scheduling patients and group sessions. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
Suicide is among the leading causes of death in the United States, with over 49,000 deaths reported in 2022, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Virgin Islands is part of these statistics, and St. Croix experienced a particularly tragic day last October with three suspected suicides.
Since then, the community has voiced concerns about the lack of suicide prevention resources and the urgent need to support families affected by such losses.
St. Croix trauma expert Kimberly Wentzel will soon begin a support group on St. Croix for family members who have lost loved ones to suicide. In the next few weeks, Wentzel is planning an open house at her new La Grande Princess office and will invite people who have reached out to her so they can agree on times and dates to meet.
“People need to know they are not alone,” Wentzel told the Source.
Wentzel ran a suicide support group for three years in Pennsylvania. She has been a therapist and clinical social worker for more than 20 years and has completed most of her work toward a doctorate. She earned her undergraduate degree at Penn State University and attended Smith College for her Master’s in Social Work and her doctorate.
“I’m fortunate to have had great training,” she said.
Wentzel worked with the American Red Cross in New York City shortly after 9/11 to assist those affected by the bombings. She also has worked with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, trauma, addiction, trafficking, mental illness and to unify high-conflict families. She has helped teens and adults and combat veterans and hosted community seminars on anxiety, depression, healthy relationships, and self-care.
During the first sessions for survivors of suicide, Wentzel said the group will set ground rules regarding expectations, respecting each other and nondisclosure. She will then introduce the participants to the basic concepts and explain the differences between grief and depression. Among other difficult subjects, the survivors will learn how to manage horrifying images that they may have witnessed.
According to Wentzel, working through trauma and grief is difficult and everyone has a different timeline.
“No one is going to be pointed at to talk” during the sessions, she said.
Wentzel said she would like to hold group sessions for victims of gun violence and eating disorders if there is a need.
“I thought I’d have something to offer the community,” she said.
To learn more about Wentzel and her work, visit catalystmentalhealth.org.
