Point Pleasant School District to Host Teen Suicide Prevention Forum

Suicide. It’s often called the ”silent epidemic.”

And Point Pleasant school district officials take it very seriously

“From school shootings and violence to suicides and substance abuse, there is ample evidence of the danger posed by ignoring or minimizing mental health issues,” schools Superintendent Vincent S. Smith said.We need to take the initiative and do what needs to be done to destigmatize mental illness and educate students, their parents and the community about the resources that are available to them. No one needs suffer alone.”

The district will host a Teen Suicide Prevention and Wellness forum at 7 p.m. on Oct. 8 at the Point Pleasant High School auditorium.

School officials want to take a proactive stance in integrating mental health education in the district, Smith said.

”However, I believe we can and must do more,” he said in a release on the district website.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death of people between the ages of 10 and 24 and claims roughly 4,600 lives each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC reports that approximately 157,000 youths between the ages of 10 and 24 receive medical care for self-inflicted injuries each year. And these statistics don’t even begin to address the percentage of young people who contemplate suicide nor the number of adolescents with a diagnosable mental health disorder, a number that some experts estimate to be as high as 20 percent.

Smith said that the number of recent high profile incidents attributed to mental health issues have added a layer of urgency to the expansion of mental health education.

“Suicide is a difficult topic,” he said. “And the stigma that surrounds not just suicide but mental health in general is dangerous and can even be deadly. It’s often that stigma that prevents people from seeking the help they need.”

Guest speaker Scott Fritz, president and co-founder of the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide [SPTS] will discuss his experience as a survivor of suicide loss and options for parents who need help.

SPTS representatives will be on hand with handouts on resources, information and wellness tips. District social worker Marcie Bradley will be the forum moderator. Bradley previously worked with SPTS in April, for the Ocean County Be Well Youth Wellness Summit.

“We want students to know, the importance of seeking help when it’s needed, that it’s ok to not be ok, and above all, that they are never alone,” she said.“

The district will also offer day wellness programs for students on Oct. 8.

“The evening forum is actually an extension of a mini-summit, which will be held at the high school during the day, for students to attend during their gym periods. Organizations like 2nd Floor, New Jersey’s youth helpline, Prevention First, Harbor House, St. Francis, and SPTS as well as Lotus Lounge Yoga will be present at the mini-summit to educate students about what resources are available to them and also to stress the importance of developing positive coping skills.”

Bradley hopes that after attending the mini-summit, the students can attend the evening forum with their parents, and discuss the sensitive topic of suicide and depression.

“We need to know how to spot the warning signs before it’s too late,” she said. ”Suicide is preventable but only through informed intervention. We need to be working collaboratively and openly and consistently communicating to our children that suicide is never to be considered a valid option.”