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Conference at Anniston High to focus on suicide prevention

Anniston Star (AL) - 4/19/2015

April 18--A recent survey showed that a large percentage of Anniston students and members of the public have thought about committing suicide.

Those results, the suicide death of an Anniston Middle School student in 2009 and the near deaths of students in recent years, have prompted a suicide-prevention conference, to be held at Anniston High School on April 26.

Anniston Middle School Sixth-grader Tre'Juan Figures' suicide in 2009 has remained on the minds of school administrators, explained Kasandra Smith, a guidance counselor at Anniston High School.

Edward Sturkie, head of career tech at Anniston High, once taught Figures. The boy's suicide spurred Sturkie to consider holding the conference, Smith said.

Of the 136 students and Anniston adults who responded to the survey, Smith said about half replied that they had thought about committing suicide or had tried to kill themselves. Some pointed to anguish over their physical appearance, still others said it was because of financial reasons or problems with family members, Smith said. The Anniston-based mentor group Legacy helped draft and disseminate the survey, Smith said.

Mental health professionals at the conference, which is free and open to the public, will speak about how to recognize when someone may be having suicidal thoughts and give them information that might help, Smith said.

The Anniston High student-led group called HOSA FOCUS also helped organize the conference, Smith said. The group focuses on suicide prevention and on raising awareness of the problem.

The conference is targeted at students, but Smith said they also want to reach out to community members who may be having trouble themselves, or who can help spot trouble in others. Smith said that's because "the people that are significant in our students' lives are going to affect them."

Lisa Holman, director of the Alabama chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, will be the keynote speaker at Sunday's conference. Mental health professionals and faith-based counselor will also be available to talk with those who may need it, she said.

"We've had several students in the last few years who have attempted suicide," Smith said.

It's important to let the public know that help is out there, and to raise awareness of the problem, Smith said.

Smith also asked that any mental health professional who would like to take part in the conference please contact her by email at smithk@anniston.k12.al.us.

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(c)2015 The Anniston Star (Anniston, Ala.)

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