JD Foundation offers weekend women’s retreat ‘A Journey Through Grief’

ABBOT — The JD Foundation works on prevention, but also helps individuals and families before a suicide happens as well after a suicide through the organization’s programs. A new offering is “A Journey Through Grief”, a retreat for women who have lost a loved one to suicide. The retreat will take place Sept. 16-18 and room is available for several more participants.

Thanks to the Piscataquis County Fund of the Maine Community Foundation, the JD Foundation has received a grant to help fund this program. Residents of Piscataquis and Penobscot counties will receive reduced or free admission.

The Friday-Sunday retreat will include shared accommodations, meals prepped and the ability to participate in the following: Reiki, Polaridy, Reflexology, massage, artistic creative play, a guided nature walk, and more. When some has lost a loved one to suicide, they have more complicated feelings of trauma, shame, guilt and other feelings that they may not necessarily have with another type of loss.

The retreat will help participants by providing natural approaches and shared experiences. It will help form bonds for those that feel alone in their grief by meeting others who truly understand the pain and sadness from their loss. Retreat organizers will also provide techniques to participants which can be used when participants are away from this setting. JD Foundation officials believe taking care of ourselves as a whole through body, mind, and spirit will help through “A Journey Through Grief.”

For more information and an application please contact Cheryl Morin at 876-2295 or thejdfoundation@yahoo.com.