Additional Information

Please Listen… Students Talk About Mental Health and Suicide Awareness

Rates of suicide continue to rise across the demographic spectrum and certainly among school-age youth. For years, suicide and mental health issues were subjects to be avoided, hidden behind a veil of stigma or fear. Now, hopefully we know differently. But in our conversations, are we really hearing what students have to say about anxiety, depression, mental health or the pain their friends and peers are feeling. What do they want from teachers, parents and the others in their lives?

As part of the national Well Beings Tour, Detroit Public TV is teaming with Kevin’s Song and other local organizations to create a virtual conversation addressing their vital, often life-saving issues. We will listen to a diverse group of students who will talk about their lives, their feelings and their concerns. And we will respond.

Book of The Month

Suicide Prevention Guidebook

By Joy Hibbins

In this comprehensive guidebook, Joy Hibbins (the founder of an award-winning Suicide Crisis Centre which has attracted international attention) shares her invaluable experience of helping people through suicidal crisis.
Equally popular with the public and professionals, the book provides the reader with strategies and skills to help someone through a period of suicidal crisis.

Whether you have never helped someone in crisis before, or you already have an abundance of experience, this book is relevant for you.

The charity that Joy runs (Suicide Crisis) regularly provides suicide prevention training for the NHS, the British Transport Police and charities.
 
 
 
This book will show you how to:

• Understand the complexity of suicidal feelings and what may lead to a crisis
• Be aware of factors that can increase someone’s risk of suicide
• Assess risk and directly ask someone about suicidal thoughts
• Build empathy and a strong connection with the individual in crisis
• Create a safety plan
• Learn strategies and skills to help someone survive (in the short-term and the longer term)
• Learn techniques to support someone who is experiencing intense distress – or conversely someone who is silent and withdrawn
• Create manageable steps to help someone survive
• Know what to say, including how to help someone see their own worth
• Understand why some people experience multiple crises and how to help them

All royalties donated to the charity Suicide Crisis.

Order Book Now Library

Dr. Brian Ahmedani and Nancy Buyle, Co-Chairs of the Michigan Suicide Prevention Commission and members of the With One Voice Advisory Board updated Kevin’s Song Conference attendees on the Commission’s progress to date, including focus group findings, the timetable for presenting recommendations to the full Commission in March, and work to date by the four sub-committees: Policy… Data… Special Populations… and the Work Force.

If you’d like to follow the work of the Commission, it meets on the third Friday of every month at 10:30 AM. Or, you can contact James Bell at bellj10@michigan.gov.

Watch the March 24, 2021 virtual meeting:

Kevin's Song Newsletters

Our Newsletter is published and emailed monthly to our growing list of sponsors, supporters and friends. If you’d like to be added to our email list, contact gail@kevinssong.org. If we hope to achieve our vision of “a world without suicide” we need you with us.

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“We Need to Talk” is a 30-minute film produced by Kevin’s Song and funded by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Klingler Family Foundation. The film documents effective suicide prevention initiatives being used in schools and communities. Profiled in this video are the Prepare-U curriculum at West Bloomfield High School, The  U-Matter teen program developed by Rabbi Yarden Blumstein for Friendship Circle, the University of Michigan’s Peer-To-Peer school outreach program and The SHED, an after-school facility for youth recently opened by Dennis Liegghio, founder of Know Resolve.

“Saving Lives, Preventing Youth Suicide”

Conceived by Kevin’s Song and sponsored by the Children’s Foundation, this 3-part series was produced in partnership with Detroit Public Television. Hosted by prominent Michigan journalist, Cynthia Canty each 60-minute program includes interviews with mental health professionals, educators and community leaders and covers topics ranging from the impact of social media on youth to building resilience to successful intervention strategies.