Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Dougan Appointed To Youth Suicide Prevention Commission

Rachael Dougan has been appointed to the Arkansas Youth Suicide Prevention Commission.

The AYSP Commission was founded in 1985 after learning very little was being done to combat this terrible waste of young lives.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people, taking the lives of more than 5,000 youth each year. Every 107 minutes a young person commits suicide and many more attempt to end their lives.

The Arkansas Youth Suicide Prevention Commission's Student Advisory Board is composed of 15 students from throughout Arkansas. The advisory board members are selected by vote of the Commission to serve as student leaders and role models in their communities and state.

As a member of the advisory board Rachael Dougan will be challenged to provide insight on the changing needs of young people in the area, generate ideas for youth sessions at the annual youth suicide prevention conference and serve as a member of a youth speakers bureau.

The AYSPC and the student advisory board are trying to make a difference. The educational efforts have reached thousands of Arkansans and the materials provided to school districts are reaching even more.

Over the last 5 years the commission has reduced the percentage of youth suicides in comparison to the total number of suicides committed in our state and in 1988 Arkansas ranked 24th among all states which was an improvement of the 16th ranking the previous year.