Horizons Youth Services

Charleston Job Corps holds Suicide Prevention Training for student leaders

The Charleston Job Corps Center held an Adolescent Suicide Prevention and Intervention Training workshop for leadership students on April 8. Mark Mason, ASPEN trainer, conducted the workshop, which teaches students how to identify the warning signs of someone at risk for suicide.

Every 60 seconds a suicide attempt is made in America. One-hundred Americans commit suicide and 11 youth commit suicide each day.  In West Virginia, suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth. 

The Charleston Job Corps Center held this training for student leaders to give them information and training in dealing with peers who may be depressed as well as to help them recognize the warning signs of suicide. Mason stated, “If someone is going through something don’t laugh… don’t ignore. Talk to them and tell a trusted adult.” The training focused on three aspects of an easily-remembered acronym – ACT: A-Acknowledge, C-Care, and T-Tell. Students received pocket cards that listed the warning signs for a person at risk for suicide and the Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Pictured left to right, are student leaders Bobby Harrell, Shawn Murphy, Alazar Teferi, Adrianna Anderson, ASPEN Trainer Mark Mason, Shanae Brown, Tyrael Mosley, Detario Melton and Michael Hopkins.