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Our support group meets on the second Wednesday of the month
at Temple Tikvah – New Hyde Park, 3315 Hillside Ave., New Hyde Park, NY 11030.
We meet in the temple library every second Wednesday of
the month unless it becomes necessary to alter a meeting date. Meetings begin
at 7:15 PM and usually will end at 9:30PM. Newcomers to our meetings are
advised to come to their first meeting at 7:00PM where they will receive a
personal introduction to our group. Although meetings take place in a religious
institution it is important to recognize that our group is non-sectarian and
non-denominational. Everyone is welcome: members of any faith, those claiming
no religious affiliations, and people of all racial and cultural affiliations.
There are no socio-economic restrictions for membership. At our meetings we
will pass around a basket collecting nominal voluntary contributions to offer
our hosts, as an expression of our gratitude for the use of their facilities.
We expect that our membership base will consist of survivors of suicide i.e.
those who lost loved ones to suicide, those who lost a child, parent, spouse or
partner, sibling, other relative or friend to suicide. Suicide cuts across most
boundaries of class, professions and educational differences and we have among
our ranks many professionals and laypeople, all sharing the common interest in
how we survive after suicide loss. Suicide survivors who not only have lost
someone to suicide but also struggle with their own depression and/or prior
history of suicidality are also welcome. We also will be pleased to welcome any
other survivors of traumatic deaths of loved ones. We clearly identify
ourselves as a self-help group of laypersons and do not profess any
professional expertise in the treatment of mental illnesses.
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| We expect meetings will vary in size with anywhere from 10
to 25 participants usually beginning with a traditional candle lighting
ceremony, an opening reading and then a
‘go-around’ where each person will offer a brief introduction about themselves
and their loss. Then, unless we have a guest speaker or a film program, which
will usually not be typical, we will have an open discussion of subjects
suggested by those in attendance. Anyone in attendance is free to suggest a
topic for discussion. Our co-facilitators will help to keep the discussion
going on as long as others wish to contribute to it. If anyone wishes to assume
a spectator role in discussions they are free to do so. Sometimes it takes
people a while before they feel comfortable to participate more actively. We
encourage people to get involved at their own pace. Sometimes, especially in
the beginning, survivors may bring close friends or relatives with them to
meetings. Above all, it is our hope that this support group will be seen as a
safe and comfortable place for survivors, a place where we can meaningfully
share our feelings about loss with each other. |
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