International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day (ISOSL) is one day a year when people affected by suicide loss gather in local communities to find comfort and gain understanding as they share stories of healing and hope.

Survivor Day was created by an act of Congress in 1999 and since then has been sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.  In 2018, there were 370 total events, including 32 international sites in 19 countries.  For many loss survivors, Survivor Day is an opportunity to discover that they are not alone in their experience of losing someone they know and love to suicide.  In addition, all gatherings will include a screening of an AFSP-produced documentary for and about suicide loss survivors.  For those unable to attend an event in person, AFSP hosts a Survivor Day program online at afsp.org/SurvivorDay.

A local Survivor Loss Day event will be held in Franklin, TN on Saturday, November 13 at Franklin Vineyard Church, 308 Jordan Road, Franklin, TN  37067 at 9:00 am.  This is a free event, and lunch will be provided.  This year’s panel of speakers include Tim Denbo and Leni Seddiqi (both spouses of loss survivors), Shannon Huffman (Family & Children Services, Associate Director of Crisis Services, Ashley Beck (Nashville Art Therapy Collective, Registered Art Therapist) with Joan Van Reece, Family & Children Services as Panel Moderator.

Local resources on site will include Art Therapy provided by Rachel Murphy Norman, M.A., ATR, a Therapy Dog by National Crisis Response Canines, The Refuge Center for Counseling, Family & Children Services and Nashville Center for Hope & Healing.  Live acoustic music by Tim Denbo and Matt Griffith.  To learn more about ISOSL Day, visit afsp.org/SurvivorDay, call 615-393-4742, or emaiil Kcloud@afsp.org for further details.