A Brief Report from the Long Term Survivors of Suicide Loss Summit

A Brief Report from the Long-Term Survivors of Suicide Loss Summit, July 16-19, 2026, Baltimore, MD 

By Jennifer Hunt, Volunteer, Greater San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, AFSP

I wasn’t aware of the Long-Term Survivors of Suicide Loss Summit until I was invited to attend this year’s event in Baltimore, MD. As a somewhat new Healing Conversations and Hike for Hope volunteer, I am still learning about the breadth of programs available through AFSP. Grateful for any opportunity to connect and engage further with other loss survivors and the organization, off to Baltimore I went.  

The Keynote and Plenary immediately set the honest and personal tone for the summit. Stacey Freedenthal’s “When Prevention Isn’t Enough: Self-Blame after Suicide Loss” named and explored with candor and compassion the “common deep, unresolved wounds for long-term suicide loss survivors, including guilt, responsibility, and ‘what ifs.’” Amy Grosso followed with “Beyond Survival: Embracing Holistic Wellness” in which she clarifies with humility and humor that “wellness” is a process of tending to the indivisible self. “Healing is not about ‘getting over’ our loss, but about learning how to carry it while also nurturing our own well-being.”  

The Breakout Sessions that followed over two days were participatory forums for sharing experiences and perspectives, and learning from facilitators and each other. Session topics included suicide and spirituality, navigating loss in the Hispanic community, holistic coping strategies, safe and thoughtful personal storytelling, recognizing the resilience that can emerge from loss, peer support methods to tackle Black suicide, moving in wellness from surviving to thriving, and the challenges men face with mental health and grief. Somatic experiences and teachings were also offered, including yoga and breathwork, meditation and sound bath, drumming, and a group walk along Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Throughout the summit, a Quiet Room and Open Art Studio were available for taking moments for introspection or creative expression. Sharing Circles capped the summit agenda, where we gathered by our common losses, whether a child, a parent, a sibling, a partner, and other cherished relationships. This was our time to tell, and bear witness to, individual stories of loss, grief, actualization, and hope. 

After a grounding smudging ceremony, the summit was closed with Reflections from the weekend. Profound insights and gratitude for this community, and the opportunity to come together, were shared, including a joyous rendition of Amazing Grace by a woman who cannot speak about her loss, but can sing about her grief journey.  

I struggle to articulate how meaningful the summit was, and how the experience affects how I conceptualize integration of loss, wellness, and living with hope. But I left Baltimore with an overwhelming sense of being seen, understood, accepted, worthy, and deeply cared for by some 200 fellow loss survivors and AFSP volunteers and staff. I hope to bring such care, connection, and support to my Bay Area community, and my volunteer work with my AFSP chapter.