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Area organizations work on suicide prevention

Hometown News: Sebastian River Area - 8/26/2016

TREASURE COAST ? September is Suicide Prevention Month, and a few area organizations are doing their best to spread the word that people can find the help they need to navigate depression, bullying and the other causes that sometimes lead to self-inflicted harm.

"The subject is still taboo for many people and it's time to take down the walls and open up the conversation about it," New Horizons Director of Development Lisa Rymer said. "It's not something that should be talked about only when people say, ?Did you hear about the Jones'?'

"The main goal is to ?question, persuade and refer,' and we are referring to that as QPR the way people usually refer to CPR."

Sept. 10 is the biggest day on the calendar because folks are banding together to have a moment of silence at noon to recognize World Suicide Prevention Day. The effort is being organized by New Horizons Mental Health, Primary Care and Substance Abuse of Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and Okeechobee counties; The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Suncoast Mental Health Center; and Tykes & Teens to support to those who are at risk of suicide and for those who love them.

The theme this year "Connect, Communicate and Care," and the goal is for Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties' residents to help raise awareness about suicide, "how to cope when a loved one dies by suicide, and how to recognize the warning signs. By connecting, communicating and caring with those around us, suicide can be prevented," according to a press release about the event.

"When it comes to suicide, it can be a very secretive issue, and when it occurs people don't talk about it or what leads up to it," said Jeff Shearer, the director at Tykes and Teens. "The goal is to make people aware of the signs and symptoms beforehand and that people need to reach out.

"Some of the characteristics of people at risk of suicide are that they have a sense of hopelessness and a sense of isolation and they don't think that if they say something that it's going to matter. It really is a responsibility of others around them and reach out and connect with somebody who can help them."

It is estimated that 800,000 people around the world die by suicide each year, and in the United States it happens about every 17 minutes. Bringing that statistic down to the local level, in the past three years, across the Treasure Coast and Okeechobee County more than 320 people have died by suicide and nine of those individuals were teenagers.

There also are a host of other events surrounding that day. On Friday, Sept. 9 from 8:45 a.m. to noon at Tradition Town Hall, Deb Pizzimenti, Director of Outreach for Suncoast Mental Health Center ? in partnership with Martin Health Systems ? will host a symposium on the subject featuring the tendencies, statistics and personal testimony of individuals connected to the issue. Interested people can contact dpizzimenti@smhcinc.org for more information.

That same day at 9 a.m. at Heathcote Botanical Gardens, Director of Training and Community Engagement for the Florida Council for Community Mental Health Melissa Witmeier will host a discussion called, "Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) ---Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Workshop."

On Sept 10 at 8 a.m. at Flagler Park in Stuart the "Out of the Darkness" walk will be hosted. Thousands nationwide participate in these walks that raise awareness about depression and suicide, and provide comfort and assistance to those who have lost someone to suicide. That will be followed by the moment of silence at noon.

Later that evening, at 8, people are encouraged to show solidarity by lighting a candle and displaying in their windows to remember a lost loved one and to recognize survivors of suicide.

And because social media has become such a big part of raising awareness, all individuals are being encouraged to change their respective Facebook profiles to reflect cover photos with a "Light a Candle" graphic during the month of September. The graphics can be found on Facebook pages for the New Health Primary Care Clinic at New Horizons Mental Health facility; The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Suncoast Mental Health Center; and Tykes & Teens. Go to www.suncoastmentalhealth.org/Events to download the items.

The month continues with discussion on Friday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. at the Fort Pierce Library Downtown Branch. Lewis Baker, a peer specialist, will offer "Lived Experience," and Dr. Deborah Dreher, Chief Clinical Officer at New Horizons, will speak about "What happened to you?: Healing from life's traumatic events."

"By showing how much we care about them and lighting a candle and showing a moment of silence and among the four counties we let everybody know that it's not just about one day and this time we are going to focus on the whole month," said Cynthia Sewell, CEO of New Horizons. "We're helping the community to understand what the gatekeeper is and what the attitudes are and the burden of suicide and the warning signs and risk factors are and how to respond to suicidal behaviors are and what to look for."

Then on Friday, Sept. 23 at 10 a.m., Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens will present "Suicide and Teens," featuring Martha Alamo, RN, Program Manager of the Children's Crisis Unit at New Horizons. This program will be in Spanish with an opportunity for questions.

For more information about Tykes and Teens, visit www.tykesandteens.org or call the offices at 772-220-3439 or see them at their offices in Palm City at 3577 S.W. Corporate Pkwy and other locations at 3428 N.E. Sugar Hill Road in Jensen Beach and 8142 S.E. Federal Highway in Hobe Sound. For more information about New Horizons, please call the office at 772-468-5600 and the office is at 4500 Midway Road in Fort Pierce. The Web site is at www.nhtcinc.org.