FOUNDATION TAKES ON SUICIDE EPIDEMIC
By: Jamie A. Reed
(Tallahassee, Fl) Suicide is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the nation. Suicide is not just an action that affects the victim, but it is something that can blindside family and friends, leaving them with unresolved questions and in turmoil.
Clark Flatt, President and Founder of the Jason Foundation, along with nonprofit organizations of Tallahassee, held a seminar in Florida A&M University's Grand ballroom to address the silent epidemic of suicide. Flatt’s goal was to raise awareness about youth suicide, its impact on communities, while also providing tools and resources.
Flatt took notice of the silent epidemic when his son Jason fell victim to it. “I can guarantee you July the 15th, 1997 I didn’t think suicide was any kind of a threat to my family whatsoever…However on July the 16th I saw its ugly head show itself in my family” said Flatt.
Not wanting his son to become a statistic of suicide, Flatt started the Jason Foundation with the initial goal of educating parents. According to Flatt we are losing an average of 118 youth from the ages of 10-24 a week to suicide. “In 2006 and 2016 youth suicide rates increased by 70 percent” said Flatt. Attendees of the seminar were also reminded that suicide is not just a national issue but a local issue as well. According to Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors or, LOSS team of the Big Bend, on average every 11 days someone dies by suicide in Leon County.
With numbers like these Flatt has directed his attention from intervention and postvention to focus more on prevention. Flatt travels the country sharing his story, while providing hope and resources. In doing so Flatt saw the need for more educators to be trained on the subject; subsequently introducing the Jason Flatt Act.
The Jason Flatt Act was first passed in Tennessee, Flatt’s home state, and requires all educators in the state to complete two hours of youth suicide prevention and awareness training each year in order to be licensed to teach in Tennessee. According to Flatt youth suicide rates in Tennessee decreased by 28 percent three years after the Jason Flatt Act went into effect. This training includes preventable measures such as identifying warning signs, and elevated risk factors “4 out of 5 young people before they attempt suicide, will demonstrate clear warning signs” said Flatt. That means 80 percent of suicide attempts have a window of opportunity to intervene if able to recognize the warning signs. The five major warning signs are; suicide threats, previous suicide attempts, depression, out of character behavior, and when someone gives away his or her possessions. When a peer, educator, or family member is able to target the warning signs, then the next most important step would be to get help.
According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, suicide is the second leading cause of death for the ages 10-34. “I’ve talked to hundreds of young people over the past twenty years, hundreds, I’ve never met a single one that wanted to die” said Flatt.
If you would like more information about suicide awareness and the Jason Foundation, you can visit their website at jasonfoundation website. If you or a loved one is in a crisis you can call the national suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
Clark Flatt, President and Founder of the Jason Foundation, along with nonprofit organizations of Tallahassee, held a seminar in Florida A&M University's Grand ballroom to address the silent epidemic of suicide. Flatt’s goal was to raise awareness about youth suicide, its impact on communities, while also providing tools and resources.
Flatt took notice of the silent epidemic when his son Jason fell victim to it. “I can guarantee you July the 15th, 1997 I didn’t think suicide was any kind of a threat to my family whatsoever…However on July the 16th I saw its ugly head show itself in my family” said Flatt.
Not wanting his son to become a statistic of suicide, Flatt started the Jason Foundation with the initial goal of educating parents. According to Flatt we are losing an average of 118 youth from the ages of 10-24 a week to suicide. “In 2006 and 2016 youth suicide rates increased by 70 percent” said Flatt. Attendees of the seminar were also reminded that suicide is not just a national issue but a local issue as well. According to Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors or, LOSS team of the Big Bend, on average every 11 days someone dies by suicide in Leon County.
With numbers like these Flatt has directed his attention from intervention and postvention to focus more on prevention. Flatt travels the country sharing his story, while providing hope and resources. In doing so Flatt saw the need for more educators to be trained on the subject; subsequently introducing the Jason Flatt Act.
The Jason Flatt Act was first passed in Tennessee, Flatt’s home state, and requires all educators in the state to complete two hours of youth suicide prevention and awareness training each year in order to be licensed to teach in Tennessee. According to Flatt youth suicide rates in Tennessee decreased by 28 percent three years after the Jason Flatt Act went into effect. This training includes preventable measures such as identifying warning signs, and elevated risk factors “4 out of 5 young people before they attempt suicide, will demonstrate clear warning signs” said Flatt. That means 80 percent of suicide attempts have a window of opportunity to intervene if able to recognize the warning signs. The five major warning signs are; suicide threats, previous suicide attempts, depression, out of character behavior, and when someone gives away his or her possessions. When a peer, educator, or family member is able to target the warning signs, then the next most important step would be to get help.
According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, suicide is the second leading cause of death for the ages 10-34. “I’ve talked to hundreds of young people over the past twenty years, hundreds, I’ve never met a single one that wanted to die” said Flatt.
If you would like more information about suicide awareness and the Jason Foundation, you can visit their website at jasonfoundation website. If you or a loved one is in a crisis you can call the national suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
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