Shatter the silence—youth sucide in Mississippi

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May 2, 2009

Anonymous The Meridian Star Sat May 02, 2009, 11:05 PM CDT

As Mississippians, we want what is best for our state. As parents, we want what is best for our children. We all share one common thread – the hope for a better tomorrow and a brighter future. However, we must open our eyes to see the silent epidemic that is affecting our young adults in this state – suicide.

Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in Mississippi for young people ages 15 – 24. The MS High School Survey for the Youth Risk Behavior (2007) reported that 13.4% of students seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months, and 10.6% of students made a plan about how they would commit suicide in the past 12 months.

To combat this problem, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) is leading the way with a statewide youth suicide prevention campaign entitled, “Shatter the Silence – Suicide, The Secret You Shouldn’t Keep.” The campaign targets young adults in Mississippi. The campaign encourages youth to speak out if they or someone they know is thinking, writing or talking about suicide. We have developed educational materials and we offer presentations to junior high schools, high schools, and colleges across our state.

One of the keys to a successful mental health system in Mississippi lies in prevention with young adults. If we don’t get to the kids, their families, schools, and communities by facilitating positive peer group interaction and sending a strong message about youth suicide then we really are not doing a whole lot. We feel strongly about mental health education for both parents and children. We must educate children and parents about mental health to help dispel the stigma associated with mental illness, which will increase help-seeking behaviors.

As we recognize Children’s Mental Health Week in May, please remember that children are the future of our state, and we must work effectively and efficiently together to ensure they have a better tomorrow. This is why we believe so strongly in our Shatter the Silence campaign. We must join together and let these young people know they are not alone, and that they should not be ashamed to seek help.

Funding for the Shatter the Silence project was made available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Hurricane Katrina-Related Youth Suicide Prevention Grants.

Edwin C. LeGrand III

Executive Director

Mississippi Department of Mental Health

Event overlooked

A major event took place in Meridian last week at the MSU Riley Center. Two hundred influential women from around the State attended the State Convention for the MS Federation of Women's Clubs and were welcomed by Ken Storms. Many of the women spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at the new Drury Inn. A special dinner was held Thursday night for seventy-five of the ladies at Weidmann's. The lobby of the Riley Center also had an "Arts" display put on by the ladies.

The "Tourism" office for Lauderdale County had no welcome bags and offered no information on Meridian or our area, the only thing the tourism office gave was a single bottle of water that had Meridian printed in small letters. I've been told by the tourism office staff that they only give items to people who stay "overnight" in Meridian. (These ladies spent three nights) What kind of Tourism office do we have if we don't give information to visitors regardless of whether they are here for a day or a week. Why should any of these ladies want to come back to Meridian? Perhaps one will get thirsty and need some water.

The County Board of Supervisors need to "Review and Revise" what our Tourism Office is supposed to accomplish. I always thought that "tourism" was meant to "attract" all peoples to come to our area (Not just the ones that stop along the highway for a night) and then want to keep coming back.

This event was not sports related so I guess you ladies just didn't count.

Roy P. Gibbens

Meridian

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