If you have a child that goes to either Shawnee Heights or Topeka West, and they support their basketball teams, then something really cool will be happening tonight. Family Service and Guidance Center will be hosting a forum about youth suicide prevention tonight at the game. Here is the press release that talks about the info:
“FSGC and the “Suicide: Talk about it. Save a life,” forum will host a table and distribute information to parents about how to talk to children and teens about suicide. They will also have information on services available to children struggling with mental health issues, including anxiety, depression and ADHD.
In addition, forum participants from Shawnee Heights High School will encourage their fellow students to download an app on their smartphones called 7 Cups. 7 Cups is a free, confidential support resource for students ages 13-17. Teens can message one-on-one with trained listeners who can help them with a broad range of common teen stressors. The app is confidential, free and available 24/7.
Pam Evans, Director of Marketing and Development, said, “Every student who downloads the app and creates an account can come to the FSGC table Tuesday night and enter a drawing for a $50 Sonic gift card.” The drawing will be held at halftime.
T-shirts promoting youth suicide prevention will also be distributed to both student sections. The shirts, designed by Shawnee Heights senior Bryce Liedtke, prominently feature a message of hope along with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number and the Crisis Text Line number.
“Many of the students active in the ‘Suicide: Talk about it. Save a life,’ forum have been personally affected by a youth suicide,” Evans said. “They’re dedicated to reaching out to make sure that their peers know someone is thinking about them and wants them to be here tomorrow.”
For more information on the “Suicide: Talk about it. Save a life,” initiative, youth suicide prevention or any of FSGC’s services and programs, contact Pam Evans, FSGC Director of Marketing & Development, at [email protected] or 785.232.7902.
