A Time for Rest and Recuperation
Taking stock of the past three months makes us feel satisfied and hopeful. Seeds planted during the spring and summer have begun to grow and blossom.
During the month of September our alliance grew to include a wonderful Sources of Strength Community project. The CDPHE Office of Suicide Prevention approved the first Western Slope community training project, which we’ve organized in partnership with St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. (We had been scheduled to launch in November 2021 but ,due to Mesa County’s COVID19 alert, Sources of Strength rescheduled)
During October we said “SEE YOU SOON!” to Janice Curtis, our outgoing president and “WELCOME!” to incoming president Sandra Eisenberg, secretary Caroline Valdez, and to member-at-large Kimberlee Bow. Liliana Flanigan took over as Vice President. Colin Wilhelm and Darrell Kitzman moved to members-at-large.
With generous funding from Rocky Mountain Health Foundation, our alliance is fortunate to help with several new Western Slope loss survivor efforts. LOSSteam and Pathways trained peers and clinicians are creating new supports for individuals and families. In addition to decades-long efforts like Heartbeat of Grand Junction and The Compassionate Friends Mesa County Chapter, the new groups are amazing. Creating Connections for Healing meets each 1st & 2nd Wednesdays @ 6pm via Zoom, Junction Ally & Queer Connection organizers are offering support within our local LGBTQI+ community, Action is Safer’s postvention group for peer & clinical caregivers is underway.
Action is also providing on-site healing activities during Mutual Aid. CMU Student Governement leaders sometimes stop by to help out!
If you’ve never met the Heartbeat people, they are so very special. Heartbeat Grand Junction was organized forty years ago to help survivors absorb the impact of self-inflicted death, to offer comfort of empathy, understanding and to support each other toward a healthy resolution to grief.
A note to past LOSSteam and Pathways course attendees. For those who have a desire to help out as immediate or delayed responders in Mesa County, please message the Colorado National Collaborative contact Kari Sewell at kari.sewell@mesacounty.us