The annual Community Memorial Ceremony for those affected by suicide is taking place tomorrow morning and is inviting everyone to come down and remember the lives we have lost too soon.
A positive yet reflective service, the focus of the ceremony will be honouring the memory of loved ones and remembering the good times.
This is also an opportunity for families who have lived similar journeys to come together and quietly share a moment with people who understand what they have been through.
The service is hosted by Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network (WSPN) and committee member Adriel Burley will lead the event.
Mr Burley has vast experience helping veteran families with deaths by suicide and has come down from Townsville especially for the service.
Pastor Olwyn Harris from Liberty Church in Proserpine will officiate and make a short presentation on the significance of the service.
Treasurer of WSPN Paul Burke said that the mood will be more reflective than sombre.
“Most importantly we have this time to remember and honour the memory of those that have been lost and taken their own lives,” he said.
“Particularly to remember the good times with those people, reflect on their lives and what they meant to us.”
The official ceremony will last just 30 minutes, after which everyone is invited outside to the waterfront where they will be given a yellow sunflower.
They are then invited to stand and think of happy memories with their lost one before casting the sunflower into the water and watching as it slowly drifts away.
Afterwards, everyone is welcome to go back inside the main building for tea and coffee with the opportunity to chat with others, share experiences and helpful tools for getting through tough days.
If you are worried about a loved one or would like to reach out and talk to a professional about your own mental wellbeing, there are a variety of free and confidential numbers you can call.
Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
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