"Signs of Depression" VIPS Mentor Meeting

Signs of depression and suicide prevention will be the topic of the next VIPS mentor meeting, scheduled for Thursday, April 5^th at 10:00 a.m. Guest speaker Tim Lineaweaver, licensed mental health counselor and co-chairman of the Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition, will share the latest research about this troubling issue and will discuss risk factors and signs of depression. The meeting will be held in the Hermann Room of the Falmouth Public Library. 

Suicide rates for Cape Cod and the Islands are 1.5 times higher than the state average. In 2010, Falmouth had very high rates of suicide for middle-aged men—roughly 700 times higher than the state average. In addition, the rates for young people, ages 10-24, are also higher than the state average. Suicide, in nearly all cases, signifies a co-occuring mental health disorder in the victim, according to Lineaweaver. “There are many different risk factors we look for in suicidal individuals,” says Lineaweaver. “These can range from financial or legal problems, stress, the ending of a relationship, bullying, trauma, and abuse, with the added risk factor of having access to lethal means.” While most adults have the ability to deal with such issues—through life experiences and having someone to talk to—for young people, experiencing a risk factor can feel like the end of the world, says Lineaweaver. Recognizing signs of depression is important for anyone dealing with youth or adults who may be experiencing a difficult time.

Mentors, backed by quality mentoring programs, play a powerful role in preventing substance abuse and youth violence, as well as boosting academic achievement and workforce readiness, according to the national youth mentoring organization, MENTOR. Mentors help build young people’s character and confidence, expand their universe and help them navigate pathways to successful adulthood. Despite this proven impact, the gap between the number of mentors and the number of young people who need a mentor is still too large.

Locally, volunteer mentors are always needed! Each year, VIPS matches volunteer mentors with students in need of a caring adult friend through its school-based mentoring programs. Project RISE (Raising Interest and Self Esteem) is for students at the elementary and middle school levels. Students are selected to participate in Project RISE by teachers, school adjustment counselors, or parents who believe that these students would benefit from having a caring adult as a friend. Each year, students in need of a mentor are left unmatched because we do not have enough mentors. By spending one hour each week with a child in a one-on-one, trusting relationship, a mentor can change the direction that child takes in his or her life. VIPS mentors are also needed at the high school level. High school students in need of a mentor are typically freshmen or sophomores who may be having difficulty adjusting to the high school environment where they are faced with many difficult challenges and decisions. An adult volunteer, by spending one hour a week in friendly conversation with the student, can help the student deal with the many pressures teens encounter. 

The VIPS school-based mentoring programs have been recognized by the Mass Mentoring Partnership’s Quality-based Membership Program, achieving Partner Member status last spring. Partner member programs must demonstrate high standards for mentor training and program evaluation. Mentoring is rewarding! If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about mentoring, join us on April 5^th.

Contact VIPS at (508) 548-1621, or by email to mentor@falmouth.k12.ma.us, or visit www.falmouthvips.org.