Weekly Support Group Meetings

Suicide Survivors Support Group Expands to Madison County; Will Meet in Maryville

May 7, 2009
Times-Tribune

The Karla Smith Foundation has expanded its support group for survivors of suicide into Madison County.

The new group will meet on the second and the fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Copper Creek Christian Church, located at 2184 Vadalabene Drive in Maryville.

This in addition to the support groups currently being held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at Peace Chapel, located at 10101 West Main Street in Belleville.

The meetings are open to family and friends of someone who has committed suicide.

Survivor meetings follow the successful LOSS program (Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide) founded by Reverend Charles Rubey and sponsored by Catholic Charities of Chicago.

The purpose of the LOSS program is to provide a healthy and nurturing, non-judgmental forum to process the various feelings that result when death by suicide occurs.

They provide a safe environment in which survivors can tell their stories, talk about their feelings, express their sadness, ask their questions, and receive support and acceptance from others who have made the same journey.

The Karla Smith Foundation was formed by the parents and brother of Karla Smith, who ended her life by suicide in January 2003.

The mission of the Karla Smith Foundation is to provide hope for a balanced life to family and friends of anyone with a mental illness or who lost a loved one to suicide.

For additional information, call 1-888-KSF-HOPE, email or visit their website, www.karlasmithfoundation.org

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