(Photo by Zachary Meseck)

NORWICH – The SUNY Morrisville Norwich Campus will host a suicide prevention forum on Monday with a crisis specialist, social workers, and other individuals who have either battled with or lost someone to suicide.

The forum named, “Voices of Hope: Community Forum on Understanding and Preventing Suicide,” will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Monday, at the Norwich Campus Community Room. It will feature a panel of at least four speakers, and a question and answer session after the panelists speak.

According to Voices of Hope Representative Sierra Nebel, this an opportunity for the public to learn more about suicide prevention and hear the stories of those who have struggled with suicide.

“According to the American Psychological Association, suicide rates tend to be high in rural areas in part because there is greater access to firearms, few healthcare providers and medical facilities,” said Nebel. “Hopefully by educating people we can reduce the stigma of suicide, and make people aware of the warning signs.”

She said event organizers wanted to bring together a variety of people from different kinds of education and life experience relating to suicide. She added that the speakers will include a social worker from the Norwich School District, a representative from Mobile Crisis Assessment Team (MCAT), and a person who has attempted suicide.