Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Youth Suicide Prevention Week Is Planned

Attorney General Winston Bryant is encouraging Arkansans to observe March 2-8, as Youth Suicide Prevention Week in Arkansas by participating in local activities to heighten awareness about suicide prevention.

"Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people 15 to 24 years old. Many individuals contemplating suicide give 'warning signs' so the tragedy can often be prevented," Bryant said. "Education is the key to saving lives."

Public service announcements, a sample proclamation and sugges-tions for organizing community events have been distributed through the state by the Student Advisory Board of the Arkansas Youth Suicide Prevention Commission.

The student board includes young volunteers between the ages of 14 and 24 who have been chosen to help educate Arkansans parti-cularly their fellow students about suicide prevention. Ten new members will be chosen in April.

Students who are interested in applying for a position on the student board may contact their school counselor or the Attorney General's office for more infor-mation. The deadline for applica- tions is April 15.

Arkansans wanting to learn more about how to recognize the warning signs of suicide may contact the Attorney General's office to receive educational materials, including a quarterly newsletter about suicide prevention, an educational video, statistics and other helpful inform- ation.

These materials were developed with assistance from the Arkansas Youth Prevention Commission, which was founded by Bryant in 1985.