One of the leading causes of death among teenagers is suicide. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide is the third leading cause of death in people aged 15 to 24. Even more alarming is the fact that suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in children ages 10 to 14. It is vital for the community to realize that teen suicide is on the rise and in order to prevent teen suicide, we must be able to recognize the factors leading to suicide and how to get help for those that are contemplating suicide.

“Let’s Talk About Suicide” will be the topic of the first Parent Connect meeting of the school year, sponsored by Carroll County Public School Division (CCPSD) on Thursday, September 13 at Carroll County Intermediate School. Beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a free meal, sponsored by the 21st Century Community Learning Center, the program will follow at 6:00 p.m. Free childcare will be provided by Reading for Life AmeriCorps members.

“The program will address common myths, stereotypes, and facts about suicide among youth,” said featured speaker Suicide Prevention Coordinator at the Crisis Center of Bristol, Virginia, Laura Blankenship. “I will also address how to recognize signs and symptoms, how to bring up the question of suicide, and resources that available if the answer is ‘Yes, I am thinking about suicide.’”

Blankenship has her B.S. in Psychology from the College of William and Mary and is a certified Provisional Trainer of the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Workshop.

For more information, please contact Denice Olinger at 276-730-3220.