Youth Suicide Prevention Education Community Forum

You are invited to a forum focused on addressing youth suicide prevention education efforts in the Capital Regional District. NEED Crisis and Information Line volunteers have delivered Suicide Awareness for Youth presentions since 1996 in local high schools, reaching thousands of youth with the message that suicide can be prevented. Recently, NEED lost its main funding for this valuable program, but has decided to pursue youth suicide prevention education for at least the next year. Future efforts are contingent upon community support. NEED Crisis and Information Line, in collaboration with UVic's School of Child and Youth Care, are planning a forum to consult with the community about how we can move forward together to advance local youth suicide prevention efforts. The overall purpose of this initial forum is to:

• Share highlights of the impact of NEED's Suicide Awareness for Youth program since its inception;
• Update the community about the potential loss of this program;
• Consult with a broad cross-section of community members about their ideas for youth suicide prevention programming;
• Establish community support and a way forward for this kind of programming beyond next year.

Structure of Forum
The forum will start with a panel presentation to help catalyze discussion. Panel members include Dr. Jennifer White, Assistant Professor in the School of Child and Youth Care, a school district counsellor, a teacher, and a Suicide Awareness for Youth Educator. Panelists will be responding to the question: "What is the role of youth suicide prevention education?"

Following the panel, forum attendees will be invited to participate with each other and panel members in a series of moderated round-table conversations. Each of the conversations will focus on creating momentum for a community-inspired and community-supported approach to youth suicide prevention. This forum will present a unique opportunity for a diverse group of community members to share ideas, knowledge, and resources around youth suicide prevention efforts, developing a strong foundation for continued action.