MENDHAM, NJ – Youth coaches, Scout leaders, teachers and others who work with young people, along with parents, are invited to understand more about youth suicide prevention on Wednesday, May 15.

The presentation entitled “Making Youth Agencies Partners in Youth Suicide Prevention” will be held at 7 p.m.at the Mendham Township Library, located at 2 West Main St., Brookside.

The evening is sponsored by the Mendhams Stigma-Free Task Force, which is part of Morris County’s effort to remove stigma around mental health and substance use issues. “The Task Force is focused on creating greater understanding and empathy toward others, whether it is someone dealing with mental health issues, struggling with substance use or is a child or adult with a disability,” said Township Committeewoman Amalia Duarte, who is leading the effort across the Mendhams.

Making it okay to talk about suicide, or ask if someone needs help, will help to save lives. It also creates a safe environment for teens to be able to seek out help, if needed for themselves or a friend.

Clinical Consultant Phillis Alongi, MS, NCC, LPC, ACS-SPTS, of the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS), will discuss how education and spreading awareness about suicide can empower an agency’s staff and volunteers. She will also explain the warning signs and risk factors of teen suicide, review strategies for coping with at-risk youth, describe how to communicate concern with parents, discuss what local resources are available, and talk about policy and protocol.

The free presentation is made possible as a result of grant funding from the Provident Bank Foundation to SPTS. Utilizing a whole-community approach, SPTS will provide on-going suicide prevention conversations with parents; “trusted adults;” nonprofit staff and volunteers working with youth; and community members in Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset and Warren Counties.

About SPTS

SPTS was founded in 2005 by two Monmouth County fathers, who experienced the devastating loss of a teenage child by suicide. SPTS firmly believes that accessible quality education and public awareness about teen suicide can save young lives. The core values that define SPTS and its founding board are passionate commitment to the value of life, belief in the effectiveness of evidence based suicide prevention strategies, dedication to removing public stigma about suicide and conviction that accurate information and education about suicide can save lives. The mission of SPTS is to reduce the number of youth suicides and attempted suicides by encouraging public awareness through the development and promotion of educational training programs. SPTS offers a variety of resources on its website that can be downloaded and duplicated at no cost for more information visit www.sptsusa.org.

If you or someone you know may be suicidal, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You are not alone.

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