Suicide Prevention Workshop On September 10
Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Certified Suicide Prevention Educator Sherrie Lynn Lilley will host a one-day workshop on September 10th which is “designed for students aged 16 and up, adults, caregivers, student support staff, and mental/emotional wellness providers, along with anyone invested in community education and suicide prevention.”
A spokesperson said, “You don’t want to miss this impactful opportunity to be a powerful voice in changing the narrative about suicide in Bermuda. In collaboration with Bermuda College’s Athora Professional and Career Education [APACE], Sherrie Lynn Lilley, Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Certified Suicide Prevention Educator from Pneuma Counseling & Consulting, invites you to be a part of this vital training experience. This engaging one-day program is designed for students aged 16 and up, adults, caregivers, student support staff, and mental/emotional wellness providers, along with anyone invested in community education and suicide prevention. Dive into a day filled with exploration, education, and valuable insights that can make a difference.”
“I believe that Bermuda is ready to step up the conversation around this extremely stigmatized topic. I am proud of how hard we have been working to normalize all areas and topics that are directly affecting our sense of physical and emotional safety in Bermuda. However, there is so much more to be done, and every person can become a champion of change on the journey to our collective mental health,” says Sherrie Lynn Lilley.
The spokesperson said, “Suicide can feel very scary to talk about, and it is the silence that sends the message to those who may be struggling with suicidal ideations, that they cannot speak up, that they cannot reach out for help, which can deepen their feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and despair. The truth is that most people experiencing suicidality do not want to die, they want to be free from their internal, emotional suffering. While our numbers for completed suicides may not seem very high, every death by suicide hits our small community hard, often activating secondary trauma and grief.”
“While clinicians may have the skill to manage this issue, it is a community, a family , a school issue, and without the open dialogue, we will always feel blind-sided and helpless to assist in navigating the resources available to our family and friends,” says Ms Lilley.
“I wanted to do this because I have great faith in our community members and especially our gatekeepers to expand this conversation so that we can address this at the family and community level.”
The spokesperson said, “This workshop has been customized for Bermuda. It will be very interactive and involve a time of collaboration, where participants can share insights, ideas, and potential solutions for improving the narrative and opening safe spaces for people to reach out in time to prevent any tragic loss. all participants will leave this workshop equipped with the first steps to assisting someone experiencing suicidal thoughts.”
“It will not be all doom and gloom,” Ms Lilley says. “We will have some fun practicing and role playing because ultimately, I want people to know that suicide prevention is not only about avoiding death but choosing life.”
Link to registration form: https://www.college.bm/images/documents/forms/PACE_registration_form.pdf.
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