Psychologist Urges Active Stance To Prevent Suicides Series Of Workshops Intended To Help Parents Of Teens

Some of the parents crowded into the Libby Center last week worried about the creepy music their teens favor.

Others were anxious about the pressures weighing on their children.

One mom watched her eighth-grade daughter try to be a “superkid,” balancing honor roll grades with youth group and other outside activities.

“Do we set them up for successes they can’t live up to?” she wondered.

Dozens of parents and educators met last week for a workshop to discuss teen depression and suicide.

They have good reason for concern, experts say.

Suicide is everywhere.

Kids can watch any number of popular movies and see a suicide carried out, said Dr. Paul Quinnett, a Spokane psychologist and suicide expert. Suicide methods can be downloaded from the Internet.

Teen suicide rates have tripled, possibly quadrupled, in the past four decades.

“The genie’s out of the bottle, folks,” Quinnett told the group. “It’s up to us to get smart, care and learn to listen to our kids.”

Quinnett promotes a suicide prevention program called QPR to train people to recognize suicidal behavior.

“Part of our problem is a detection problem,” said Quinnett. “Kids who are depressed don’t look like adults who’re depressed.”

Kids may become withdrawn, sullen, lose interest in their favorite activities or have a sudden interest or disinterest in religion, he said.

These signs may be accompanied by a loss of appetite or energy.

QPR - question, persuade, refer - applies to all age groups.

Don’t be afraid to ask a person if they’ve been unhappy, or even to ask directly if they’ve ever contemplated suicide, Quinnett told the group.

Listen to them, and persuade them to get help, he said. Refer them to help.

“The most common response to the threat of suicide is silence,” he said. “No one knows how to deal with it.”

Last week’s presentation was part of a continuing series of workshops at Libby Center aimed to help parents of teens. The series is sponsored by the Spokane County Medical Society Auxiliary.

The next installment - called “You’ve Got To Be Kidding” - will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 18. Experts will discuss how to talk and listen to teens.

For more information about suicide prevention education, call the Spokane Regional Health District Suicide Prevention Program at 324-1473 or Greentree Behavioral Health at (800) 256-6996.

First Call for Help provides a 24-hour crisis hotline. Call 838-4428.

Chase student heading to state bee

Chase Middle School eighth-grader Peter Knutson won the schoolwide geography bee this month and now heads toward state competition.

Peter must qualify for state via a written examination. State winners advance to the national competition May 25 and 26 in Washington, D.C.

Top prize is a $25,000 college scholarship.

Seventh-grader Brandt Scanlon took second place schoolwide at Chase.

Preservation group plans benefit

The Save the Administration Building Project will hold a benefit pizza night next week to raise money for its effort to stop the demolition of the Lewis and Clark High School Administration Building.

The dinner will run from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Lincoln Heights Pizza Parlor, 2932 E. 27th.

A portion of all purchases during those hours will go to the group.

All Saints, hospital ink partnership

Students at All Saints Catholic School aren’t running around in hospital scrubs - yet.

But the kids say they’re excited about a new agreement that means they’ll get an insider’s view of a local hospital.

The school will collaborate with Sacred Heart Medical Center to allow students to tour the hospital, volunteer at St. Joseph’s Center, hear guest speakers and participate in community service projects.

The agreement was celebrated with a special Mass and reception at St. Peter’s Church Wednesday.

“This partnership is a wonderful way for us to serve others and have our children learn about the medical field,” said Kathy Hicks, principal of the primary and middle school.