November 12, 2025
November Greetings,
The year is winding down and the holidays are just around the corner. We hope you are staying warm this week and found as much joy as we have in the vibrant of colors that the fall leaves splashed throughout the triangle- despite a tougher year, the autumn sure has been a pretty one.
We are excited to be partnering with Lutz, Alexander and Associates soon, to fund raise for the Interfaith Food Shuttle and will be bringing you more details about that later this week!
Keep reading to learn more about International Suicide Survivors Loss Day, a big announcement about our recent growth, a new TEAM MATE, and much more:)
Every year, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, people around the world gather for together for International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, often called ISOSL Day or simply Survivor Day. It is a day for reflection, remembrance, and connection. Events held all around the world give people who have lost someone to suicide a chance to come together, share their stories, and find comfort in knowing they are not alone. This year, ISOSL Day is on Saturday, November 22nd, 2025.
As someone who has experienced suicide loss myself, this day holds deep personal meaning. I’ve had the privilege of both attending and helping to organize International Survivors of Suicide Loss (ISOSL) Day events in the past, and I’m forever grateful to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) for creating such a safe and supportive space for people to come together. I lost my dad to suicide when I was nine years old, and the years since have been a long and, at times, lonely journey. Before attending my first ISOSL Day event in 2016, I had never met anyone else who had lost someone to suicide. Being surrounded by others who shared that kind of loss, each with their own stories and paths to healing, gave me a sense of hope and belonging I hadn’t felt before. It marked the beginning of a new chapter in my healing journey.
My dad’s story, along with my own, inspired me to return to school to earn my master’s in social work, which ultimately led me to become a therapist. I feel very grateful to be able to honor my Dad’s memory in this way.
International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is a day created especially for people who have experienced the heartbreak of losing someone to suicide. It’s a time to connect with others who truly understand what that loss feels like. While grief can often make people feel isolated or misunderstood, Survivor Day offers a safe space where those emotions can be shared and supported.
The day is led by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP organizes hundreds of events each year, both in-person and online, giving people from all over the world a chance to come together for support, understanding, and healing.
The origins of ISOSL Day go back to 1999, when U.S. Senator Harry Reid introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate to create a national day of recognition for people who had lost loved ones to suicide. Senator Reid had lost his own father to suicide,and his goal was to help others feel less alone and to encourage open conversations about suicide loss, something that was rarely discussed publicly at the time.
Since then, the day has grown into a global event. What started as a national observance in the United States is now recognized internationally, with gatherings held across dozens of countries. Each year, AFSP and its partners host events on the same day, always the Saturday before Thanksgiving, because that time of year can be especially tough for people dealing with loss. The holidays can bring up painful memories or feelings of loneliness, so this day serves as a gentle reminder that it’s okay to reach out, remember, and heal together.
Every Survivor Day event is a little different, but they all share the same goal: to provide comfort, understanding, and hope to people affected by suicide loss. Events are usually hosted by AFSP chapters, mental-health organizations, or community groups.
The day typically starts with a film screening created each year by AFSP featuring real people sharing their personal stories of loss, healing, and hope. After the film, there is an opportunity to gather in small groups with other survivors who share a similar loss. People attending can also participate in remembrance activities such as lighting candles, writing messages, creating memory boards and other creative ways to honor your loved one. Local counselors, therapists, and mental-health advocates often attend to share information about grief support, therapy, and ongoing survivor groups.
While ISOSL Day is rooted in grief, it’s also a day of hope. It’s about finding light after loss, remembering loved ones with compassion instead of pain, and recognizing that healing is possible.
No one should have to walk through suicide loss alone. ISOSL Day reminds us that connection, empathy, and understanding can turn isolation into community, and grief into growth. On this day, survivors come together not just to remember, but to keep moving forward. One story, one memory, and one shared moment at a time
If you are interested in learning more about ISOSL Day or participating in an event in person or virtually, you can visit AFSP’s ISOSL Day page.
If you or someone you know is struggling, know that you are not alone. Below are resources to connect you or your loved one with help and support.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org
- Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741 or visit crisistextline.org
- AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention): https://afsp.org
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): https://www.nami.org
- The Trevor Project (support for LGBTQ+ youth): https://www.thetrevorproject.org
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): https://www.nami.org
- Psychology Today (find local mental health professionals) https://www.psychologytoday.com/us
References
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (2025) AFSP.org
Our NEW Charleston Office is OPEN!
Here we GROW again! Take Root is expanding and has recently opened a new office in Charleston, SC! We are beyond thrilled to offer in-person and virtual support provided by our clinical team, Lily Graves and Tara Thomas. Both Lily and Tara have availability now for new clients:https://www.takerootcounselingandcoaching.com/contact/
Welome Tara!
We are so excited to welcome Tara Thomas to our new Charleston office! Tara is passionate about supporting people in being who they want to be, and creating space for them to feel safe, seen, and celebrated. She specializes in helping others heal from trauma, abuse, and neglect. Tara is a proud advocate for the LGBTQ+ folks, BIPOC, and AAPI individuals, and the neurodivergent community. She most enjoys working with people who are historically marginalized, unheard, or who have faced adversity because of who they are. Tara specializes in eating disorders, attachment, identity exploration, LGBTQ+ folks, and women’s issues. Tara has availability for new clients for in-person and virtual sessions.
Our Community Partners
Mindful Collaboration
Our community partners at Mindful Collaboration are offering a 3-part online series to help folk manage the stressors that so many experience during the holiday season. If this group sounds supportive consider contacting Julie at julievelie@proton.me to register
Upcoming Support Groups
Dates: November 26th, 2025 – January 8th, 2026 (6 weeks)
Time: Thursdays, 6 – 7:00 pm
Location: Virtually on Zoom
Cost: $20 per session (Aetna & BCBS accepted, pro bono option available)
Who: This group is for folks 18+
Erin Lewis, she/her, is a doctoral intern at Take Root Counseling and Coaching. She is a fully licensed clinician and specializes in trauma and dissociative disorders. Erin feels blessed to share that she has an emotional support animal, ESA named Glenn Coco, who comes to work with her daily.
Her communication style is a blend of humor and bluntness. She strives to be as transparent as possible in order to facilitate better communication with clients.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading! We look forward to visiting your inbox again soon:) If the info in this email felt helpful, and you know someone who might also think so, please consider passing it along and sharing- we are so grateful for your support.
Kindly,
The Take Root Team
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