Suicide Attempt Survivor Support Group (SOSA)
Free & Confidential 8-Week Closed Group
Presented by the Mental Health Association of Rochester in partnership with The Counseling Center at JFS Rochester.
If you have survived a suicide attempt, you may be carrying a range of emotions, including shame, guilt, loneliness, anger, or resentment. You may also feel isolated or as though others cannot fully understand what you have been through.
The Suicide Attempt Survivor Support Group offers a welcoming, confidential space to connect with others who have had similar experiences, find support, and build skills that can help promote safety and healing.
Program Details
When:
Wednesdays | 4:00–5:00 PM
Where:
Mental Health Association of Rochester
274 N. Goodman St., Suite D103
Rochester, NY 14607
Cost:
Free
Group Size:
4–9 adults
Format:
8-week closed group
Who Can Participate?
SOSA is open to adults aged 18 and older who have survived one or more suicide attempts.
Before joining the group, prospective participants will complete a phone screening and intake interview with the facilitators to help determine whether the group is an appropriate fit.
Because this is a closed group designed to build trust, connection, and community among participants, members are expected to attend all eight sessions.
What to Expect
The first few weeks of the group focus on building rapport, trust, and connection among participants.
As the group progresses, conversations expand to include practical tools and skills that can help participants:
- Connect with others who understand the experience of surviving a suicide attempt
- Explore thoughts and emotions in a welcoming, nonjudgmental environment
- Build supportive connections
- Identify strategies for staying safe
- Strengthen coping and wellness skills
- Move forward with greater connection and hope
The group is facilitated by a licensed clinician and a peer with lived experience.
Upcoming Groups
November–December 2026
Wednesdays, November 4–December 23
4:00–5:00 PM
January–February 2027
Wednesdays, January 6–February 24
4:00–5:00 PM
Additional cohorts will be offered throughout the year.
Meet the Facilitators
Carla Chace
Carla Chace is an MSW intern at Jewish Family Services and a co-facilitator of the Suicide Attempt Survivor Support Group. She brings both her social work training and lived experience as a peer to this role.
Carla is passionate about suicide prevention and creating a welcoming, nonjudgmental environment where survivors can speak openly, connect with others, and feel understood. She believes healing can begin when people have the opportunity to share their experiences at their own pace and know they do not have to face them alone.
Steve Fugle, DSW, LCSW
Steve brings experience in several evidence-based mental health practices, including trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, applied suicide intervention skills, and mindfulness-based practices.
He has extensive experience working with diverse populations across the lifespan, including military personnel and veterans, and has taught in BSW and MSW programs at Nazareth University and SUNY Brockport.
Interested in Joining?
If you are interested in participating in an upcoming Suicide Attempt Survivor Support Group or would like additional information, please contact:
Participation requires a brief phone screening and intake interview prior to joining the group.
Need Help Now?
The Suicide Attempt Survivor Support Group is not a crisis service.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or suicide-related crisis, call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.