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Life Lines Luncheon Exceeds Expectations
Every seat at every available table was filled at SPI's third annual Life Lines Luncheon on November 16th at the University Club. Funds raised at the Luncheon are going toward our work to reduce suicide among combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Luncheon was a moving event with a special highlight being the remarks of Captain Zachary Iscol about his experiences at the battle of Fallujah in the war in Iraq and his tribute to Colonel Willard Buhl, his battalion commander at Fallujah. Colonel Buhl, who was our guest speaker, then gave a powerful presentation of the problems faced by combat veterans.
Gary Sinise, screen star and lead in CSI New York, received our Humanitarian Award for his work and that of the Gary Sinise Foundation on behalf of veterans suffering from the physical and psychological aftermath of combat. Christie Civetta, Northeastern sophomore, received our Survivors Award for her remarkable accomplishments in raising awareness among young people and support from corporations for SPI's youth suicide prevention initiatives. Herbert Hendin, SPI CEO and Medical Director, received our Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to our knowledge of suicide and how to prevent it.
The Luncheon was a moving event with a special highlight being the remarks of Captain Zachary Iscol about his experiences at the battle of Fallujah in the war in Iraq and his tribute to Colonel Willard Buhl, his battalion commander at Fallujah. Colonel Buhl, who was our guest speaker, then gave a powerful presentation of the problems faced by combat veterans.
Gary Sinise, screen star and lead in CSI New York, received our Humanitarian Award for his work and that of the Gary Sinise Foundation on behalf of veterans suffering from the physical and psychological aftermath of combat. Christie Civetta, Northeastern sophomore, received our Survivors Award for her remarkable accomplishments in raising awareness among young people and support from corporations for SPI's youth suicide prevention initiatives. Herbert Hendin, SPI CEO and Medical Director, received our Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to our knowledge of suicide and how to prevent it.
Gary Sinise, honoree
Christie Civetta, honoree
Herbert Hendin, honoree
Captain Zachary Iscol
Colonel Willard Buhl, featured speaker
New Project: Reducing Suicide among Veterans of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
The high rate of suicide among veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is a source of public concern. Although our ability to recognize veterans at risk for suicide and intensify the psychiatric care they receive is increasing, they need more than individual psychiatric care. Their problems include work, social relations, and relations with their families. Family Psychoeducation (FPE) has been demonstrated to improve the results of all other treatments with which it has been tried - reducing symptoms, and relapse rates, and improving social and family relations and overall life functioning. No FPE project, with veterans or civilians and their families has included veterans known to be at risk for suicide which this project will do. SPI CEO and Medical Director Dr. Herbert Hendin and SPI have received a major grant for this project from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation.
Collaboration of SPI and the Gary Sinise Foundation
A shared interest in helping veterans has led to a collaboration between SPI and Gary Sinise and the Gary Sinise Foundation. The organizations will run ProAm Golf Events at outstanding golf courses on the East and West Coast in 2012 in which the proceeds will be divided between them. Gary Sinise's love of golf and that of Al Rabil, Chair of the Life Lines Luncheon contributed to this unique collaboration.
Mission Statement
Suicide Prevention International (SPI) is the leading not-for-profit organization developing, implementing, and funding suicide prevention projects in the United States and worldwide. SPI utilizes its international network of experts to decide what projects are most likely to prevent suicide, selects the investigators to work on them, and is an active partner in conducting the projects from beginning to end. SPI is also concerned with providing support to survivors of suicide - children, youth, and adults who have lost a relative or friend to suicide. In furtherance of these goals, SPI undertakes educational projects aimed at mental health professionals who deal with suicidal patients or survivors, as well as educational and outreach projects intended for the public.