Suicide Awareness, Prevention and Recovery
During their pilgrimage to the Sacred Valley of Peru and to the saced sites of the Lake Titikaka area, three experts (see below) in the area of suicidology donated their time to offer a talk in the rural community of Calca where in recent years there has been a high incidence of suicide among their youth. This one-time talk took place at the Municipality of Calca on August 7th 2007. The topics covered were Prevention, Intervention, and Rehabilitation. Attending were students, psychologists, social workers and teachers. In Peru, there are few experts in the mental health area of suicide. WAA was honored and grateful to have had such a distinguished and knowledgeable team of experts in Peru at the same time. The event served to raise awareness and to bring people interested in the topic together. However much work remains to be done. WAA remains at all times disposed to expand its work in the area of suicidology. To solicit a training or to serve as a trainer, contact WAA at susan@worldayni.org.
Iris M. Bolton was the Executive Director of The Link Counseling Center and The Link’s National Resource Center for Suicide Prevention and Aftercare. Since April 2007 she has become Director Emeritus. Iris graduated from Columbia University, completed further studies in counseling at Georgia State University and is a graduate of Emory University with a master’s degree in Suicidology. She is the co-founder of the North Atlanta, Georgia Chapter of The Compassionate Friends. She also founded the Survivors of Suicide Support Groups in metro Atlanta, and the S.O.S Support Team, providing home visits to the bereaved. She authored “My Son…My Son, a Guide to Healing After Death, Loss, or Suicide”, a book about the survival of a family in the aftermath of a suicide.
John Rice is an Ojibwa/Pottawatomi Anishinabe, 2nd Degree Midewiwin from Wasauksing First Nation Near Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada. He works at the Mental Health Centre in Penetanguishene, Ontario as the Coordinator of Aboriginal Spiritual Services, part of a Spiritual Team that recognizes diversity in spirituality using a multi-faith approach.
Bruce Pemberton is a seasoned clinical psychologist who has served for over twenty years in the Atlanta, Georgia area. His areas of expertise include suicide prevention, youth at risk, family & couples counseling, shamanic healing, inter alia.