The Irregular February 2020

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february 2020

Connecting with Dots

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Clockwise from top left: “Erica Day”, “Pal” and “First Flower” by Brian Delozier.

by Christine Lake Recent research suggests that art can have a variety of therapeutic effects on physical and emotional well-being. An exhibit being staged at The Gallery at St. John’s in Easton is a testament to that fact for one local artist. BRIAN’S DOTS, by artist Brian Delozier of Reading, runs through February 23 at The Gallery, located at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at 330 Ferry Street. Delozier was an adventurous kid growing up in Eastern Pennsylvania, one who was very into all kinds of physical activity and found particular enjoyment in skiing. In February of 2002, at age 16, he suffered a bad fall during a ski jump that led to two broken bones in his neck, extensive damage to his spinal cord and paralysis. After some time and medical interventions including surgery and physical therapy, Delozier started

making what his doctors believed was excellent physical progress, including being able to walk again with the aid of crutches. As someone who was so accustomed to constant physical activity, however, this progress didn’t feel like enough and Delozier found himself at a very low point. “I decided I needed a drastic change in life,” he recalls. “I decided to go to Hawaii. It was beautiful and freeing, but before I went I thought that as soon as I got there I would find what I was looking for and everything was going to be great for me again. When I got there, I kind of felt the same.” Through those ups and downs in a different place, Delozier made some good friends, including one who was an artist and encouraged him to try making some art as a form of therapy. “Basically, out of frustration with him and to just get him to shut up about it, I finally tried,” he recalls. The friend used fine-tip markers as a medium, so Delozier continued on page 3

HOPE AND HEALING AS A COMMUNITY by Christine Lake Losing a loved one is never easy. Losing a loved one to suicide comes with unique challenges due to the perceived stigma around mental health, and a new support group is aiming to help suicide survivors work through their grief process. The Lehigh Valley Suicide Survivor Support Group will meet on the second and fourth Mondays of every month, with the first meeting on February 10 from 6:30-8:00 PM at Change on 3rd, 117 N. 3rd Street in Easton.

Artistic Endeavors

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 47,000 people died by suicide in 2017. In Pennsylvania, the rate of suicide is 15.03 per 100,000 deaths, and the rates in Northampton and Lehigh counties are both higher (15.1 in Lehigh County, and 16.2 in Northampton County). Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the state and the 2nd leading cause of death for 15-34 year olds. These are sobering numbers, and though a lot of information and resources are fairly easily found targeted to those who might be contemplating taking their own lives, finding a resource as a survivor of a loved one’s suicide is more difficult. “Well over 40 years ago, I had a parent who chose to die by suicide,” explains facilitator Kerry Monroe. “Back then just the subject of suicide was so taboo, with shame attached to the surviving family members, that we were cautioned to conceal our truth. We heal best when we heal together in a safe community, and that is why I’m starting this group.” A death by suicide is often sudden and unexpected, and the aftermath may sometimes require survivors to deal with police or handle the press. The stigma surrounding mental health factors heavily into people’s

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Gardening page 8 Kerry Monroe, facilitator of The Lehigh Valley Suicide Survivor Group. photo courtesy of Ms. Monroe

Febuary 2020

The Irregular


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