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Clinton PTA Hosts Sept. 28 Suicide Prevention Talk

This September, which is National Suicide Awareness Month, the Clinton PTA will host an event to raise suicide prevention awareness for adults and teens at the Henry Carter Hull Library.

The event is presented in cooperation with an organization called SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education). Jennifer Evans, LCSW, will lead the event, which is on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m. Evans worked at the Yale Child Study Center, and was program director at the Village for Children and Families.

PTA Vice President Laura Colebank said the event will be “geared toward parents, but teens can come, too.” The program will teach attendees the signs to recognize when they or someone else may need help. Colebank said the goal of the event is to “encourage a dialog with families, and hopefully save lives.”

Topics covered in the event will range from national statistics and gender and age disparities to the blue whale challenge and the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why—Colebank said the event will cover the popularity of the show and why parents should talk to their children about the topic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, suicide is the third leading cause of death for those aged 10 to 14, the second for ages 15 to 34, fourth for ages 35 to 44, fifth for ages 45 to 54, eighth for ages 55 to 64, and 17th for those 65 and older. Highlighting the seriousness of the discussion, Colebank said the event will “hopefully be standing room only.”

Anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts or depression should call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255). The lifeline, which is free, confidential, and open 24 hours a day, provides suicidal persons or those around them with support, information, and local resources.