Four leadership students at Lake City Secondary’s Williams Lake campus have created a short, but powerful suicide prevention video.
The students — Michael Kerber, Mathew Bessey, Bridgette Combs and Loretta Jeff-Combs — began working on the video two weeks ago and shared it with their peers Wednesday during a suicide prevention and awareness event held at the school during Youth Week.
In the video, students and a few staff members were asked what comes to mind when they hear the word “suicide.”
Various students wrote an answer on a piece of paper and held it up to the camera.
Their answers ran the gamut, with such words as “depressed, lost, sorrow, only escape, regret, terror, devastating, weakness, belonging, not worth it and heart shattering.”
Then students and staff were asked for messages of hope. They provided them. writing phrases such as “life is worth it, you are loved, it gets better, and there is help.”
Bridgette said in the leadership class they brainstormed a few ideas and chose one together.
“I think it worked because it gets the message out there,” she said of the final product.
Organized by the Suicide and Sudden Death Prevention Committee, the event saw service providers on hand with information to share with the students.
CMHA counsellor Janice Breck told them it is false that the prevention of suicide is best handled by professionals.
“We are here to let you guys know that when you are watching the warning signs and you pay attention to the risk factors, all you need to do is just be there for your friends and encourage them,” Breck said.