Suicide prevention task force to host memorial event Dec. 5 in Lebanon

The Lebanon County Suicide Prevention Task Force hosts “A Time for Remembering: A Candlelight Remembrance Ceremony.”

This solemn event is for family and friends to remember a loved one who they lost to suicide.

The Lebanon County Suicide Prevention Task Force (Task Force) will host its annual Remembrance Ceremony for family and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide. The event will take place on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Chestnut Street Community Center, located at 611 Chestnut Street, Lebanon, PA.

The Lebanon County Suicide Prevention Task Force has been hosting a Remembrance Ceremony for over 20 years. The ceremony was originally held at Philhaven in Mt. Gretna in the month of December, but was moved to the Stoever’s Dam site in 2016 when the Task Force was granted a parcel behind the nature barn by Lebanon City Mayor Sherry Capello to utilize as a memorial garden. With the installation of the garden, the ceremony was changed to September during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Due to the number of events occurring during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, the Task Force has returned to hosting the ceremony in December. Another change this year is we have outgrown the nature barn, and have now partnered with the Chestnut Street Community Center to host the event.

“The remembrance ceremony is meaningful because it serves as a support to those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Memories are an important part of life and can aid in the healing process,” said Janine Mauser, Task Force Member. “We hope that this ceremony offers a safe place to grieve their loss.”

The Task Force invites anyone who has experienced loss from a suicide to attend the ceremony. Although registration is not required, in order to adequately plan for the evening, please visit our website at https://communityhealthcouncil.com/suicide/ or scan the QR code to add your name as an attendee.

“Any loss experience can be devastating, but loss from suicide adds an additional complexity to grief,” said Monica Boyer of the Task Force. “Our hope in hosting the remembrance ceremony is that loss survivors will not have to grieve alone but have support and find some comfort in knowing that love and memories live on.”

The Lebanon County Suicide Prevention Task Force is a member of The Community Health Council of Lebanon County and is a collaboration of community members, providers, and schools working together for the prevention of suicide. The mission of the task force is to develop strategies to reduce the risk of suicide and provide education to the community through collaborative efforts.