Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership works with Doherty High School to Provide Important Resources

    COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, February 19, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Suicide is a topic that has deeply impacted our community. Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership [PPSPP] is grateful and proud to partner with Doherty High School to address this issue. Research shows that death by suicide can be prevented by reducing risk factors and increasing protective factors. Doherty High School is expanding its involvement with suicide prevention and addressing the mental health of its students in a very real way. On Feb 19th and 20th members of the PPSPP Teen Advocacy Board will hold a student panel discussion on the topic of mental health challenges for students, accessing resources and what to do if you or someone you know is thinking about suicide. This is a conversation that has been stigmatized by many, but Doherty students desire to remove the stigma by having healthy conversations and their principal, Kevin Gardner, feels passionate about listening to and equipping his students with the resources they have asked for. His passionate actions do not stop there. On March 10th, Gardner has partnered with PPSPP and Education for a Lifetime to provide Youth Mental Health First Aid training to 180 Doherty staff, coaches and parents at no cost, thanks to the generosity of a local faith community (Pulpit Rock Church). Training an entire school staff on one day presents many logistical challenges, yet Doherty High School has met those challenges with great resilience. In connection with the other schools, and organizations who have made suicide prevention education a priority, PPSPP and Education for a Lifetime hope this collaboration will inspire other schools and community members to join the movement to de-stigmatize mental health and prevent suicide in our city.

Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership has been serving the Pikes Peak Region for over 25 years providing free services and resources in efforts to reduce suicide through support services, education and community partnerships. Find PPSPP on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/PikesPeakSuicidePrevention/, our website www.pikespeaksuicideprevention.org, or call us at (719) 573-7447.

# # #