Suicide prevention summit offers knowledge, connections, hope

HIGH POINT — A Suicide Prevention Summit is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 4, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at American Legion Post 87, 409 W. High St., High Point. It’s provided by J&E Support Group and is for both Randolph and Guilford counties.

The summit will host a panel that includes those who have lived the suicide experience and offer stories of hope, resilience and recovery. There will also be local professionals to tell of resources, challenges and how we can make a difference.

Serving at the summit will be mental health support vendors to help people connect with organizations offering resources, tools and support for individuals and families.

The summit is for those who have lived experiences with suicide, their families and loved ones, mental health professionals, community members and anyone who wants to help save lives. Those who attend can sign up for training.

The event will offer calming activities and light snacks.

Maddie Andrews, founder of J&E, assisted at the first summit last year. “The reason I’m so passionate about suicide is because I lost my mom and uncle and I’m a survivor myself.”

Andrews is currently in the master’s degree program in Social Work at UNC-Chapel Hill. She’s involved with a mobile crisis unit that goes out to help people with thoughts of suicide. The mobile unit is a free service with the goal of treating and helping those considering suicide.

Talking about her mother, Andrews said, “She had so much pain she felt she had no other choice. She lived with thoughts of suicide. She was hurting so deeply inside and was seriously depressed.

“Having thoughts of suicide is nothing to be ashamed about,” Andrews said. “We want to educate the public that it’s a mental illness and you can learn how to process it.”

For more details about the Suicide Prevention Summit, send an email to maddieandrews@jesupport.org.