Archive for May 14th, 2012
Suicides charity
As a qualified suicide counsellor, and having lived for several years in an area that became infamous for its high incidence of youth suicides, I was particularly interested to learn of a charity that is being set up in New Jersey, USA, to reduce the number of suicides by raising awareness.
Joey’s Voice, set up by Sharon Kane in memory of her ex-husband Joseph Nicolosi Jr, who took his own life in 2011 following a period of depression and post-traumatic-stress, aims initially to be a fundraiser and peer-to-peer support group. Although it is currently in its very early stages it already has a number of fundraising projects underway, and a scholarship fund is planned, as well as a walk in Joey’s memory.
Ms Kane (who has lost a total of 5 loved ones to suicide) is now seeking to drum up further support: she urgently needs volunteers and donations.
Long-term, however, she wants to address the worryingly high incidence of suicides among young people (even as young as 7) by getting into schools and providing the kids there with someone to turn to when they become desperate. As she notes, there’s a lot of myth and stigma around the subject and she hopes to change this.
This excellent non-profit doesn’t yet appear to have a separate website of its own, but it does have a Facebook page, and if you would like to learn more (perhaps volunteering too, and/or making a donation) you can contact Sharon at slkane2010@yahoo.com (or telephone her… 856-265-5116).
