Berlin, Md. – The public is invited to a discussion, video presentation and question/answer session about youth suicide – the warning signs and steps to take to save lives.

The event will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 24 at the Berlin Town Hall, Bay and Williams streets.

“I think of suicide prevention as no different from CPR training,” said Hope Hutira-Green, program manager of the Worcester County Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Program, a local suicide prevention team. “Both save lives by preserving life and safety until trained professionals, therapists and crisis counselors can step in. Everyone needs to know.”

The educational event is sponsored by the Worcester county Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Program, a partnership among the Jesse Klump Memorial Funds, the Worcester County Health Department and the Worcester County Board of Education launched in 2011. Green, who has a background in teaching, guidance counseling and crisis response, will lead the event on May 24.

Worcester County is typical of many rural areas across the nation in that it suffers a higher than average rate of successful suicides. The rate of youth suicide, adjusted for population, tops the list of all Maryland counties.   In nearby Delaware, twelve suicides of middle school and high school aged students since January have brought the epidemic to the public eye and aroused concern.

“Parents want to know what their schools are doing to prevent the same thing from happening here,” said Ron Pilling, secretary/treasurer of the Klump Fund. “But awareness begins at home. Don’t write off your child’s moodiness to teen angst. Don’t simply assume it’s natural and will go away. It might, but you might not like the way it happens.”

The Jesse Klump Memorial Fund was created in 2009 following the death of a Snow Hill High School senior. In addition to granting an annual scholarship, the Fund holds speaking events, sponsors awareness and prevention training for educators and distributes suicide prevention literature.

“As part of our mission, we host monthly Survivors of Suicide support group meetings in Berlin,” said Fund President Kim Klump. “Our groups offer compassionate places for healing and grieving, an important therapeutic avenue for those who have difficulty coming to terms with their loss. We invite anyone who has suffered a loss, and hope that in addition to finding some peace they also learn to be suicide prevention practitioners and advocates.”

Survivors of Suicide support group meets the third Wednesday of each month at the Berlin Health Center.

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Media contacts:
Date: May 11, 2012

Ron Piling
443-982-2716

Tracy Tilghman
410-632-1100 x 1129