on Wednesday, Sept. 10. The event, which runs from 6-8 p.m., is intended to raise awareness about the importance of suicide prevention and the resources available to those in need. Leaders invited "The RNAO Region 4-Halton Chapter recognizes that suicide is a major health problem, which requires more public discussion and policy attention," said RNAO Halton Chapter President Karimah Alidina in a news release. "Every year in Canada, nearly 4,000 people die by suicide; and so, on Sept. 10, World Suicide Prevention Day, our chapter is hosting a Dialogue on Suicide Awareness." Guest speakers at the event include Elaine Santa Mina, RNAO member and team leader responsible for the development of RNAO's best practice guideline Assessment and Care of Adults at Risk for Suicidal Ideation and Behaviour released in January 2009. The organization has invited health and political leaders at the local and provincial level to understand what government can do to reduce and eliminate suicide in Ontario. Several local organizations will also be present to make participants aware of the resources available in the community. For more information about the event or to pre-register visit http://chapters.RNAO.ca/ halton/ or email rnao.haltonchapter@gmail. com. e l a S r e m o f Sum s y a D Hazy 3 3 3 Best Sunrooms Best Awnings Best Windows & Doors CONCRETE 2006-2013 2013 2002-2013 ExposEd aggrEgatE (pebble) ebsite Visit our NEW W .com qsiwindows · DRIVEWAYS · FRENCH CURBS · PATIOS · STEPS · WALKWAYS · GARAGE FLOORS uality At Its Best! 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