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.