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Parents of Suicides (POS) Frequently Asked Questions * What is POS? POS is an Internet community and support group, made up of hundreds of bereaved parents from all over the US and the world, who have come together to help themselves cope with a devastating loss in their lives. POS began on October 9, 1998.
* Who can join POS? * How does POS work? The members of POS connect daily via group e-mails, served via YahooGroups. It functions like a cyber-living room with a variety of discussions going on at once. Members generally get at least 100 messages per day. * What type of messages do members send to each other via the group? Members send a variety of messages. They share memories.They discuss the details of the suicide of their sons and daughters. They share educational information on suicide and related issues.
They discuss the stages of grief.
They share their own personal experiences. They share poetry and
other inspirational messages. They listen to each other and offer support and encouragement. They discuss ways to cope and handle various situations unique to suicide. They discuss ways to hold on to their memories and to honor the lives of their sons and daughters. * What is the difference in POS and an in-person support group?
An in-person group meets once a
month at a certain time and location. Those who meet in person may be neighbors who socialize outside of the meetings, and you can see them and hear them during meetings.
* What type of rules does POS have, and who monitors the e-mail messages?
POS rules are basically common
sense and following the Golden Rule. Members are in the group
for support, and anyone who has another agenda may be removed from
the group.
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* Other than the e-mail group connection, what services does POS offer the members?
Some of the members of POS want
to reach out to help others. They do this daily by sending
supportive messages to each other via the group. The Suicide Memorial Wall, the Faces of Suicides site, and and the Suicide Grief Discussion Board are all outreach sites, completely served by volunteer members of the group. They generously donate their time and hearts in memory of their sons and daughters.
Some of the members also
become active in their communities. They participate in suicide
awareness, support, educational and prevention activities. Some of
them participate in the Out of Darkness walks, sponsored by the
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to raise money for
suicide research. Sometimes, members find friends far away, and they may arrange for an actual visit. Sometimes, members meet in Columbia, Tennessee at the twice-yearly week-end retreats.
* Other than the group and retreats and websites,
does POS offer members anything else? Suicide Memorial Quilt (6 sections), Suicide Memorial Cookbook, Volumes 1 and 2 and a Suicide Memorial Book, Forever In Our Hearts. * How does someone join POS? Click the button to go to the YahooGroups. sign up page.
After a member has sent the
application in and has followed the directions on the invitation,
s/he will be introduced to the group. |
