New GHS Suicide-Prevention Poster Tells Teens We're 'Here 4 U'

Two Geneva teachers have created an original work of art reminding teens that teachers and  parents are "Here 4 U" when teens entertain thoughts of suicide.

Art teachers Louis Grissinger and Al Ochsner created the poster that portrays a person reaching out for help and another person reaching out to provide it.

The high school is recognizing National Suicide Prevention Week tomorrow (Thursday) by placing yellow ribbons at each entrance to the high school. But that's just one of the ways staff members are communicating their text message.

For perhaps the first time in recorded history, administrators are actually asking students to bring their cell phones to class.

"I think a lot of them fell out of their seats when they heard that," school psychologist Candace Martin Phelan said. "It really caught their attention."

In addition to the "Hear 4 U" posters, about 60 teachers will be wearing black T-shirts with the "Here 4 U" message in yellow lettering. Black and yellow are the colors associated with Suicide Prevention Week.

Teachers and counselors will hand out business-card reminders that list, on one side, the danger signs of suicide, and on the other, the 24/7 suicide prevention helpline numbers and Web address of the SPSFV office located in Batavia.

• 1-800-SUICIDE
• 1-800-273-TALK
• www. spsfv.org

Teachers will give students the opportunity to add those hotline numbers to their cell phones.

"Texting is such an integral part of their lives,"  Phelan said. "And we're going to walk all 2,000 students through that process." 

Mary Jane Johnson, director of counseling and advising at the high school, said about one student each week approaches counselors at the high school to let them know about depression or thoughts of self-harm.

"It's something we deal with all the time," Johnson said.

Phelan and Johnson said suicide is the third-leading cause of death among teens, according to statistics provided by the National Institute of Mental Health.

In the past 40 years, the suicide rate in 15- to 19-year-olds has quadrupled, the Suicide Prevention hotline Web site said.

The 36th Annual Suicide Prevention Week is Sept. 5-10.

Suicide Prevention Services will host an 8-mile walk Saturday to raise money for prevention services. The walk route begins at Pottawatomie Park and travels along the Fox River to the windmill at Fabyan Forest Preserve and back again. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and there will be a memorial balloon launch at 9:15 a.m., followed by the walk and lunch.

To volunteer, donate or register online visit spsfv.org.