A popular series on the streaming video service Netflix has a lot of young people discussing the topic of suicide — and making a lot of parents and educators nervous.
Now, the regional behavioral health service Willowbrooke at Tanner is inviting parents, educators, teens and anyone who works with adolescents — including coaches, clergy and others — to attend a free discussion on Wednesday, Sept. 13, beginning at 6 p.m. in the auditorium at Cartersville High School at 302 East Church Street. Registration is available at www.tanner.org/13reasons.
The program, “Recognizing the Warning Signs of Adolescent Suicide,” will help those in attendance understand — and empower them to prevent — teen suicides. It will feature current regional statistics related to suicide; actual suicide signs and symptoms to watch for; healthy talking points for parents, teachers, teens and peers; and a question-and-answer session with a panel of behavioral health experts from Willowbrooke at Tanner.
The panel will feature Meagan Thompson, LPC, assistant director of Willowbrooke at Tanner; Amanda Avella, LPC, program manager; Brian Gibson, LPC, a primary therapist; and Deb Price, LPC, CPCS, a program manager for community services.
Willowbrooke at Tanner has hosted several similar programs in Carrollton and Tallapoosa, drawing large, engaged crowds.
Those interested in the event but who will be unable to attend can find a video of the initial discussion online at www.tanner.org/hotlinesandresources. The page also includes a list of suicide and crisis hotlines and web resources that can be used and shared with other parents, grandparents, teens, teachers, counselors, pastors, coaches and anyone else who regularly interacts with teens.
The Netflix series, “13 Reasons Why,” follows a fictitious teenager as he tries to unravel the reasons his classmate decided to commit suicide. The series has struck a chord with many young people, making the subject of suicide a popular topic of conversation even among teens and adolescents who have not watched the series.
The discussion is part of Tanner Health System’s free Advancing Your Health Education Series, providing residents with access to free health information from the region’s leading health experts and covering a wide range of topics, including heart disease, orthopedics, women’s care and more. Other upcoming opportunities can be found in the Classes and Events calendar at www.tanner.org/calendar.
For more information or to schedule a free and confidential mental health screening, call Willowbrooke at Tanner’s 24-hour help line at 770.812.9551. More information on Willowbrooke at Tanner is available at www.WillowbrookeAtTanner.org.