Anchorage Daily News

Someone commits suicide every 16 minutes in this country.

When they fail, they become suicide survivors. When they succeed, the survivors are the people they leave behind.

On Saturday, a 90-minute national webcast and discussion aimed at both groups will air at the University of Alaska Anchorage, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Rasmuson Hall, room 110.

The event, which includes light refreshments, marks the 10th annual National Survivors of Suicide Day.

During this webcast, sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide survivors and mental health professionals will discuss their experiences and answer common questions regarding prevention and healing, said Barbara Franks of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and state field liaison for the Suicide Prevention Action Network.

The webcast may also be watched on your home computer Saturday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. To register, go to www.afsp.org. An online chat will follow. In addition, the program will be archived on the AFSP Web site for a year.

Saturday's public viewing and reception is sponsored by the ANTHC, UAA Native Student Services and Healthy Alaska Natives Foundation.

For more information, contact Franks at bjfranks@anmc.org. Or call 729-3751.

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