Schools
Suicide Awareness Event Helps Attendees Learn About Signs of Suicide
More than 200 educators, nurses and social workers across the Northshore attended a suicide awareness conference in Glenview Tuesday..
It's been six years since Joanne Meyers lost her daughter to suicide and has since formed Elyssa's Mission to help prevent further loss in the community.
An organization dedicated to educating others about the warnings signs of suicide, Elyssa's Mission hosted a free event in Glenview Oct. 5 at the Wyndham Glenview Suites from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for Northshore teachers, counselors, school nurses and social workers. The event showcased Signs of Suicide, a program that helps educators initiate discussions about suicide awareness in schools.
"Elyssa wanted to be a teacher and every time I see students learning from her story or learning from her challenges in life, we're living her dream of teaching and helping to educate and create awareness," said Elyssa's uncle and organization co-founder Ken Meyers. "She's always with us in spirit and she motivates us all and we know we're saving lives."
Bryan Simmon, a youth liaison at Youth Services of Glenview Northbrook, was among dozens of social work professionals who attended the all-day event. One of the challenges with creating teen suicide awareness in schools lies in the somewhat abstract nature of the issue, explained Simmon.
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"It's difficult because it is so personal," said Simmon. "The only common denominator is a sense of hopelessness."
In reference to the Signs of Suicide program, Meyers said it does not always create tangible results although research published in the American Journal of Public Health shows that the program has helped to reduce attempted suicides throughout the country.
"The more that you can engage someone in conversation and get them to talk about his or her feelings and what's causing their thoughts the more you can help them," said Leslie Klassman, community outreach coordinator for Elyssa's Mission.
Klassman helped lead the Signs of Suicide event and said it's all about better equipping educators so they can best raise awareness among students. A cornerstone of the program is rooted in an action-based mentality that encourages teens to, "ACT: Acknowledge, Care, Tell" when they feel a friend or loved one may be in danger, she explained.
It's difficult to know what will resonate with a student and what won't, added Meyers. One thing that seems to stick? The program's signature acronym. It's the 'real' stuff that leaves an impression on the kids Meyers said.
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