Mental Health America of Illinois Presents:

Restoring Hope After Suicide

Presented by Fr.  Charles T. Rubey

and

Deborah R. Major, PhD, LCSW

This workshop will present a discussion of the facts, misconceptions and grief following suicide and how suicide bereavement differs from bereavement following other forms of death.  We will present the LOSS (Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide) model and explain how the LOSS model was created to respond to the specific needs of suicide survivors.  An explaination will be included of what makes the LOSS program effective in helping the bereaved to move through the grief process and find the hope they seek to reengage and reconstruct their lives. 

Additional Objectives:

• Participants will learn how suicide bereavement differs from bereavement arising from less stigmatized forms of death.
• Participants will develop an understanding of the grief process that follows suicide.
• Participants will learn  about myths and misconceptions surrounding suicide.
• Participants will learn about the history of the LOSS Program and why the need for LOSS continues.
• Participants will learn about the counseling process for bereaved adults, including stumbling blocks to progress.
• Participants will learn about the counseling process for bereaved children.

The cost for this workshop is $30.00. 2 CEUs are available for Social Workers and Professional Counselors.  Discounted parking ($16) is located at 20 E. Randolph (Macy's Parking Garage).

About the Presenters:  Fr. Charles T. Rubey, LCSW

Charles T. Rubey came to Catholic Charities in 1972.  Upon earning his Master’s degree in social work in 1977, he became Director of Mental Health Services, a post he held from 1978 until 1989—while concurrently holding other roles including Manager of the Division of Family and Community Services, now known as the Division of Family and Parish Support Services. From there, he moved to Director of Programs in 1993 and then Associate Director of Programs in 2004. 

Fr. Rubey is also the Founder and Director of a program called LOSS (Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide). He created this unique ministry that brings together people to support one another at a time when they feel irreparably broken.  LOSS is one of Fr. Rubey’s greatest contributions to Catholic Charities, the mental health field and to the thousands of people who have participated in this unique counseling and self-help program since he started it in 1979 at the request of three families who had lost loved ones to suicide.  Today there are 9 meeting sites across Cook and Lake counties and the Diocese of Joliet. Bruce Engle, Manager of LOSS says, “Fr. Rubey has created a valuable and necessary support service for survivors…. there is no greater pain that one could experience, and he has provided a vehicle…to find hope.”

About the Presenters:  Fr. Charles T. Rubey, LCSW

Through LOSS, Fr. Rubey’s talents have touched people in other nations, such as China.  In October 2006, LOSS hosted a training seminar at the request of the World Health Organization. The Suicide Prevention Services of the University of Hong Kong sent eight mental health professionals to learn about LOSS.  In March 2008 at the request of the Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center, and with the support of Suicide Prevention International (SPT), the LOSS staff performed a special LOSS training in Beijing, China. 

Deborah R. Major, PhD, LCSW

Deborah Major is a licensed clinical social worker holding an MSW and PhD in Social Work from Loyola University of Chicago.  She worked as a child and family therapist in the Foster Care Department at Catholic Charities, and currently directs the LOSS Program, where she provides individual and group counseling to children and adults who are survivors of suicide.  

About MHEP: 

The Mental Health Empowerment Project (MHEP) is a series of educational presentations/trainings throughout the Chicagoland area. Presentation topics range from addictions to smoking cessation, bullying to social emotional literacy, and other current mental health topics. The goal of MHEP is to provide mental health providers with the most up-to-date information and tools to successfully treat their clients, as well as to empower consumers to live successful and productive lives.