Suicide Prevention Training Offered By Southold Town

PECONIC, NY — As suicide remains an escalating concern on the East End, Southold Town is taking steps to help stop future tragedies.

The town is planning to present SafeTALK, community training with an eye toward suicide prevention, on April 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Peconic Lane Community Center, located at 1170 Peconic Lane.

Every year, 42,000 teens and adults die by suicide in the United States, a release from Southold Town said.
"You can help to reduce this tragic statistic by recognizing the key indicators which may signify this tendency," the release added.

One way residents can empower themselves is to become "suicide alert"; SafeTALK is a half-day, internationally recognized suicide-alertness seminar meant to prepare anyone over the age of 15 to recognize the signs.

Participants in the program will learn how to help by using "TALK – tell, ask, listen, and keep safe."

With a goal of stemming a growing tide, the Family Service League is offering the free three hour SafeTALK training seminar.

The SafeTALK training is open to the general community, including front line workers, parents, teachers, volunteers, law enforcement, clergy, and anyone who wants to help stop future suicides from shattering families and futures.

SafeTALK is a public health initiative and not intended for clinical or professional training.

The SafeTALK enrollment is limited to 30 individuals; there is no charge for the seminar. Three social work contact hours are available.

The event is sponsored by the Town of Southold Youth Bureau under the direction of Youth Bureau Director Lynn Nyilas. For additional information or reservations call 973-747-8053 or email cmckelvey@fsl-li.org.

In January, with teen suicide and drug use an escalating concern, Southold Town announced an intention to address a range of mental health issues close to home.

For years, teens in crisis have had to travel long distances to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment — but the time has come for a satellite office that could help provide immediate support right in Southold Town, officials said.

At that prior town board work session, Southold Town government liaison officer Denis Noncarrow said the goal was to set up a satellite office locally that could help in times of crisis and serve as a preventative measure, too.

"Teens 18 years old and under on the North Fork have a huge problem finding mental health care," Noncarrow said. "It's been a challenge through the years."

After the South Fork was faced with tragedy and teen suicide, New York State provided funding for mental health services, Noncarrow said.

And now New York State Senator Ken LaValle, Noncarrow said, is onboard with helping to secure similar funding for the North Fork.

Nyilas, Southold Town's part-time community relations specialist, also youth coordinator of the North Fork Alliance, said when the South Fork was faced with teen suicides, the Family Service League set up a satellite office with funding so parents were able to find help and support immediately without having to "jump through as many hoops."

Having to travel to Stony Brook University Hospital in a crisis situation, where every minute counts, can be "traumatic", Noncarrow said. A mental health clinic close to home can help provide immediate support and would be a "wonderful thing, comforting to parents", he said.

Councilwoman Jill Doherty asked if the office would help teens navigate through issues before they reached a critical point.

Noncarrow said that was the objective; the aim, he said, is to hire another social worker to work with the Greenport, Southold and Mattituck School Districts that all can share; currently, all three districts have their own social worker, but those individuals are "bombarded" with casework, he said.

Nyilas said experts would be trained to spot signs of suicidal behavior; she just received safeTALK training herself to detect suicidal behavior and said that training is free and could provided by the Family Service League; the discussion was a prelude to the upcoming event.

Anxiety in teens is something that must be addressed, Doherty said, adding that when anxiety is not treated it can lead to drug and alcohol abuse.

Nyilas agreed and said that very issue was spotlighted at a seminar at Suffolk County Community College.

Eastern Long Island Hospital CEO and President Paul J. Connor is working with the town and facilitated a connection with Stony Brook University Hospital; the senator has expressed an interest in "pushing" the initiative forward, Noncarrow said.

The time is now to bring mental health services for teens close to home, Nyilas said. "We have been historically underserved on the North Fork," she said.

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell agreed: "Creating a satellite office is one of the most worthwhile endeavors we can undertake on behalf of our youth and I am very enthusiastic about supporting our new youth board director Lynn Nyilas in this important initiative."

Patch file photo of town staffers discussing the need for outreach at a Southold Town board work session in January.