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Joyce Bruggeman, Executive Director of SOSL

Joyce Bruggeman is the Executive Director of Survivors of Suicide Loss. She was employed at CSU San Marcos for eleven years, lastly as the Executive Assistant to the President. Losing her husband to suicide in 2008 set her life on a new course. Within a few years of his death, Joyce left the university to pursue more opportunities to work towards suicide prevention and mental health awareness. Joyce speaks throughout Southern California to educate, enlighten, and reduce the stigma attached to mental health issues and suicide. Additionally, she teaches QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) Gatekeeper Training for suicide prevention, facilitates mental health support groups, and is a Certified Mental Health Coach. Joyce also sits on the board of the Community Alliance for Healthy Minds.

Michele Madden, Director of Support and Prevention Programs SOSL

Michele has devoted 25 years to a career in education in San Diego County. In 2014, she lost her brother Jamie to suicide and shortly thereafter, lost her cousin Chip. Immediately, she started attending an SOSL group, and within 2 years began facilitating that group. Michele led the Chula Vista/South Bay SOSL group for 10 years. Simultaneously, she started a faith-based suicide loss group, which she continues to facilitate.
Michele’s passion to work in the area of Suicide Prevention and Loss Support led her to receive extensive training to develop valuable insight and skills. She is a trained Chaplain for Suicide Prevention and Support, as well as a QPR (Question, Persuade & Refer) Gatekeeper trainer. She has taught QPR to schools, churches, women’s and men’s support groups, and foster youth. For four years, she served as a Board Member for UMTR2ME, a local Suicide Prevention non-profit that offers hope, support, encouragement, and education for individuals who struggle with mental illness, depression or thoughts of suicide.

 Bonnie Bear, Retired Executive Director of SOSL

Bonnie became involved with Survivors of Suicide Loss in 2004 following the death of her husband Gordon to suicide in 2002, the day after their 37th wedding anniversary. Bonnie has a passion for suicide prevention and is invested in the suicide prevention efforts in San Diego County. She served as Executive Director of SOSL from Sept. 2004 until Oct. 2015. She remains active with SOSL as a Support Group Facilitator and Board member. Bonnie teaches QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) Gatekeeper Training for suicide prevention throughout San Diego County and has frequent speaking engagements focusing on suicide awareness and postvention.

 Kim Bozart, LCSW, Supervisor with PERT, Board Member SOSL

Kim Bozart is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been working as a mental health provider in San Diego County for the last 13 years. She is a supervisor with PERT, the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team, providing psychiatric evaluations in the field to individuals in crisis that come into the 911 system. Kim is also an adjunct professor at Miramar College, focusing on training Law Enforcement on more effective communication skills when interacting with an individual living with a mental illness.