Sedgwick County, Kansas Suicide Task Force
Survivors of Suicide

According to the American Association of Suicidology and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention each year more than 29,000 people in the United States die by suicide.  One adult kills themselves every 18 minutes.  One youth kills themselves every 2 hours.  Suicide is this country’s 11^th leading cause of death.  It is the 3^rd cause of death for American youth.  For every suicide at least 6 people- family members, friends, coworkers- are directly affected.

Survivors often experience powerful reactions to the loss of a loved one.  One place a survivor can turn to for help during this painful time is a support group.  Support groups allow survivors to tell and retell their painful experiences.  Talking about ones experience can be very helpful to a survivor.  However after a period of time friends and family members may not want to hear the story again or talk about the pain they are going through.  By telling one’s story in a safe secure environment a survivor can begin the healing process.  Survivors who attend a support group are often not as isolated as those who do not.  The grieving process is very difficult and having the support of others who have gone through a similar experience can make this process a little easier.  The support group is also a source of education.  Some of the subjects a support group can give information on are common grieving reactions, community resources, coping with the holidays and anniversary dates, and working though medical and insurance bills.  

There are several support groups in Wichita that focus on loss by suicide.  They are as follows:

 

Compassionate Friends

Sunflower Chapter TCF

Burt and Mary McClard

316-721-5308 for more information on meeting times

Good Grief of Kansas Inc.
Suicide Loss Group 
(This group is for those who have suffered the loss of a loved one through suicide)
570 S. Oliver
Wichita, KS 67218
Phone 316-612-0700
Please call Good Grief for more information

Three Trees
Providing support and a comforting environment for grieving children and their families.
Tallgrass Executive Park
8100 E. 22^nd St. North
Bldg 800, Ste. 100,
Wichita, KS 67226
Phone 316-263-3335

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last update: 02/23/09
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Resources 24 Hour Suicide Prevention Services Community Resource List Lista de Recursos en la Comunidad Awareness/Education General Suicide Information History Stigma Older Adults Youth Intervention/Outreach Yellow Ribbon Program Suicide Survivors Support Group Methodology/Research Year One Report Year Two Report Year Three Report Year Four Report Year Five Report Year Six Report Resource Links American Association of Suicidology American Foundation for Suicide Prevention COMCARE of Sedgwick County Department on Aging Kansas Suicide Prevention Steering Committee Suicide in the United States Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, Inc. Suicide Prevention Resource Center Surgeon General's Call To Action To Prevent Suicide USA State Plans Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program     Contact Us     Adobe Acrobat Reader required to view document.   Sedgwick County Suicide Prevention Task Force 635 N. Main Wichita, Kansas 67203 Tel:  (316) 660-7600 TTY: (316) 267-0267 Fax:  (316) 660-7510  24 Hour Crisis Line (316) 660-7500