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Schools to play host to mental health fairs this month
A series of mental health fairs will be held across many public schools this month in a bid to prevent suicides in the Commonwealth and as part of the observance of September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
The fairs are intended to share resources and stories on the topic of suicide and suicide prevention, to reach out to those affected by suicide, and connect individuals in need to the right services.
The Commonwealth Health Care Corp.’s Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention Program will be partnering on this fairs with the CHCC Department of Public Health Services, the CNMI Public School System, Pride Marianas Youth, the CNMI Department of Public Safety, the Ayuda Network, the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, the Northern Marianas College, the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, the Office of Youth Affairs, and the Northern Marianas Protection and Advocacy Systems, Inc.
GLS social marketing coordinator Sharina Clark stressed the importance of raising awareness about the issue of suicide by sharing resiliency, warning signs, risk factors, and to let the community know that there are resources available to them. She said that a lot of people are afraid to seek anti-suicide services due to the stigma surrounding depression and anxiety.
GLS provides intervention services for youth and young adults ages 10 to 24, Clark said.
For those who are over the age of 24, CHCC’s Community Guidance Center provides intervention services, according to CHCC spokesperson Zoe Travis.
The following are the schedules and venues for the mental health fairs:
• Sep. 16, 2019 – Dandan Middle School
• Sep. 18, 2019 – Francisco M. Sablan Middle School
• Sep. 20, 2019 – Saipan Southern High School
• Sep. 26, 2019 – Marianas High School
• Sep. 27, 2019 – Tanapag Middle School
• Oct. 4, 2019 – Kagman High School (with Chacha Ocean View Middle School and Da’ok Academy students)
For more information about these mental health fairs, contact the GLS office at (670) 664-5483 or email cnmiglsysp@gmail.com.
