Earlier this year, Gemma Claire lost a friend to suicide. To cope, she did lots of reading about suicide and discovered that for every suicide, at least six people are affected by the death. As about ten people die by suicide per week in NZ, that is a minimum of 60 people bereaved through suicide (known as “suicide survivors”) per week. At least 3000 per year.
Gemma wants to create care kits to distribute to suicide survivors in NZ. She would do this through survivor support group, agencies and so on. She surveyed survivors in an online suicide survivor forum and collected ideas about what to include: Journal, pen, candle, matches, stress ball, drawing paper, felt tip pens, meditation CD, a book about suicide grief, a resource about supporting children through suicide grief, a list of places to go for support, information about dealing with the practicalities, a cosy blanket, tissues, energy drinks, and so on.
Gemma has a fundraising page called “Care Kits for People Bereaved by Suicide”
https://www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/carekits4suicidebereaved
Gemma will give updates via the Givealittle page through posts and photos about exactly how funds are used and how the care kits are assembled and distributed. Thank you for your generosity. Please spread the word about this project!
To contact Gemma, text / phone 021 0275 4738.
