Suicide Awareness: Shatter The Silence

09/25/2024

For nine years the event has provided a platform for local organizations and youth to share resources and their stories. On Saturday, high school junior, Paris Mincer.

09/25/2024

Thank you to everyone who came out and contributed to the conversation. Remember, life is better with you in it...

09/21/2024

Join us tomorrow morning at King's Fork High School as we come together once again to take aim at depression, anxiety, and su***de and Shatter the Silence! Hosted by Western Tidewater Community Services Board from 10am to 2pm.

09/18/2024

09/16/2024

In a recent blog post, one of our You Matter bloggers shares that they were diagnosed with multiple mental health conditions. Through this journey, they've learned that while diagnoses can be challenging, they also provide crucial insights and support. Whether you're seeking answers or struggling with fear, understanding your mental health is a powerful step toward healing.

Want to learn more about how a diagnosis can help shape treatment and support? Check out their blog post for a deep dive into their experience and how they are managing their mental health journey.

Read the full post here: [https://bit.ly/3Ss1vIw]

08/28/2024

Mark your calendars....September 21st, Shatter The Silence is BACK!

04/09/2024

Erika's Lighthouse: Depression and Su***de Awareness Program
Suffolk Public Schools is partnering with The Sarah Michelle Peterson Foundation to implement a depression and su***de awareness program. This program was developed by a highly respected mental health education and advocacy organization, Erika's Lighthouse: A Beacon of Hope for Adolescent Depression. We invite all 8th & 10th-grade parents to join our Parent Night Webinar on Tuesday, April 16, at 6 p.m., to view information that we will present to students during Health & Physical Education classes during the week of April 22nd.

Program Goals:

Raising Awareness of depression and its symptoms
Reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues
Encouraging the utilization of support services if necessary

How to Attend:

Parents of students in 8th & 10th grade can attend the webinar by completing the online Zoom registration. https://out.smore.com/e/du0ex/a-Cmzj?__$u__

02/06/2024

Thank you to all involved in helping bring closure for this family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you continue to navigate your way through this tragic event and loss.

If anyone is feeling down, depressed, and on the verge of causing harm to themself, PLEASE call or text 988. There is always someone willing to listen. 🙏

** UPDATE: Vehicle that Drove off 14th Street Pier Recovered **

On Friday, February 2, 2024, the vehicle that drove off the 14th Street Pier on January 27, 2024, was recovered by Crofton Industries.

Crofton Industries arrived at the 14th Street Pier with a barge, crane, and dive team, at approximately 6:15 A.M. The vehicle’s location was confirmed using sonar, and at around 9:00 A.M. a hard hat diver went in and secured the vehicle for removal. By 9:20 A.M. the crane had successfully removed the vehicle from the water and placed it on the barge.

The vehicle was confirmed to be a red Nissan Kicks. There was one adult male in the vehicle. He was pronounced deceased at 9:29 A.M. and transported to the Medical Examiner for identification.

The Medical Examiner has confirmed that the decedent is a male white, 57, from Virginia Beach. This is the same individual who had been reported missing by family members. Our investigation has determined no evidence of criminality prior to the individual driving off the boardwalk.

The safety of those involved in this recovery operation, maintaining integrity of evidence, and providing some semblance of closure and peace to the decedent’s family have been the top priorities of this operation. We would like to thank all partners, including Crofton Industries, the Virginia Beach Fire Department, and the Chesapeake Fire Department for their assistance in this tragic incident.

While we cannot presume to fully know what motivated this individual’s actions, they do appear to have been deliberate. For that reason, we wanted to share the following local mental health organizations, support groups, and resources for su***de prevention and education:

- https://988lifeline.org

- NAMI Coastal Virginia Crisis Resource List: https://www.namicoastalvirginia.org/in-a-crisis-copied

- The Sarah Michelle Peterson Foundation: https://sarahmpetersonfoundation.org/warningsigns/

- Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) Guidance & Resource Lists:https://www.chkd.org/uploadedFiles/Documents/Mental_Health/Mental%20Health%20Community%20Resources%20in%20Hampton%20Roads%20for%20Children%20and%20Youth_FINAL2_21.pdf

- The CHAS Foundation: https://thechasfoundation.org

To read the full release, visit: https://virginiabeach.gov/connect/news/recovery-update-vehicle-that-drove-off-14th-street-pier-recovered

11/13/2023

Join us this Saturday at Bruton High School in Williamsburg, Virginia! Register by using the link below...

As always, the event is FREE and open to the public.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ShatterTheSilence2023