NORWICH – On June 6, community members packed the house at Morrisville Extension in Norwich. They came to discover what can be done to prevent the loss of lives to suicide and how to best support survivors so deeply impacted by the death of a loved one, by suicide.

A panel of speakers included Sam Cattroppa, NYS Office of Mental Health Upstate Suicide Prevention Coordinator; Marion Mossman, Mental Health Association, Ulster County Regional Director; Debra Graham, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; and community members Sue and John Franco, and Danielle Williamson.

Presenters spoke of the prevalence of suicide in Chenango County, risk factors, the importance of enhancing area interconnectedness and how coming together as a coalition can impact the incidence of fatal and non-fatal suicide in local communities.