WHO & WHAT: Education Service Center Region 12 and sponsors Cedar Crest and VOICE will gather educators, mental health providers and community members for an event to encourage awareness, intervention and prevention of teen suicide.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: ESC Region 12, 2101 W. Loop 340, Waco, TX 76712

WACO, TX – Education Service Center Region 12 staff will join forces with area educators, mental health advocates and care providers to host the 19th Annual Teen Suicide Prevention Symposium on June 12. The goal of the event is to gather community members to learn and take action to help save lives through awareness, intervention and prevention of teen suicide.

“Suicide is regarded as the ‘preventable epidemic’ among youth in Texas and the nation. An average of 1 person every 13.7 minutes dies by suicide in our country,” said Jennifer Serrato, a counseling specialist at ESC Region 12. “The Teen Suicide Prevention Symposium is a forum to take action and help save the lives of challenged youth. This year’s focus will be on the devastating effects of substance use and the contributing factors that lead to suicide among our youth.”

Donald Whitehead Jr. will deliver a keynote address titled ‘Undressing,’ which will take attendees through his life as a substance-abuse survivor who experienced homelessness and the challenges that accompany it, including the risk of suicide. Whitehead Jr. is a motivational speaker, author and the Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, an organization focused on preventing homelessness and protecting the civil rights of those experiencing homelessness. 

Additional speakers include Jeni Janek and Suzanna Avalos of ESC Region 12, David Baker of Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network, Nikki Holmes of Hope Squad and Gena Stier of VOICE. Speakers will cover topics including suicide prevention in schools, current legislation, Narcan administration, fentanyl awareness and more.

A fee of $75 is required to attend the 19th Annual Teen Suicide Prevention Symposium. Advanced registration is requested: txr12.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=338214.