About this Event
Join us as we come together in recognition of the annual World Suicide Prevention Day, a time to raise awareness and commit to meaningful steps toward preventing suicide. This year, we're hosting an intimate event dedicated to those who have lost a loved one to suicide, offering a space for remembrance, connection, and healing.
Led by the talented Filipinx-Canadian storyteller, filmmaker, and arts educator, Patrick de Belen, the event will create a supportive environment where people can share their stories, navigate their grief, and find comfort in community.
You can look forward to a variety of engaging activities, including a screening of Patrick’s powerful documentary, “Tell Me A Story About Someone You Miss,” followed by a live poetry performance exploring the themes of grief, migration, and mental health. Patrick will also lead a sharing circle and a creative writing workshop, providing opportunities for group healing and camaraderie. Plus, refreshments will be served to make the experience even more comforting.
We hope you'll join us for this meaningful day of reflection, support, and community.
Who is this event for?
This event is targetted towards individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide or supporting someone who has lost someone to suicide.
Ticketing
This is a free event with limited spots. We recommend arriving 10 minutes early to the venue to ensure your spot. The first 50 people who attend will receive a copy of "What it Takes to Make it Through: Stories of Suicide Loss and Resilience" ($30 value, available https://t.ly/6XVjA)
About Patrick de Belen
Patrick de Belen, a distinguished storyteller and poet, will be the guiding force of the event. Since experiencing the loss of his little brother to suicide in January 2021, Patrick de Belen has been using his storytelling talents to navigate and cope with his grief. His personal journey, marked by profound loss and resilience, uniquely positions him to lead conversations on grief and healing. Friends, strangers, and community members will all be present at the event, and what unites them is their desire to have thoughtful conversations about bereavement.
About the ASR Suicide & Depression Studies Program
The Arthur Sommer Rotenberg (ASR) Suicide and Depression Studies Program represents the first academic Chair in suicide studies in Canada. Based at St. Michael’s Hospital, this University of Toronto-endowed chair has led research in suicide and its intervention since its inception in 1997. Our clinicians have built a strong intervention program that has treated hundreds of people, including those with recurrent suicide attempts. The ASR team of scientists and graduate students are working hard to explore research in the areas of suicide neurobiology, treatment intervention, health care service optimization, and community-based program development. As researchers and clinicians, we also believe in a social responsibility to educate communities about suicide, and run education and arts-based outreach programming throughout the year. We believe in the power of the lived experience voice, and so work with community members through an advisory committee to develop impactful research and advocacy projects.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Junto Studio, 915 Dupont Street, Toronto, Canada
CAD 0.00