Suicide prevention awareness week strikes a chord for Monroe students

Members of the Monroe Community Coalition's Youth Coalition visited Monroe City Council chambers recently for Mayor Geoffrey Thomas' formal proclamation that the second week of September was Suicide Prevention Awareness Week.

The Monroe Community Coalition is a volunteer-driven nonprofit dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the Monroe community by reducing underage drinking and substance use. The coalition uses evidence-based prevention strategies to identify risk factors that are conducive to alcohol and substance use, and then works preemptively to diminish those risks.

According to data presented in the Suicide Prevention Awareness Week Proclamation, suicide is the second leading cause of death in the state of Washington for youth 10-24 years of age. In Snohomish County, 13 students died by suicide during the 2014 GÇô15 school year; one was a student at Park Place Middle School.

When results from the 2014 Washington State Healthy Youth Survey were received earlier this year, the coalition combed through the numbers in order to best tailor future programming to address areas of concern.-á

Mental health was identified as an area of concern. In 2014, 22 percent of Monroe School District students in the 10th grade reported they had considered attempting suicide, 32 percent reported depression and 8 percent reported an actual suicide attempt.

The youth chapter of the coalition has allowed Monroe School District students to work to address mental health issues and reduce underage drinking and drug use. The coalition meets once a week and is an official Monroe High School club. Last year, students decided to target suicide prevention as an area of emphasis, and created a short film that encourages young people to seek help during times of hardship.

The film, "You Are Not Alone,GÇ¥ is just under 1 -+ minutes long, and was shot at Monroe High School and Carkeek Park in Seattle. Youth coalition members showed the video to the Monroe City Council after the proclamation was read.

"This is a video that they created over the summer with a film studio called Wondercamp, who told their story,GÇ¥ said Monroe Community Coalition Coordinator Joe Neigel.-á "They will be working on a campaign to try and connect youth with people who can help throughout the school year, and they're part of the coalition because they know they can't do that alone.GÇ¥

Members of the youth coalition, including Rachel Wallace, Laura Maue, Brennan Edburgtowne, Samantha Johnson and Zuzu Hamel, drew on their own personal experiences to craft the short film. The group worked with Wondercamp, a professional production company out of Seattle that specializes in short films, features and documentaries.

The youth coalition is working to push the film out through social media and other outlets, so more people will see it.

"We also have it playing at the movie theater now,GÇ¥ Edburgtowne said. "A 15-second clip of it.GÇ¥

Last year, former Monroe resident Hannah Lunstrum served as the youth coalition's primary advisor. This year, the group will be led by Monroe High School counselor and Monroe Community Coalition member Tammy Amador.

The grant-funded coalition has partnered with the Monroe School District since its inception in 2013, but earlier this year that partnership evolved into a more structured relationship. Coalition grant criteria stipulates that the group retain a formal fiscal agent ' a role that was initially filled by Snohomish County. In March, the county announced its intention to no longer serve in that capacity, so the Monroe School District came forward to assume the role.

In order to facilitate a seamless transition, the district hired Neigel, a former Snohomish County prevention specialist, allowing him to continue his role as coalition coordinator.

Neigel told the council he hopes the coalition can continue to work collaboratively with the city as it strives to make a difference in the Monroe community.

"We need your help,GÇ¥ Neigel said. "We don't know what that's going to look like yet, but we know we can't do it alone.GÇ¥

The Monroe Community Coalition meets once a month at the Monroe Public Schools Administration Building, 200 E. Fremont St. The youth coalition meets once a week during the school year at Monroe High School.

To find out how to get involved in the youth coalition, email advisor Tammy Amador at amadort@monroe.wednet.edu. To watch the "You Are Not Alone,GÇ¥ visit www.youtube.com/watch?t=8&v=ONyOQZhS5i8.