skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Silence is Deadly: Trying to Stop Teen Suicide

play audio
Play

Friday, March 30, 2007   


There used to be a saying that children should be seen and not heard. But Mark LoMurray says a chatty teenager could be the difference between life and death. LoMurray is the project manager for the North Dakota Adolescent Suicide Prevention Project. He says most teens who are thinking about suicide will tell a friend. The key is getting that friend to break his or her deadly "code of silence" and make the call for help. LoMurray says the best chance of success comes when an entire community learns to communicate and work together.

"Making sure we get parents involved, making sure we get teen leaders involved as well as you know having school staff, and folks in the faith communities, cultural leaders, and some of our tribal areas. Trying to get as much of the community active in a sense of that we're really responsible for each other."

The sad truth is, suicide is the number two killer of children ages 10 to 24 in North Dakota. It's number three nationwide.

LoMurray and other trainers spend time talking with students, parents and teachers across the state about finding sources of strength for hurting kids. That can include a circle of friends, supportive parents, a strong faith system or even proper antidepressant medication, Their approach seems to be working. Though North Dakota is still far above the national rate., the overall suicide rate has declined since the project started in 1999.

"You know it's like traffic fatalities. We're not going to prevent every traffic fatality, but we can really reduce the high numbers, the high rate sometimes. And we really look at suicide that way. We might not be able to stop every suicide, but we can reduce those numbers."


get more stories like this via email

more stories
A report from the Tennessee HealthCare Campaign recommended the federal government needs to strengthen 340B drug pricing and other federal negotiation mechanisms to make needed medicines more readily available and less expensive for hospitals to purchase and administer. (Spotmatikphoto/AdobeStock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

A recent report examined how some rural Tennessee hospitals have managed to stay afloat despite financial challenges. The report includes interviews …


Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…


Nearly 13 million Americans receive health coverage through unique plans under both Medicare and Medicaid. They are known as Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Medicare and Medicaid are key sources of health coverage for many Americans and some people qualify for assistance under both programs. With lagging …

Social Issues

play sound

A mix of policy updates and staffing boosts has helped to put wage theft enforcement on the radar in Minnesota, and officials leading the efforts are …

More than six in 10 Americans favor keeping the abortion pill mifepristone available in the U.S. as a prescription drug, while over a third are opposed, according to a Gallup poll. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

New research shows more than six in 10 abortions in the U.S. last year were medically induced, and U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto - D-NV - is …

Social Issues

play sound

Colorado is working to boost the state's agricultural communities by getting more fresh, nutritious foods into school cafeterias - and a new online …

Social Issues

play sound

Missouri lawmakers are concerned with protecting people from the potential risks of the increasing accessibility of AI-generated images and videos…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021