Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the U.S. , according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control. Teens contemplating suicide are usually trying to escape from feeling rejected, hurt, ashamed, angry, disappointed, unloved, victimized, or being in a bad situation. Kelly Scanlan, a senior at High School South, is focusing her Girl Scout Gold Award project on helping people to recognize the warning signs of suicide in friends and family members.
She had an awakening that sparked her interest when she was in 10th grade. “When I learned that a friend was contemplating suicide I had no idea of what to do or how to help her,” she said. Scanlan and another friend talked to a guidance counselor who called the friend’s parents. “She did not speak to me for a long time but now she’s helping out with the project,” says Scanlan. The main event, an evening to promote awareness for suicide prevention, will be held on Friday, April 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church, 154 South Mill Road, West Windsor.
The speakers, most of whom have a personal connection to the issue of suicide, include A.J D’Antuono, Miki Langdon, Alex Sandberg, Jonn Menahem, and Mariana Wilson, all from High School South. Also, Katelyn Baker from High School North, and Avery Dorgan and Tara Dorgan from the Hun School of Princeton, and Kathleen Esposito and Lawrence Goun, both West Windsor residents.
Performers include Deja Robinson, vocals; We Rhyme With Orange, a band; Lilly Hecht, Isidora Filipovic, and Begho Ukueberuwa, vocals and piano; Jenn Litzinger and Rebecca Rost, dancers; Mariana Wilson and Rachel Landingin, vocals and guitar; Lawrence Goun and Mariana Wilson, vocals and viola; and Rachel Landingin, vocals and guitar.
Scanlan was born in Freeport, New York, and moved to West Windsor just before her fifth birthday. Her mother, Cindy, is a substitute teacher in WW-P schools and coaches basketball within the district. Her late father, Matthew, was a biochemist working with breast cancer research through Sloan Kettering. Her brother, Chris, is a freshman at South.
A Girl Scout since first grade, she was a member of WW-P Troop 1287 until her junior year, when she re-registered as a Juliette Girl Scout, an individually registered Girl Scout not connected to a troop. Available to all age levels, it is especially popular among Girl Scouts 11 to 17 who love the program but are very busy with other activities. Scanlan is active in South’s choir and Amnesty International. She was in the spring musical and plays and coaches basketball.
Scanlan is also a member of the Princeton Area Juniorettes. “I have been involved in this group since my freshman year when it was formed and I have been publicist all four years,” she says. “Some of the community service activities we have done include wrapping gifts to raise money for charity, hosting birthday parties for the children at HomeFront, cooking meals for the families at the Ronald McDonald House, playing musical bingo with senior citizens living in the Gables, helping to run the bike rodeo at the annual West Windsor BikeFest, food drives, and many other activities.”
Scanlan enters the University of Delaware’s honor program in the fall. She plans to major in elementary education with a concentration in English. “It will give me more ability to study abroad,” she says.
Scanlan founded the Love Heals Project, a non-profit organization, and created an informative website, www.lovehealsproject.webs.com. “The idea of the Love Heals Project is to show people that the easiest way to prevent suicide is to just show each other just a little bit of kindness,” she says. “I’ve heard countless stories of people who were saved by things as seemingly small as a smile. I believe love is the best medicine, it has the power to heal those desperate enough to take their own lives. We need to show others how much they mean to us. If people do not feel alone we successfully combat suicide. Love heals.”
Scanlan, whose Gold Award adviser is Bonnie Rumph, was allowed to sell her own products such as bracelets at the High School South craft fair in December. The rules will not allow her to fundraise by using another comany. “I do have various organizations including A.I.R, TWLOHA, The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and 2ND Floor donating materials which will be given away for free at my event,” she says.
Teens may be able to relate to two stories printed on Scanlan’s website on ways to be aware of how simply relating to fellow classmates can save a life. The following stories are originally from givesmehope.com.
“Yesterday I saw a girl all alone in the cafeteria. I don’t have a place to sit anywhere either. Without a second thought I decided to sit down at her table. We ended up talking, I’m glad we did. It turned out she was writing her suicide letter for later that day.”
“A freshman in my section in band sent me a message on Facebook. He had noticed that I had been acting differently and wanted to find out what was wrong. He still doesn’t know he saved my life that night.”
“There has been a great response,” says Scanlan, who reports that people she does not know have asked to be a part of the event. One band is traveling more than three hours to perform. “So many people have been so supportive and are happy that I am doing this project.”
— Lynn Miller
Suicide Awareness Program, Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church, 154 South Mill Road, West Windsor. www/lovehealsproject.webs.com. Concert with area performers, speakers sharing their own personal experiences with suicide, and resources provided by the national suicide prevention hotline and other organizations. Free. Friday, April 15, 7 p.m.
