Politics & Government

City of Shoreline Provides Emergency Funds to Help Prevent Teen Suicide

Youth suicide attempts in Shoreline increased this spring

In a response to an increased number of suicide attempts among teens this spring, the City of Shoreline announced today that it will provide more money for counseling.

The City of Shoreline will provide an additional $27,000 to the Center for Human Services so that teens and their families have access to low or no cost counseling. At least a half-dozen youth in Shoreline attempted suicide this spring, according to community services manager Rob Beem and Center for Human Services executive director Beratta Gomillion.

"In the past year we've seen an increase in people acting on suicide attempts, even in middle school we're seeing it," Gomillion said. 

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She said the societal stress on young people along with the absence of well-developed coping techniques and lack of impulse control often leads to these attempts.

A person can obsess about a problem and it can become "the biggest thing in the world,"  Gomillion said.

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"It's so big to them they see no options, they don't think of any options," she said.

Several high profile incidents in the last year involving young people who attended Shoreline schools also demonstrated the need for intervention. 

On April 28, . The She reportedly had been drinking alcohol before she died.

In August 2011, f, after. Albrecht's father called police and reported Albrecht had a knife and was suicidal. Albrecht, the fifth child of Russian immigrants, left Shorewood before graduating after being diagnosed with cancer. and reportedly had a problem with alcohol.

"Up to age of 28, the brain is still developing," Gomillion said. "The use of alcohol and drugs often exacerbates the attempt."

“A Council priority is being a ‘Healthy City.’  One key effort is to support our teens as they deal with depression. When we became aware that youth in crisis did not have ready access to services they needed, the City had to respond.  Our partnership with the Center for Human Services will allow youth dealing with depression or at risk of suicide to have access to timely and affordable services,” city manager Julie Underwood said.

This one-time funding comes from contingency funds the City maintains for emergencies and unforeseen events.  

“About one quarter of this community’s teens report feeling depressed and a third of these will consider suicide," Gomillion said. "Intervention and treatment are effective ways to prevent suicide.  In the current economic times many families who are not covered by insurance nor eligible for Medicaid are not able to access the support they need.  The City’s funds will allow us to be there for our teens when they need us the most."

In addition to this funding the City is leading work among youth service providers to improve communication, coordination, training and public awareness of effective suicide prevention and intervention activities. Representatives from Shoreline Public Schools, the City of Shoreline, Shoreline Police, and community members are meeting to review and renew referral protocols and communications plans in order to provide a comprehensive response when alerted to warning signs of suicide or self harm.

The Youth Suicide Prevention Program states that most suicidal young people don’t really want to die; they just want their pain to end. About 80 percent of the time, people who kill themselves have given definite signals or talked about suicide. The key to prevention is to know these signs and what to do to help.  If a friend mentions suicide, take it seriously. If he or she has expressed an immediate plan, or has access to a gun or other potentially deadly means, do not leave him or her alone. Get help immediately. Immediate help is available by calling 1-800-273-TALK or 211.

More information on the warning signs and steps you can take can be found at www.yspp.org.

Information from the city of Shoreline was used in this report.


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