New group works to prevent suicide
Karen Peterson
Ronan High School Principal Kevin Kenelty talks to students about the program.
Karen Peterson
Hailey Schippers and Aubrey DuMont hold the Your Life Matters bracelets.
Karen Peterson
The back of the shirts encourage kids to talk about suicide.
Karen Peterson
The semi-colon on the front of the shirt represents a continued life.
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
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Aubrey DuMont, 13, of Charlo, faced the loss of her older brother Brandon to suicide last year at this time. It hasn’t gotten easier. She remembers him as always smiling. And that’s just it. He was always smiling. She never thought he would ever commit suicide.
“So many kids are committing suicide,” she said. “This has to stop.”
When she heard about a project geared towards helping prevent suicide, she was all in. The newly formed Your Life Matters Project is being brought into schools across the valley. It was formed and funded by a group of concerned citizens. Last month, they held their first regular meeting in Ronan.
“After I read about another suicide, I decided something needs to be done,” said Donalee Johnsen, Your Life Matters Project founder. “We don’t often see awareness about suicide before it happens. We want to let people know that there is help because their lives matter.”
Group members decided that T-shirts would help spread that message with a focus on young people for their first project. They are working to bring about 30 shirts into each school. Ronan High School received shirts last week. School counselors decide who can become a young ambassador for the group and periodically wear the shirt.
“It’s not just kids committing suicide; it’s all ages,” said Sarah Dumont, YLM group member. “But we wanted to start with young people.”
On the front of the shirt is a semi-colon over the words “ask me.” With that little piece of punctuation, a sentence can continue, and so can a person’s life. On the back of the shirt, it says, “how can I help you continue your story.” The words encourage conversation about suicide because sometimes kids feel more comfortable talking to other kids. But students aren’t supposed to act as counselors.
“We don’t want them to bear all the weight of helping someone,” Johnsen said. “The students are the ambassadors for our group. They can talk to kids and help them find resources. The kids also have 1-800-723-TALK on the shirts. It’s a national suicide prevention number. That is the main resource.”
Students aren’t just looking for kids that seem sad.
“My step-son Brandon always excelled and helped people,” said Sarah Dumont. “He was a good kid but something was off. I continue to read stories about fantastic kids committing suicide. This group is meant to help anyone thinking about suicide.”
Hailey Schippers, 17, of Charlo, joined the group to help.
“I’m sick of people thinking suicide is just for a certain kind of person,” she said. “It can happen to anyone. People need to know there is help or just a shoulder to lean on until they feel better.”
To raise money for more shirts and projects, the group is selling T-shirts and bracelets. Contact Johnsen at 406-382-0088 for merchandise or to join the group. The group is also on Facebook.
“Everyone has been really supportive,” Johnsen said. “People see the need for this and they want to help.”
