Latest news with #988Lifeline
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Town hall highlights tornado's impact on youth mental health
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A town hall Thursday night sounded the alarms about the mental health of young people following the deadly May 16 tornado in St. Louis. Mental health professionals say the devastation has had an impact on much of our community. The event was held at the Westside Missionary Baptist Church in north St. Louis County. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now It featured various speakers and resources for families in need of behavioral and mental health services. It also included a panel of youth mental health experts who gave advice on how parents can best help their kids through recent traumas many have experienced across our area. The three key takeaways were simple, yet powerful: Talk to your kids about recent traumatic events they may have experienced Watch for patterns or changes in their behaviors Don't be afraid to ask for help The St. Louis County Children's Service Fund offers a 'Find A Service' tool on its website. The City of St. Louis also offers a Mental Health Help page where people can find resources. Anyone can also take advantage of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Online petition demanding change to Peabody bullying policies following death of 14-year-old
Thousands of people have signed an online petition, hoping the death of 14-year-old Jason Bernard will spark some serious changes in Peabody schools. "It's sad that it took this because he should still be here," said Jamie Tagliamonte, the creator of the petition. Parents like her are looking for ways to take action following Bernard's death. The petition is pushing state leaders to pass better anti-bullying legislation. In just 24 hours, the petition has nearly 3,000 signatures. 'I feel the more parents can band together, rather than start accusing, we'll actually be able to get somewhere and make some changes where kids are held accountable,' Tagliamonte said. The petition calls for mandatory anti-bullying education in schools along with required intervention training for teachers and staff. 'I feel like if one city takes a stand and makes the changes, then maybe the rest will follow suit,' said Tagliamonte. Mass General Child Psychologist Dr. Ellen Braaten says the topics of bullying and suicide may be tough to talk about with kids, but it's an important discussion to have. Especially after the death of one of their peer. 'As tragic as this conversation is, it's a really good opportunity to talk about bullying,' Dr. Braaten said. 'A good way into it is to just ask your child, 'What do you know about this?', 'What do you think?', to listen to them more than you tell them about how your feeling.' Dr. Braaten says as parent, look for any signs that may indicate your child is getting bullied. 'You want to be aware of hearing things like, 'You know, I don't want to go to school, I don't like these kids,'' she said. Making sure your child knows who to talk to if they are a victim and to recognize if their child is a bully is of paramount importance for parents. "This is kids learning about how to handle their aggression and about what to do when someone's aggressive to them," she said. 'It's a time to be able to teach them these skills – and we're very afraid of this topic because sometimes it does end in really tragic consequences." Dr. Braaten also says all children should learn to speak up if they witness bullying, even if they're not the victim. She says these are tough conversations to have but the more you talk about it, the more tragic situations can be prevented. Nonprofit launches independent review of Peabody schools bullying policies after teen's death The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a network of local crisis centers that are available 24/7 to provide support for youth and adults who are in any kind of emotional crisis. Using the 988 Lifeline is free and confidential. To contact the Lifeline, call or text 988. More information can be found here. A GoFundMe has been set up for the Bernard family in lieu of the tragedy. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New 988 License Plate helps spread the word of the ‘lifesaving resource'
Ohio Mental Health Leaders have unveiled a new specialty license plate intended to increase awareness about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Leaders from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS), the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF), and Governor Mike DeWine unveiled the new license plate on Tuesday. TRENDING STORIES: 'Big inconvenience;' Woman's heart surgery canceled due to Kettering Health cyberattack A 24-year-old man enrolled in an Ohio high school; no one caught on for months 911 calls reveal new details about deadly shooting in Springfield 'Every life matters, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a vital part of Ohio's effort to ensure that help is available when it's needed most,' DeWine said. 'These specialized license plates are another example of how we are getting the word out about this important, lifesaving resource.' The 988 Lifeline launched nationwide in July 2022 and provides free and confidential support 24/7 to people experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Ohio has 19 988 Lifeline call centers, which have responded to nearly 538,000 contacts, including calls, texts, and chats, according to a press release. They now average more than 19,500 contacts each month, and most of those calls are answered in-state by fellow Ohioans with only about 1 percent of calls rolling over to a national backup provider. 'Ohio has become a national leader in the delivery of 988. We know it works, and it's saving lives,' OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn said. 'As more Ohioans become familiar with the service, our hope is that reaching out to 988 for a behavioral health crisis will become as natural as calling 911 for other types of emergencies.' OSPF will receive $25 from the sale of each license plate featuring Ohio's 988 logo to support suicide prevention initiatives in communities throughout the state. 'The proceeds will go directly back into Ohio communities to provide training and resources to prevent suicide,' OSPF Executive Director Tony Coder said. 'With this new license plate, we will continue to spread hope and healing across the state.' The license plate featuring Ohio's 988 logo can be purchased at deputy registrar locations and online at [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Family mourning the death of 14-year-old Peabody boy they say was bullied at school
The family of a young teen in Peabody wants to raise awareness about the dangers of bullying after the loss of their son, Jason Bernard. 'We want the school to do better, we want the community, the parents to teach their kids the effects that bullying has, Jason was 14 years old, he was loved by everyone, and words hurt, and it caused his death,' said Cely Rosario, Jason's sister. Jason's family is heartbroken after they say he took his own life last weekend. His sister says he was bullied at school multiple times. 'He would complain, he spoke to his teachers, his coaches, his friends about it, mom went to the school a couple of times, he went into counseling to get the support he needed, it didn't stop,' said Rosario. 'He feared getting on the bus, my mom had to bring him to school, his dad brought him to school a couple of times because he wanted to avoid these people.' The Peabody school community is also heartbroken. Many parents say they're upset with how bullying is handled and question whether more could have been done at school. 'That's the number one thing I teach my kids is, do not bully, you know if you see someone getting bullied, stand up, say something,' said Melissa McKenna, a Peabody parent. 'But now I think they understand the severity of it, it's not a joke.' McKenna lives near Jason's family and hopes to collect gift cards for them as the community comes together to support them. 'Jason was funny, Jason loved to bake, Jason loved to play track, do track, he loved to be around his friends, he was silly, he loved his cats, he loved his mom,' said Rosario. His mother was in tears and too upset to speak about the sudden loss of her son. Jason had six siblings, and his family now promises to keep his memory alive, while they show the world how dangerous bullying can be. 'He was loved by every single one of us, he showed every single one of us love all the time,' said Rosario. The community is planning a memorial vigil Friday night to honor Jason near his home on Veterans Memorial Drive in Peabody at 6:30 PM. Boston 25 News has reached out to Peabody school district leaders several times as well as the mayor's office but has not yet heard back. A GoFundMe has been set up for the family. Texting hotline aimed to help struggling teens reaches its 10,000th conversation The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a network of local crisis centers that are available 24/7 to provide support for youth and adults who are in any kind of emotional crisis. Using the 988 Lifeline is free and confidential. To contact the Lifeline, call or text 988. More information can be found here. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
CBS News
19-05-2025
- CBS News
Man dies after jumping from overpass on Highway 101 in San Jose
A man died Monday morning after jumping from an overpass on southbound U.S. Highway 101 near San Jose's Hyde Park neighborhood, according to the California Highway Patrol. Just before 5 a.m., the man jumped from the Oakland Road overpass onto the freeway and was hit by at least one vehicle, said CHP officer Ross Lee. The man's name was not released. The driver of a vehicle that hit him stayed at the scene, Lee said. Southbound lanes were closed for the investigation, but all lanes had reopened by 7 a.m. If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here. For more information about mental health care resources and support, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email info@
