The Clinton County Suicide Prevention Coalition has a program that helps survivors cope with grief

PLATTSBURGH, NY. (WCAX) – Saturday is International Survivors of Suicide Day. There are over 300 events taking place around the world to help people grieve those they have lost to suicide.

The Clinton County Suicide Prevention Coalition hosted a program on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus to help suicide survivors overcome grief.

New York State Health Connector data shows the North Country has suicide rates slightly higher than the state average of 9 per 100,000.

According to statistics from the National Health Center, the suicide rate in Vermont is more than twice as high as in New York.

Officials say mourning a suicide can be especially difficult because it is preventable.

“It’s a shock. It begs the question “Why?”: Why did this happen? Why didn’t I see anything? What could I do about it? So all this self-questioning, which is not healthy for us as survivors,” said Bonnie Black of the Clinton County Suicide Prevention Coalition.

AND International Day of Survivors of the Loss of Suicide falls on the Saturday before Thanksgiving because the holidays can be a difficult time for survivors.