Hope for Bolivar |
Hope for Springfield |
Giving through the above link will be used specifically to bring the 4th annual I Will Intervene Challenge to Springfield, Missouri in the spring of 2016. Thank you for your support!
Contact us today to be part of the No More Suicide Campaign and rally the community for the Challenge. More than 6,000 individuals have participated in the Challenge since inception. "The Challenge has given me a voice to help end the epidemic of suicide - one person at a time." Rebecca Gray, retired educator who lost son to suicide “Excellent workshop! After 40 years in the counseling field, it is rare I say that.” Marilyn Roberts, LPC what others are saying... The I Will Intervene Challenge is open to individuals from all walks of life! |
November 16, 2015 Atlanta, GA
I was in Springfield, MO just last week. A dear friend notified me that a Marine there died by suicide this afternoon. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. I did not know this Marine, but had I known him and I had I known that he was struggling I would have done something. In the last two months I have been notified of six suicides. After 150 successful interventions this year I know that we have what it takes to help those on the battlefield of despair. So I will be going back to the Ozarks in the spring to train all I can in the skills that are saving lives. We are dealing every day with circumstances that most people would rather avoid. But you can do something. You can give to help us return. In the fall of 2012 AFM established the No More Suicide Campaign in an effort to raise awareness and train community care givers through the I Will Intervene Challenge; one and two-day intervention training workshops. In 2013 more than 300 Fayette County residents took part in the Challenge. Most recent data from the Georgia Department of public Health shows that in 2013 Fayette County experienced the lowest rate of suicide since 1994 and a 50% reduction from the previous year. Some may ask, “Does training make a difference?” I don’t think it is possible to really know from one year of statistical data; time will only tell in that regard. However, I do believe the answer is “yes” training makes a difference as evidenced by the many interventions that were conducted as a result of the training and the heightened awareness of participants. If the training does nothing more than raise awareness it is effective. But the reality is the training does much more. That’s one reason that we call it the I Will Intervene Challenge. The Challenge instills participants with the courage and confidence to ask an individual if they are having thoughts of suicide. Through a caring, non-judgmental approach helpers open doors to the rediscovery of hope for those at risk. Training also helps participants understand the various community resources that are available and most often needed to further strengthen resilience. We look forward to returning to Springfield as soon as possible to work with those with a passion to make a difference in their hometown. Thank you and God bless you! Chaplain Kenneth Koon Executive Director Armed Forces Mission |