4/2/14 - A gathering in Genoa Township last night encouraged residents to open up and talk about the issue of suicide in young people. About 70 people, including several students, gathered at the 2|42 Community Church last night for the discussion, entitled Breaking the Silence. The event featured three speakers, starting with Jeff Edwards, the chairman for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's board of directors in Detroit. He discussed his own son, Chase, who took his own life in 2003 at the age of 12. He said kids who might commit suicide usually do not fit the stereotypical image of the depressed teenager, and he encouraged parents to learn the symptoms of depression so they could spot them in their own children. He was followed by Livingston County Community Mental Health Social Worker Leslie Hall, who discussed the behaviors that are and are not typical for children at different ages so parents could more easily spot the unusual behaviors that might indicate mental illnesses tied to suicide. The last speaker was Nancy Buyle, a school safety and student assistance consultant for Macomb Intermediate School District, who discussed the link between bullying and suicide. She said while bullying can be a risk factor for suicidal children, parents should not assume it is a warning sign in itself, since many children experience bullying without considering suicide. She says adults need to be ready to listen to their children about their stresses and problems. Organizers said a second meeting may be scheduled in the future, but right now there are no firm plans in place. (TD)
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