Tekoa groups sponsor suicide prevention program

A Youth Suicide Prevention Program was conducted at Tekoa High School Jan. 13. The program was sponsored by the Healthy Tekoa coalition, Tekoa Mountain Bible, United Church of Tekoa, Sacred Heart Church and Pete and Fran Martin, who lost their grandson to suicide this past fall.

Workshops were in classrooms by a YSPP facilitator and grade school counselor Carrie Hubert during morning hours. That same afternoon, during the early release training hour, the facilitator led a community/all staff meeting to cover how to help kids who might be in trouble. They emphasized three simple steps: show you care, ask the question and get help. The adult workshop had more than 50 people.

Healthy Tekoa Coalition community organizer Diane Harp said the group is continuing to search for grants to support the mental health needs of the community.

"We are rural and have no local resources, so we have to train as many adults as possible, knowing that each resident in Tekoa can make a difference in a life.

Tekoa currently has two trainers ready to teach adults the QPR suicide prevention system and one adult who can teach Youth Mental Health First Aid class.