Teens' deaths prompt forum on suicide

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BY CAROLYN THOMPSON
cthompson@nwitimes.com
219.933.3229 | Monday, November 05, 2007 | (3 comment(s))

MUNSTER | Two teens' recent suicides have prompted the Jewish Federation of Northwest Indiana to sponsor the Teenage Suicide Prevention and Community Healing Forum on Wednesday.

The seminar runs from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bernard and Estelle Marcus Jewish Federation Community Building, 585 Progress Ave., Munster.

"Our community is grieving, and we need to find a way to deal with our feelings," said Michael Steinberg, executive director of the Jewish Federation. "But we are also looking for ways to help us learn more about suicide, so hopefully, we can prevent it in the future."

Presenters from the Chicago Jewish Child and Family Services and Tri City Community Mental Health Center in East Chicago will speak to the Jewish and non-Jewish community, Steinberg said, adding he has contacted local school districts and churches in the region.

Rabbi Joseph Ozarowski, a grief counselor, will talk about healing and grief.

Robin Seidman, a social worker, will speak about suicide and how families can help before a suicide crisis and assist after a suicide.

"Working together, we can bring hope to our community for families and friends who are concerned about those they love," said Sandy Appleby, a licensed mental health and trauma counselor at Tri City Mental Health Center.

In a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4,599 young people committed suicide in 2004, making suicide the third highest cause of death among adolescents. Youths, ages 10 to 24, experienced an 8 percent increase from 2003 to 2004, the study said.

For information, call Michael Steinberg or Carol Szaks at (219) 922-4024.

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Munster Mom wrote on Nov 7, 2007 11:21 AM:

" As a mother of teenage boys, my heart breaks for these families. Thank you to any organization that can aid the healing. I can not imagine the life-changing pain of losing your child, especially in this way. I know the families and friends will never fully recover, but perhaps they can find some benefit and healing from programs such as this. Your neighbors in Munster are thinking of you. "

Stephanie wrote on Nov 5, 2007 12:40 PM:

" Every church, of every demononation should be doing this. People look down on the families of these kids, blame it on drugs or alcohol, sure that is a reprocussion of the depression they are going thru, but not the cause. Ignorance runs rampant on this subject, people need to get themselves educated before they open their mouths. Bravo to the Jewish Community for realizing it's a sickness and it needs to be addressed! "

WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE, THERE IS NO HOPE wrote on Nov 5, 2007 9:46 AM:

" my best friend committed suicide a year ago. to this day, i think about what i could have done to prevent it, i have no answer. but what i do know is how to possibly prevent others, by TALKING ABOUT IT! getting information to others about the consequences of suicide and that there are others just like you! KNOWLEDGE! people need to stop HIDING it, stop making it a stigma! those who think about suicide, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! there are people who can HELP!! SUICIDE IS NOT THE ANSWER TO YOUR PROBLEMS!! IT SOLVES NOTHING! IT ONLY CAUSES PAIN TO OTHERS, THOSE THAT TRULY LOVE YOU!! R.I.P. F.F., ALWAYS IN MY HEART, SHIE LOVE "

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