YSPP Welcomes Two New Board Members
YSPP is pleased to welcome former Washington State Rep. Lynn Kessler and Jay Petterson to the Board of Directors.
Lynn served as state representative for the 24st Legislative District from 1993-2010, and Jay is a former CFO for Friends of Maria Cantwell and former Treasurer for Patty Murray. He has worked on many other political campaigns.
We are honored to have Lynn and Jay on our board. They are great editions and will help strengthen the cause of youth suicide prevention.
Gig Harbor Teen's Photographs Raise Awareness for Youth Suicide Prevention
For her senior project, Avery Unterreiner wanted to raise awareness for youth suicide and prevention, and raise funds for YSPP. So, the Gig Harbor teen and YSPP Youth Council Advisory member got creative by taking photos of her peers that show the many feelings and experiences teens go through.
On January 7, 2012, The Ebb Tide Gallery in downtown Gig Harbor, which displayed Avery's photographs throughout January, hosted a reception to celebrate her work . Below, Avery describes the project and her experience with suicide.
"My senior project is a photography show to benefit YSPP. Starting my project, I knew I wanted to raise awareness about youth suicide and prevention, having seen firsthand the impact it has on a community. I put together a photography series that seeks to portray the many feelings and experiences in the lives of teenagers. The Ebb Tide gallery in downtown Gig Harbor was kind enough to offer space to show my work, along with one of my friends, a fellow senior artist, Mckenna Green. We had a reception January 7th to open the show for the month, and it was incredible how many people came and the amazing feedback and support I got for my project. I sold some of my pictures and got a lot of donations as well– at the end of the month, all the proceeds from the show will be donated to YSPP.
"Youth suicide is a tough subject, and I’m not seeking to send a message about suicide. Rather, I hope that my photographs accurately portray what it’s like to be a teenager– not just in Gig Harbor, but everywhere. Every high schooler experiences insecurity, loneliness, and hardship, but every high schooler also has hopes and dreams and deserves to have every chance to fulfill them.
"There have been six suicides in Gig Harbor High School in the past six years, each of them a tragedy with a scope of influence difficult to picture. Not being particularly close to any of these students, I can’t imagine the pain of their friends and family as they lost someone so special to them so early in their life. Bearing witness to the aftermath of these deaths has been life-changing.
"To see someone in class one day and have them gone the next is a distressing and confusing situation to find yourself in as a 15 year old. Until I was in this position, I hadn’t realized just how little I really knew many of the people around me, and that the way I cared about them needed to be grounded in a much deeper understanding of their lives and struggles. Experiencing a community torn apart by tremendous grief inspired me to look beneath appearances and forego judgement, enabling me to reach out to and connect with a number of people I might previously have passed by.
"I knew when I started this project that I would donate to YSPP. It is an amazing resource that I hope people will take advantage of if they are considering suicide or if they want more information about prevention and help. I hope that my photos will be moving, meaningful, or relatable to those who see them, and I hope that my project will have an impact, be it big or small."
Maria Cantwell supports YSPP
From a letter dated Sept 17, 2011:
"I regret that I am unable to join you for the Walk About to Talk About Suicide Prevention. Anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide knows the pain and devastation which follows. I applaud your efforts to educate communities about the warning signs and specific ways to help someone contemplating suicide.
"In Washington, D.C. I've fought to expand youth and veteran suicide prevention programs. I cosponsored the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act and I pushed for the permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act which authorized new programs to prevent youth suicide. Sadly, many children who attempt suicide are victims of bullying. That is why I have sought protections or children experiencing bullying by joining 23 of my Senate colleagues in cosponsoring the Safe Schools Improvement Act. This legislation would collect data on bullying and harassment and provide technical assistance to schools in their efforts to address bullying.
"Thank you to each and every one of you who came out. Your support and willingness to educate yourselves about suicide prevention will make a positive impact on our communities. I pledge to you that I will continue fighting for programs which offer hope to those who prematurely seek to end their lives. Thank you again for inviting me to this inspiring event."
Warmest Regards,
Maria Cantwell
United States Senator
From the Classroom to Community - Update on SAMHSA Grant
In August 2011, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded YSPP a three-year grant to pilot a new program "From the Classroom to Community: A Team Approach to Youth Suicide Prevention," which will allow YSPP to train community health providers and school personnel to assess, manage, and refer more at-risk youth to behavior health services. Lead by project manager, Liz Wilhelm, a lot of pieces are now in place. Here is a summary of what we have accomplished so far:
- Our care coordinators in Yakima County and Cowlitz County are working with the participating school team(s) to oversee the student screening and referral process. We hope to have our Pierce County care coordinator hired in the next few weeks.
- We've formalized letters of agreement with the participating schools; these include Lower Columbia College (LCC), the four high schools in the Bethel School District, and the middle and high schools in the Mabton, Sunnyside, and Mt. Adams school districts. The participating schools either already have student assistance teams or are in the process of establishing them. The teams will be responsible for identifying students who are at risk of suicide and who could benefit from mental health or substance abuse care.
- All members of the school teams are being trained in ASIST (the 2-day suicide assessment and intervention workshop), as well as a specific tool called the GAIN Short Screener.
- We've trained health teachers in the Lower Yakima Valley to use the H.E.L.P. and LOOK LISTEN LINK curricula in their classrooms, our high school and middle school curricula that teach students to recognize and help a friend who is in trouble.
- We're securing contracts with Kognito Interactive, which will allow faculty and staff in the participating schools to receive online training on recognizing depression and suicidal behavior.
- We are in the process of identifying community substance abuse and mental health resources that will provide the treatment for the referred students. If the student does not have insurance or the ability to pay privately, this grant will cover the costs associated with the treatment.
- We've contracted with the University of Washington to conduct the project's evaluation and completed their IRB process.
YSPP honored by Pacific Market International employees
Thank you to the very generous employees of PMI, Inc, for their $3,000 gift to YSPP and youth suicide prevention. Particular thanks to Mary Stenroos, VP of Supply Chain Management at PMI, Inc.,who nominated YSPP as a recipient of her company's Q3 Grassroots Philanthropy program. A supporter and generous auction contributor, Mary nominated YSPP because she's passionate about the work we do and believes we can make a difference. Thank you, Mary, and all the employees at PMI, Inc!
A perfect send-off celebration for Sue Eastgard
After 11 years serving as the executive director of YSPP, Sue has made the decision to retire, embracing a new and exciting stage of her life.
The first day of summer in Seattle – June 21st - turned out to be sunny and warm, a great day for a party. YSPP board and staff celebrated Sue, as she said “goodbye” to family, friends, and colleagues. There were many hugs and tears along with guests' well wishes, but there were equally as many fond reminiscences and funny stories shared by people whose lives have been forever impacted by Sue somewhere along the way; those who were brave enough to speak to the packed room of guests from the stage at the front of the room all the while trying to keep their emotions in check!
If you know Sue, you won't be a bit surprised to hear that she plans to continue to indulge her passion for teaching suicide prevention by facilitating the occasional training workshop in her 'free' time.
We wish her well and now turn our support to Vicki Wagner as she leads the organization into the future.
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