"International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is in November on the Saturday before Thanksgiving (November 19, 2022) and promotes coming together and supporting the survivors of this tragic event. When someone is lost to suicide it impacts those who knew and loved them. For those people, the grief and trauma can be especially difficult to handle. This day is all about showing support and love to the survivors of suicide.
While the suicide rates for adults in the United States didn’t change much from 1950 to 1980, suicide rates among younger people increased significantly. Those most affected were young white males aged 15 to 19 which increased by 305% and from white males aged 20 to 24 it was 196%. Mental health officials had to broaden their understanding and the roles that drug and alcohol, mental illness, suicide clusters, and the availability of firearms affected society.
In 1999, US Senator Harry Reid introduced a resolution that led to the creation of International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. Reid lost his father to suicide in 1972 and the cause was close to his heart. It was then designated into Congress and placed before Thanksgiving as the holiday season can be a hard time for survivors. Every year, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention supports Survivors Day events all over the world and the peace that it brings."
