Survivors of Suicide Owner Announces Closing of Group

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After thirteen years, Second Life's largest depression-support group will soon be closing.

On Saturday October 16 at 2PM, SoS leader Sebastien Bouevier met with others in the group. There, he would first announce that he had reluctantly made the decision to close the group. He would also post the news in the group's blog (https://www.survivorsofsuicidesl.org/post/sos-is-closing), and on Facebook.

Today I did the hardest thing I have ever had to do in Second Life. Survivors of Suicide has been a part of my life for a full decade. It has been my pride and joy, and a real privilege to have been at the helm of this organization for the past seven years. It makes saying goodbye so hard, and I am so sad to announce that after 13 years in Second Life, Survivors of Suicide is closing.

Sebastien was interviewed in 2017 and 2019 by the Newser. He had first joined the group as someone in need of it's services. Eventually, he would end up taking over the group when it's founder could no longer lead it. Although the group started out for those whom attempted suicide, or whose friends and family had, it eventually expanded to help others suffered from depression (and friends of).

Chatting (with an alt) with some people in the group, a few mentioned on new depression support group: Impact Mental Health. It is led by Kitten Stratten-Jaks (Kitten Meridoc).

The last meeting of Survivors of Suicide is scheduled for Saturday October 23rd at 3PM.

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Reaching Out and Remembrance

Depression, anxiety and tragedy are nothing new to people, in and out of Second Life. But in the past year, the Coronavirus Pandemic have made them worse. Even for those whom haven't lost anyone, there's still the anxiety from lockdowns and news events. In his article for today, Fritter Enzyme offers reminders of some suicide hotlines, and a few places in Second Life where one can mourn the departed.

Read Fritter's story in Extra.

Survivors of Suicide Christmas Fair

The Survivors of Suicide, the largest depression support group in Second Life, his holding it's Christmas Fair.

December is upon us once more, and with it comes the 11th anniversary of SOS, and our annual Christmas Fair. This year we have more stores, more entertainment, and more activities for everyone, young, old, tall, small, and everyone in between!

So we invite you all to come join us at our annual Christmas Fair once more! This year we have a whopping 46 stores taking part, all selling their wonderful wares and donating parts of the proceeds to Survivors of Suicide. We also have a lot of varied entertainment from DJ's and Dance Troupes to Conceptual Artists and Live Singers. We also have a Photo Contest in conjunction with Focus Magazine, as well as Santa's workshop where you will be able to meet both Santa and Special Guest Elves, and we promise you won't leave empty handed!

And if the stress of Christmas preparations becomes too much, or if you are feeling the Holiday Blues, we will have SOS Mentors and Members at the Christmas Fair throughout December, and we have even dedicated a nice relaxing spot around a bonfire where you can sit and let the world melt away in friendly company. 

The event lasts to January 1, 2020

To read the announcement in full, Click Here

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Shadowmoor/88/196/2902

Sebastien Bouevier and Survivors of Suicide

Last month the Survivors of Suicide had their Christmas Fair. Having been around in Second Life for ten years, it is the largest and most recognized depression support group inworld. Deaflegacy recently interviewed the head of the group, Sebastien Bouevier. He had a few things to say about Survivors of Suicide, which has recently moved to a new location.

Read the interview in People.

Survivors of Suicide's 10th Anniversary Christmas Fair.

As the holiday season comes to a close, there was one Christmas event that escaped the Newser's attention, until now. Survivors of Suicide is having it's "Tenth Anniversary Christmas Fair," which ends On January 1. It's Grand Closing Gala is scheduled to happen sometime today, Sunday December 30th. The event takes place slightly more than 4000 meters over the Wayward sim.

This Christmas Fair is happening for many reasons.  It’s our 10th Anniversary and we want to celebrate that accomplishment with everyone in Second Life.  Also, it’s giving us a chance to raise funds to make sure we are on the grid for everyone in need for the foreseeable future.  Last, but definitely not least, we are having this event to raise awareness of our group for anyone who may be in need or would like to come on as a mentor.  We know that the holidays are a hard time for many, and we want you to know that S.O.S. is here for you.

I found a number of shops in the area with a number of items from avatars to furniture to accessories, and more. The stalls have at least one item in which 100% of the sales go to SoS. There were also a few items there donated by Second Life artist Bryn Oh. At a frozen lake was a dance area. There was also a gacha machine where one could get surprise items. All the Lindens used to buy gacha items go to the SoS. There was a photo contest people could vote on. In another corner were games people could play.

If you or a friend or family member are feeling the holiday blues, or you are worried for yourself or someone else, we are here for you.  Grab any information that would be helpful at our information booth and if you need to talk to someone, check our Holiday Cuddle Corner, where mentors and members will be standing by to help with those Holiday Blues. If no one is available on site, join our group, there is always someone in chat to talk to.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Wayward/196/214/4003

Bixyl Shuftan

Survivors of Suicide

We all feel down at times. But some of us have real problems falling into and staying in dark moods. Depression can be crippling, and can lead to a final end: suicide. Suicide is a major form of death, with tens of thousands in America and almost a million worldwide taking their own lives despite it being against practically every major religion and philosophy. Fortunately, there are numerous organizations and groups devoted to helping those at risk. In Second Life, one such group is the "Survivors of Suicide." It has moved on to help anyone or friends of someone with depression, but it was created for those who either attempted suicide, those at risk of it, or friends and family of them. The Newser recently sat down with the current head of the group, Sebastien Bouevier, and he talked about Survivors of Suicide and what it does.

