While September provides an opportunity to focus on strategies that prevent suicide among young people, we are grateful that Pitt County Schools counselors and staff focus on preventing this tragedy year-round. Parents and other adults in the community can join in the prevention process as well. We talked with counselor Lori Bowen from Farmville Middle School to learn more about suicide prevention month. Read below to learn more.
PPS-PC: With September being suicide prevention month, are there any facts you can share with us that support the need for this type of awareness, both this month, and always?
Lori Bowen: We definitely need to raise awareness since suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Among 10-14 year olds (middle school age) it is the second leading cause of death and among 15-24 year olds (high school and college age) it is the third leading cause of death.
PPS-PC: What are some measures that adults, be they parents, community leaders, or teachers and administrators, can take to participate in suicide prevention, specifically for young people?
Lori Bowen: Suicide prevention is about advocating for mental health treatment before the person gets to the crisis stage. We need to believe our youth when they tell us they need help and we need to be able to recognize the signs in those who may not verbalize their need for help.
PPS-PC: If a family is worried that they know of a young person considering suicide, what are some reasources they can connect with immediately?
Lori Bowen: 988 is the easiest resource to remember. This number will connect you to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and it works everywhere in the US. In the Pitt County area, Mobile Crisis (1-866-437-1821) is also available 24/7. If needed and with your permission, they will send a crisis response person to your home.
