Harvest of Hope benefit to help suicide prevention

Suicide Prevention Services Inc. will be celebrating its 10th anniversary at this year's "Harvest of Hope" fundraiser which will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Hall on Route 56 in Aurora.

Former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan will be the guest speaker. His son, Patrick, died by suicide on Oct. 8, 2007 with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Ryan will speak of his son's mental illness, the suicide, and the family's struggle to grieve. Ryan was attorney general from 1994-2003. Before that, he was the DuPage County State's Attorney. He is currently a fellow with Benedictine University.

Suicide Prevention Services Inc. began in May of 1998. Since then, more than 13,000 people have benefited from educational presentations. Hundreds have received help through outreach and counseling. It is one of seven agencies in the United States that has all services for suicide under one roof: prevention in the form of education and training; intervention in the form of a 24-hour hotline; depression screening; walk-in counseling; crisis outreach; postvention in the form of counseling; and survivor support groups.

It is a nonprofit agency that receives no state or federal funding. Staffed with four clinicians, a part-time trainer, and a part-time office assistant, Suicide Prevention Services has more than 40 trained hotline volunteers and is part of two national hotlines.

"Harvest of Hope" will feature a brunch as well as a silent auction with many wonderful baskets to buy. Tickets are $60 each. Call (630) 482-9699 for tickets or pay at the door.