Read the story in People.

Press Release: Mental Health Symposium at Virtual Ability This Saturday

Mental Health Symposium
"Losing It: On Disability, Diagnosis, and Depression"
Saturday, May 2, 2015
The Sojourner Auditorium, Virtual Ability Island

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Ability/54/170/23

All times SLT (Pacific Daylight Time)

8:30-9:30am- Dr. Harshita Biswas "Psychological Comorbidities in Specific Learning Disabilities"

10-11am- panel discussion among persons dealing with depression, family members, and healthcare providers

11-11:30am- Interlude I: "Musicians Get Depressed Too" with Arisia Vita

11:30am-12:30pm Amanda9214 and Jenna0212 discuss clinical vs colloquial definitions of the term "depression"

12:30-1pm- Interlude 2: "Musicians Get Depressed Too" with Arisia Vita

1-2pm- Colleen Crary "DEPRESSION: Everything You Want to Know But Are Too Depressed To Ask"

2:30-3:30pm- Alice Krueger "How to Read a Research Paper (without getting depressed)"

4-5pm- Tom Stewart, JD will talk about SSDI and the challenges of showing eligibility for a person with an "invisible disability"

Virtual Ability, Virtual Ability (54, 170, 23)

Press Release: Survivors of Suicide

We are a group that provides in world support to those dealing with depression and/ or the loss of a loved on to suicide.  We can make the world a better place together. We have been around since 2009, we are an active group.

Join us!

Survivors of Suicide Depression Support group offers
* Daily positive living and healing articles
* 24/7 Peer support via the groups chat
* Join a community that understands what you are going through, as the are also
* Education about depression and depression related issues
* Referrals to real life resources
* Don't be alone

We have a club house with lots of healing and self help note cards from past posting.  It is a great place to hang out and has greedy greedy and una games out for all to enjoy.  Feel free to come and enjoy and explore. 

Please tell others about SOS buy having it in your profile and./or handing out SOS 1 prim signs that stores, clubs and places in SL can put out to help more people find us.  Talk us up to any bloggers you know and magazine people.


Any help you can provide will be most welcome.

Also seeking a place to host a immersive educational art exhibit about suicide. It will be a walk through exhibit. If you know of anyone with sim space to host this for a month, I would love to know.  Thank you.

Schoomere (161, 48, 23)


Krissy Sinclair
Founder of Survivors of Suicide

Ask DrFran: "A Friend in Need"

DrFran's latest column deals with two friends, a guy and a girl. With the girl already partnered, the two still have clean fun together on the Grid. But when her partner goes away, he's at a loss to help her out, and offering to date her doesn't seem to be an option. So what can he do? DrFran has a few answers.

Read DrFran's column in People.

Ask DrFran: I Don’t Want to Live Any More.

DrFran's column today is a serious one, dealing with a serious subject that gets worse around the holidays. A reader writes about a friend whom has seemed increasingly troubled, and might have done the unthinkable.

Read DrFran's column in People.

"Survivors of Suicide" Valentine Ball

Last weekend on Saturday Feb 11th, there was a fundraiser ball for the "Survivors of Suicide" depression support group. Besides raising Lindens, it was also to provide some fun for both staff and group members alike. The party happened to be at the time news of Whitney Houston's death reached Second Life, which affected the tone of the ball.

Read what happened in Events.

Depression Support Group in Second Life

Most of us know someone who's feeling the blues. But what if it's more than just simple "down" feelings? What if the depressed feelings keep occurring? Where does one turn? There is one such group in Second Life people can turn to. Named the "Survivors of Suicide," the group offers to lend an ear and listen to what mental wellness problem you have of any kind, or if you need advice about someone else.

Read more in People.

The Post That Should Not Be Ignored

Facebook has been an interesting way for friends and I to keep in touch, those in and out of Second Life. And in some cases, a chance to stay in contact with friends taking a break from the Grid, though games and an occasional shared joke.

Because of it’s volume, we occasionally hear about Facebook posts in the news. A few weeks ago a student left a short suicide note as a post before jumping off a bridge. It was certainly strange. One seldom if ever believes any post that shows up on your page will be anything like that.


So imagine the surprise when I logged on, and find that one of my Facebook/Second Life friends posted, “Goodbye. Please forgive me, I love you all.”

The post was hours old. Fortunately, she had a number of friends, at least one whom she entrusted her address. It was this friend whom within minutes of the post dialed 911 and alerted her city’s emergency services. They found her, overdosed, but caught it in time, and rushed her to the hospital. She was safe.

This isn’t the first time someone I knew brought up suicide. Once in real life and once in Second Life, a friend talked about doing away with himself. People whom have often leave warning signs, such as this. And what one should do is take such talk seriously, talk to them, and get them to change their minds. For someone in Second Life, with whom contacting real life help might not be an option, one can get in contact with a therapist or a group therapy group. Even if the friend won’t see them, one can talk to the therapist for advice (Industria Dowler was the one I contacted for advice on my friend). It can take a while to get a depressed friend to turn around, but it can be done.

For now, I can be thankful my friend was found in time, and is now in safe hands.

Bixyl Shuftan