LIBERTY CENTER, OH (Toledo News Now) - Schoolleaders across northwest Ohio are talking to students about suicide. It's atopic being brought up both in the classroom and outside of school.
Dozensof students at Liberty Center High School are working to raise awareness on thesubject. Posters line the hallways, and informational bags with ribbons andsuicide hotline numbers are being handed out.
"It'sgood to see that there are students, and not just adults, who are here foreveryone who are feeling depressed," said Gaby Hawkins, a student at LibertyCenter.
Morethan 50 students have joined the Liberty Center Suicide Awareness andPrevention Group, led by counselor Shelley Ahleman.
"We'vebeen working on getting out the message that depression is treatable andsuicide is preventable," Ahleman explained.
Shesays it's important the students know what to do and where to turn if they knowsomeone struggling with depression.
"Oftentimes, kids will begin that conversation with a friend, and we want all of thekids to know what the resources are if a friend shares that information withthem," she said.
Thegroup is also working to raise money for a teen suicide prevention hotline, andseveral high schools in the area plan to put stickers on football helmets atthe game this Friday.
"Everystudent in our building is precious, and we don't' want to lose a single one ofthem," Ahleman said.
