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Approximately 480 ninth grade students at Meridian High School received a valuable lesson on the importance of “shattering the silence” that surrounds suicide and mental illness during two presentations that were given on Thursday.

The presentations, which were given by members of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health’s Think Again Network, focused on increasing the awareness of mental health issues among young adults and also identifying and understanding some of the key ways to help prevent suicide among their peers.

According to Frankie Johnson, public relations director for Central Mississippi Residential Center in Newton and keynote speaker for the day, reaching out to the younger generation is the key in helping to displace some of the myths that surround mental illness and suicide.

“The youth of today have to understand that it’s okay to have a mental illness and that no one is immune to it,” he said. “The key is getting them to open up and talk about the feelings that they may be experiencing and hopefully we can prevent some of the actions that may result from those feelings such as suicide.”

In 2007 more than 390 lives were claimed by suicide and according to the department of mental health suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year olds in the state of Mississippi.

“We want to help change the negative perceptions that come with mental illness,” said Diana Eggler, public information officer at East Mississippi State Hospital, “and by targeting young adults we are able to educate them at an early age and hopefully inspire them to try to reach out to those who may need help.”

If you would like more information on MDMH’s Think Again and Shatter the Silence campaigns or to schedule a presentation contact the office of public information at (601) 581-7884.