CARE AWARD - VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP

Karen Stevenson, Manager Emergency Services – April 2003

Jeanne Adams and Susan Conlin Opheim, facilitators of the SOS Group of Dane County, were the recipients of the first CARE Award for Volunteer Leadership, given on February 26, 2003at a “Kick-Off Celebration” in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Mental Health Center of Dane County, Inc. The award was presented by Ron Diamond, M.D., Medical Director of the Mental Health Center.

Services to survivors of suicide, those left behind in the aftermath of suicide, are a source of pride to the MHCDC’s Crisis Unit – sponsor of SOS groups/services. Jeanne and Sue have been the volunteer backbone of the program for 21 and 17 years, respectively. From my perspective, no one in Dane County has done more to lift the curtain of stigma, misunderstanding and fear surrounding suicide that has so often isolated its survivors from those who are grieving other kinds of losses.

Credit for the original idea of trying to provide help for family and friends after a suicide must go to Bud Chamberlain, the late Dane County Coroner. Soon after the Crisis Unit began in 1975, Bud asked if staff could help, on a case-by-case basis, with individuals and families he encountered who had lost a loved one to suicide. Crisis staff responded and tried a number of ways to offer support to these families, including group therapy. This effort limped along, with irregular attendance at groups, until Jeanne Adams, one of the survivor members, came forward with ideas and an offer to help with the group. Jeanne took a class on group facilitation, and in 1980 was placed in charge of the SOS group. Under her leadership it became a strong, reliable service, and just when she was feeling the burden of being the sole volunteer leader of SOS, (by now meeting twice/month) a second natural leader, Sue Opheim, emerged from the group, and became co-leader.

Between them, Jeanne and Sue have facilitated over five hundred twenty five SOS meetings. They have personally touched the lives of hundreds and hundreds of people who were suffering deeply, and most important, they have provided living examples that there IS life after a suicide loss. As if their hard work and commitment weren’t enough, both Jeanne and Sue turned out to be extraordinarily gifted as group leaders, as anyone who’s attended an SOS meeting will tell you.

In addition, they’ve made themselves available to help Crisis staff in sessions with individuals, families, and other groups of people who experienced a suicide. They’ve been the driving force behind ten day-long seminars sponsored by the Crisis Unit that have drawn suicide survivors from all over Wisconsin. They have been instrumental in the creation and ongoing production of this SOS newsletter since it began in 1994.

Each has given generously of herself in the cause of helping survivors to heal. Equally important, both have become public speakers/spokespersons on surviving suicide. In recent years Sue has also turned her considerable energy toward prevention of suicide through community education, with the HOPES organization, which she co-founded with four other people.

Dane County is indeed fortunate to have two volunteers with such remarkable talents. We salute you both and offer congratulations on the occasion of the CARE Award for Volunteer Leadership!

Editors note:
April is National Volunteer Month, an appropriate time to thank/honor both Jeanne and Susan. In order to gain a better understanding of their dedication and support, we’ve asked them to share why they volunteer their time to SOS. Thank you Jeanne and Susan, you’ve touched many lives with your kindness.

HEALING BY HELPING
– Jeanne Adams

No one selected me. There was a point in time when I stepped forward. Once I had indicated a desire to be involved I was encouraged and supported by the professional staff of the Crisis Unit. It was important that I was well into working through my own issues before I could feel strong enough to help in an organized effort. Once I started to facilitate the Support Group it became clearer to me that the process of talking things through truly works. Survivors help each other by just surviving, but interaction is necessary.

Why would someone continue to work with survivors for an extended period of time? It provides an ongoing opportunity to:

– Share experiences of how feelings change over time and what one can expect.
– Connect people to proper resources.
– Observe people being their own healers; encouraging one another along the way.
– Observe people, who are broken by a devastating loss, become whole.
– Guide people as they wade through their painand move forward to thrive as well as survive.
– Teach survival skills.
– Serve as an example of someone who hassurvived.

What a privilege to be trusted to walk this journey with so many.

VOLUNTEERING
– Susan Conlin Opheim

Why do I volunteer for the Survivors of Suicide Support group?
I often joke that I attended the group so long they just gave up and gave me a position. But truthfully, one year after my brother died of suicide I realized I wasn’t finished with my process. I attended the group and was excited to see so many “normal” people there. It was helpful to continue to work on my feelings in a supportive caring environment. It was an important part of my recovery.

I enjoyed the bonds that were created in the group. The sharing of our strengths and weakness to help each other was encouraging.

Survivors helping survivors. It’s a powerful concept. I am amazed by the stories of courage that are shared by people who are working to heal and move on, and not just ‘getting over’ it. I feel it is a privilege to hear their stories and be a small part of their recovery. I also think that the process of recovery for survivors is suicide prevention.

SOS Newsletter Article, Mental Health Center of Dane County, Inc.