Willowbrooke at Tanner to Address Teen Suicide Prevention May 25
Free discussion follows popularity of ‘13 Reasons Why’ Netflix series
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.
The 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 series’ popularity has many parents and teachers anxious to learn as much as they can about suicide prevention for young people.
To help parents and educators understand — and empower them to prevent — teen suicides, Willowbrooke at Tanner is presenting a panel of behavioral health experts from Willowbrooke at Tanner to learn more about the symptoms and warning signs of suicide among teens and adolescents, as well as healthy talking points to help determine if a young person is contemplating suicide and actionable advice to know how to respond.
The discussion, “Recognizing the Warning Signs of Adolescent Suicide,” is part of Tanner’s Advancing Your Health Education Series.
The Willowbrooke at Tanner panel will include licensed counselors and therapists who have worked closely with teens and adolescents and have first-hand experience in treating young people with suicidal ideations.
The discussion will be held Thursday, May 25, at 7 p.m. in Classroom 2 at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton, 705 Dixie Street. Parking will be available in the Dixie Street Parking Deck adjacent to the hospital. To access the classrooms from the parking deck, enter the hospital and take the elevators to the first floor. Seating is limited and registration is required. A complimentary dinner will be provided. Those interested can register themselves and one guest online at www.tanner.org/13reasons.
The panelists will include 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.
The discussion 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 the panel. It is part of Tanner’s 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.
To reach immediate help, call Willowbrooke at Tanner’s 24-hour help line at 770.812.9551. More information on Willowbrooke at Tanner is available online at www.WillowbrookeAtTanner.org.
