Goal 1

100 natural helpers will be trained each year to identify and refer individuals experiencing grief and feelings of loss and pain to appropriate services.

GFOL provided training to individuals to serve as natural helpers to youth and young adults. GFOL used two evidence-based programs—Adult Mental Health First Aid and LivingWorks START—to train natural helpers. Participants came from organizations such as the Guam Community College, Guam Micronesia Mission, Saipan SDA, and University of Guam, and others did not have any organization affiliation. During Year 1, a total of 23 natural helpers completed their training.

Outreach activities were a significant part of the work completed by GFOL in Year 1. GFOL team organized and participated in outreach activities with community organizations, government entities, media outlets, and school groups. Some of the activities included a webinar series, social media campaigns, grief talks, virtual candlelight ceremony, virtual conferences, forums, and workshops, interviews and meetings. Outreach activities utilized social media such as Facebook and Instagram to reach the targeted population. The 21 activities held during the year had approximately 1,647 participants and a total reach of over 39,900 people.

OUTREACH ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS FROM YEAR 1

For Suicide Prevention Month, GFOL organized and participated in outreach activities aimed at suicide awareness and prevention across the island community. Below is a summary of these activities:

On September 4, Mañe’lu hosted a webinar series on resilience entitled “The Future Starts with Me.”
In the week leading up to Suicide Awareness Day, Mañe’lu launched a “Take 5 To Save Lives” social media campaign. Each day a challenge was posted on social media operated by Mañe’lu and the Micronesian Resource Center One Stop Shop.
On September 9, Grief Recovery Method (GRM) Guam/CNMI hosted live grief talks, “Giving Grief a Voice.
On September 10 in recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day, a virtual candlelight ceremony was held to support those who died by suicide and their survivors.
On September 12, Sanctuary hosted the “Too Cool to Do Drugs” virtual conference.
On September 12, GFOL posted an informational video on social media about the warning signs of suicide.
On September 18, GFOL along with LINC and Tulaika programs at the GBHWC hosted a live talk entitled “#MORETHANEVERBEFORE” about mental health and suicide.
On September 20, GFOL posted an infographic on social media on World Suicide Prevention Month that included contact information for the GBHWC Crisis Hotline.
On September 28, Breaking Wave Theater Company premiered “Unspoken Volume II: Live from Home.” The included workshops, Mental Health coffee chats, a film showing, and a question and answer session.
On September 30, GFOL posted a video on social media on Suicide Prevention training.
On September 30, I Pinangon Campus Suicide Prevention Program at the University of Guam hosted a Suicide Prevention Forum entitled “Diversity, Social Justice, and Suicide Prevention.” The 2-hour forum included opening remarks from the Project Director for GFOL, a keynote address by Senator Amanda Shelton, and featured panelists from a various organization on- and off-island.

GFOL also participated in three (3) ongoing projects with community partners:

UOG’s I Pinangon Campus Suicide Prevention Program’s #Bethe1To campaign
Island Girl Power’s “Live life Happy, Garden” provided gardening kits to the community to promote good mental health
The Guam Army National Guard has three ongoing projects: Connect to Protect #BeThere, GUARNG Crisis Hotline and Suicide Prevention Program
Marie Halloran of Rainbows and LifeWorks Guam held a virtual Candlelight Memorial Service on September 26, 2020
An interview with The Link on KUAM about the activities during Suicide Prevention Month
Give Grief a Voice Forum
Mental Health Minute with Breaking Waves Theater Group
A virtual village meeting with the Micronesia Resource Center (MRC)
An interview with the Pacific News Center (PNC)

In November, the staff made an appearance on a CancelCovid podcast appearance.

The GFOL staff also promoted prevention training at a Rotary E-Club of Pago Bay meeting, UOG Residence Hall Outreach, IP&E Employee Outreach, and Simon Sanchez High School JROTC Outreach.

By 2024, Guam’s revised Youth Suicide Strategic Prevention and Intervention Plan for a suicide-safer community will incorporate epidemiological inferences based on qualitative data offered by individuals with lived experience, including youth and adult survivors of loss and suicide attempts.

GFOL worked with the University of Guam to address gaps in data for youth and young adults with lived experiences. In consultation with GFOL, the University of Guam established the “Focus on Life” Suicide Prevention Fellowship to award $3000 per semester for up to four (4) semesters per graduate student. As part of the program, fellows will take classes and participate in research projects annually. The fellowship is open to graduate students interested in suicide prevention research especially those in Clinical Psychology, Counseling and Micronesian Studies. Six (6) applications were received. Applicants were interviewed by the Fellowship Review Board comprised of five (5) faculty and administrators. Four (4) fellows were selected for the award and will be supervised by Dean Lawrence Camacho.

RESULTS FROM YEAR 1

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