Brevard Public Schools Invites Community to Free Teen Suicide Prevention Carnival and Walk

By  //  March 17, 2018

Event takes place Saturday at Sand Point Park in Titusville from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

SPACE COAST DAILY TV SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Recently, Giles Malone of Space Coast Daily spoke with Brevard County leaders and concerned citizens about developing programs in support of reducing youth depression and preventing suicide. Panelists discussing the issues included Liz Mikitarian, Lori Duester, Lyn Cline, Latisha Sims, Brevard Public Schools, Brevard Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Desmond Blackburn and Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Dr. Elizabeth Thedy.

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – Brevard Public Schools is co-sponsoring a free teen suicide prevention event including the Out of the Darkness Walk and Sources of Strength Carnival on Saturday, March 17, 2018, at Sand Point Park in Titusville from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The event is open to the public. It is intended to heighten awareness about reducing teen suicide and helping youth identify and focus on their sources of strength, such as healthy activities.

Lyn Cline, president of event co-sponsor Hannah’s Heroes, a youth suicide prevention organization, and mother of Hannah, a BPS student who ended her own life in 2015, said: “The Out of the Darkness Walk brings mental health conditions like depression and anxiety out of the darkness and puts a stop to this loss of life. Come join our team or walk to support a friend, a loved one or yourself. We all have a reason to walk, and each reason connects us.”




According to Shandra English, Titusville High School counselor and Sources of Strength (SOS) advisor, the goal of SOS is to improve youth mental health by using the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms and culture, and to spread messages of hope, health and strength throughout the community.

The event was organized by the Youth Mental Health Task Force. In March 2017, the task force was formed to reduce the rate of teen suicides, suicide ideation, and self-harm by taking a comprehensive county-wide approach.

WATCH REPLAY: Brevard County Mental Health Experts Discuss Youth Depression, Suicide PreventionRelated Story:
WATCH REPLAY: Brevard County Mental Health Experts Discuss Youth Depression, Suicide Prevention

The growing membership represents a wide range of entities such as education, medical, mental health, law enforcement, faith-based, local media and various community organizations.

Volunteers and event sponsors will provide free food and giveaways, host vocal and dance performances and facilitate healthy interactive games and activities that are tied to the SOS program.

Sponsors include Hannah’s Heroes, The Children’s Center, the Jess Parrish Medical Foundation, Brevard Public Schools and the Youth Mental Health Task Force.

Registration for the walk begins at 8:00 a.m. with a 9:00 a.m. start time. Sand Point Park is located at 101 N. Washington Ave., Titusville, 32796.

For more information, contact Kathy Simonsen, Parrish Medical Center’s special programs coordinator, at kathy.simonsen@parrishmed.com or 321-264-0855.

ABOVE VIDEO: Born out of a local family’s tragic personal loss, Hannah’s Heroes is a non-profit 501(c)3 grassroots organization with a passionate mission to draw attention to the struggles of depression, bullying and suicide which affect the youth of our community.

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