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June 19. 2012 11:27PM
Pinkerton takes steps in fight against suicide
DERRY — Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 15 and 24.
Next school year, a new program at Pinkerton Academy will help staff, faculty and other community members recognize the signs of those who may be considering suicide and get them the help they need.
Earlier this year, the school received a $10,000 grant from the National Alliance on Mental Illness to help implement the New Hampshire Connect Suicide Prevention Project, according to Wendy Despres, Pinkerton’s associate dean of students.
In May, 17 community members, including 11 members of the Pinkerton staff, underwent training in the program.
“The goal is to have all those trainers to work over the next two to three years to train all personnel in the recognize-and-connect model,” said Despres.
With the proper training, she said, staff members will be better able to recognize the signs of suicide in students and other staff members, and help them connect with the proper resources.
“This is a national public health issue, and our goal is to be proactive,” Despres said. “If we can prevent one at-risk student from taking their own life, we will have succeeded by leaps and bounds.”
Despres said the suicide rate for young people in New Hampshire is slightly above the national average.
The Connect program began as a collaboration between the Suicide Prevention Partnership, the Irving and Barbara C. Gutin Charitable Foundation and the National Alliance on Mental Illness in 1994.
Connect began working outside New Hampshire in 2006 and since then has provided training in 28 states, Ireland, Scotland and Canada.
The program’s training is customized to the specific needs of the audience, and the curriculum includes information on what to do when a person resists help or is not in crisis but may potentially be suicidal. In addition to providing prevention and intervention training, Connect also looks at follow-up procedures after a suicide attempt or hospitalization that involves longer-term planning for the community and systems involved.
Adam Swift may be reached at aswift@newstote.com.
Next school year, a new program at Pinkerton Academy will help staff, faculty and other community members recognize the signs of those who may be considering suicide and get them the help they need.
Earlier this year, the school received a $10,000 grant from the National Alliance on Mental Illness to help implement the New Hampshire Connect Suicide Prevention Project, according to Wendy Despres, Pinkerton’s associate dean of students.
In May, 17 community members, including 11 members of the Pinkerton staff, underwent training in the program.
“The goal is to have all those trainers to work over the next two to three years to train all personnel in the recognize-and-connect model,” said Despres.
With the proper training, she said, staff members will be better able to recognize the signs of suicide in students and other staff members, and help them connect with the proper resources.
“This is a national public health issue, and our goal is to be proactive,” Despres said. “If we can prevent one at-risk student from taking their own life, we will have succeeded by leaps and bounds.”
Despres said the suicide rate for young people in New Hampshire is slightly above the national average.
The Connect program began as a collaboration between the Suicide Prevention Partnership, the Irving and Barbara C. Gutin Charitable Foundation and the National Alliance on Mental Illness in 1994.
Connect began working outside New Hampshire in 2006 and since then has provided training in 28 states, Ireland, Scotland and Canada.
The program’s training is customized to the specific needs of the audience, and the curriculum includes information on what to do when a person resists help or is not in crisis but may potentially be suicidal. In addition to providing prevention and intervention training, Connect also looks at follow-up procedures after a suicide attempt or hospitalization that involves longer-term planning for the community and systems involved.
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Adam Swift may be reached at aswift@newstote.com.
