Dolores Ann (D’Amico) Stafko, 73, of Sandy Hook, beloved wife of Philip D. Stafko, died at Danbury Hospital December 22, surrounded by her loving family and friends, after a brave battle with cancer. ...
Ruth J. Hart, 82, of Southbury, died peacefully, December 26, at Danbury Hospital, after battling month-long health complications. She was born May 31, 1931, in Yonkers, New York.
Her beloved son La...
Augusto Saviano, 90, of Pietramelara Caserta, Italy, formerly of Bridgeport, died December 30. Mr Saviano was the beloved husband of Wanda Santagata Saviano.
His son Vincent and wife Carol of Sandy Ho...
George Samoskevich, 84, of Trumbull, died December 19, at St Vincent’s Medical Center. He was born in Bridgeport, the son of Nick and Veronica Samoskevich.
Three brothers, Peter of Newtown, Nick of Na...
George Samoskevich, 84, of Trumbull, died December 19, at St Vincent’s Medical Center. He was born in Bridgeport, the son of Nick and Veronica Samoskevich.
Three brothers, Peter of Newtown, Nick of Na...
Frederick A. Crouch, 67, died peacefully December 23, following a brief illness, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Mary Dougherty Crouch. Born in Rosenheim, Germany, September 20,...
Frederick A. Crouch, 67, died peacefully December 23, following a brief illness, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Mary Dougherty Crouch. Born in Rosenheim, Germany, September 20,...
Dolores Ann (D’Amico) Stafko, 73, beloved wife of Philip D. Stafko of Sandy Hook, died on December 22 at Danbury Hospital, surrounded by her loving family and friends, after a brave battle with cancer...
Michelle I applaud and support you for focusing on the issues that impact everyone in the town. The next priority has to be on CT's out of control electricity rates. Your opponent and his supporters are quick to blame the other side of the aisle and have given up on trying to accomplish anything. You need to be the voice at the Capitol that the town needs and has missed for so long.
After your short sighted decisions on bussing, something parents are still feeling the repercussions of, I would not want you making any decisions on traffic.
With all due respect Lynn, while no one's property should be damaged, it is demonstrably false to suggest this issue only happens to Democrat signs. If these comments allowed for photos I could show you some pretty abhorrent examples of what has been done to Republican candidate's signs for years in the past few elections (including local races.) Just today we had a supporter message the RTC that their signs were stolen.
Indeed suicide awareness is important as is asking young people these tough questions. That said, saying that "every suicide is preventable" is not only incorrect, it is overly simplistic at best and downright harmful at worst.
The Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors - an online support resource with over 25,000 members worldwide writes frequently about the ramifications of such slogans. Many family members say that prevention messages leave them feeling guilty, upset and fearful of being judged – as if they “dropped the ball.". A few of the many sentiments on their webpage from bereaved family members include:
-“I believe suicide is preventable ONLY if someone shows a sign. …My daughter did not show any signs."
-“As a newly bereaved mother, I find the campaign offensive & repulsive. It places the responsibility on family members and those who are about to take their lives. We obviously would have done something if our loved ones expressed their intentions." -"Awareness yes. Preventable no. There was nothing to prevent what happened to my son. Nothing. And I am so sick of the saying it is preventable."
-"I lost my husband to suicide four months ago. It makes me feel cold and sick in the pit of my stomach when I read ‘suicide is preventable’ because I think: ‘It’s my fault, I let him down.'"
Suicide - especially youth suicide - is a complex problem with no easy answers. It’s possible to prevent sometimes — but not always.