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Youth suicide leading cause of death in Utah for ages 10-17 September 20, 2017, 6:17 amForefront in this conversation is the question of prevention. What can we do? State middle and high schools are required to implement a suicide prevention program and train all staff, also offered to parents. Hope 4 Utah is one good example of a school program initiative in Utah County, and good resources are found at hope4utah.com. In Eagle Mountain, a 19-year-old citizen, Jade Dansie, recently started a non-profit organization for teen suicide prevention called The Alive Movement. They plan to travel the nation visiting schools and providing education and motivational speeches on recognizing depression and steps to improve mental health. A go-fund-me page has been started to fund their efforts, as they also hope to raise enough to provide professional therapy to high-risk teens and provide further online resources. If you wish to donate, go to gofundme.com/thealivemovement. Additionally, the Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition holds public meetings on the second Monday of every other month. According to their plan provided online, risks include mood disorders, substance abuse, access to lethal means, and prior suicide attempts. Gay and transgender teens who were highly rejected by their parents and caregivers were more than 8 times as likely to attempt suicide compared with gay and transgender teens who were not at all or only rejected a little by the same. Protective factors consist of effective behavioral health care, connectedness, contact with caregivers, and healthy problem-solving skills. It is acknowledged that it is not enough to focus on one risk factor or one protective factor, but address as many in as many settings as possible. Prioritize safe and effective reporting of suicide, increased access to quality behavioral and physical health care, increased connections, reduced access to lethal means, providing more coping and problem-solving skills and support to survivors of suicide loss. The full plan can be found on their website, utahsuicideprevention.org. The community news source for Eagle Mountain Utah, Saratoga Springs Utah, Lehi Utah, American Fork Utah, Highland Utah, Alpine Utah, and The Cedar Valley, including Cedar Fort Utah and Fairfield Utah. Copyright 2024 The Crossroads Journal LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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