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Suicide prevention conference comes to Phoenix

Posted at 6:03 AM, Apr 26, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-26 12:35:55-04

Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in Arizona, according to the American Association of Suicidology (AAS).

Arizona lost 1,276 people to suicide in 2015 -- one person every seven hours, according to AAS.

Starting Wednesday, AAS is holding a conference in downtown Phoenix to spread awareness about suicide prevention. Janet Schnell says there will be workshops for loss survivors -- those who have lost someone to suicide.

Schnell is a loss survivor herself. Her brother took his life more than 20 years ago. Devastated by the loss, she turned her grief into action and is now bringing awareness to suicide prevention.

"Part of this conference on Saturday is reaching out to loss survivors," said Schnell. "It is solely dedicated to loss survivors to be able to meet with each other, mother-to-mother, father-to-father and also have other workshops so they can understand and learn things they can do with their grief process."

Interim Executive Director of AAS Amy Kulp says AAS recognizes that a multifaceted, multidisciplinary approach to suicide prevention is the only way to reduce suicide deaths.

"AAS is honored to have been part of the field's history, and looks forward to continuing our leadership well into the future. Because one life lost to suicide is one too many," said Kulp.

For more information about the event, click here.