From The Circle Of Friends

I am the president of the Gig Harbor-Key Peninsula Suicide Prevention Coalition. I am also a retired principal, counselor, and teacher.

I founded the club Circle of Friends-Safe Space in 2023 at Gig Harbor and Henderson Bay High Schools because of the urgent need for students experiencing harassment, intimidation, bullying, and discrimination to have a voice.

These students of all backgrounds, ethnic groups, and sexual orientations needed to be able to express how they felt and what changes they would like to see to improve the behavior of their fellow students. In other words: accountability.

Every student deserves to feel safe, respected, accepted, and heard. Circle of Friends allows these students to speak up and be part of the solution.

Our community lost four students to suicide within the last year and a half.

We all have experiences that may lead to thoughts of suicide, but we all don’t react or respond to them the same way. Hate speech is spreading throughout our society, from our leaders to our children. Inappropriate language has become commonplace and almost acceptable among our youth.

Stop and think about how this negativity is affecting our social and emotional well-being. We must stay focused and hopeful, making sure that we are taking care of our own mental health as well as our children’s.

When it comes to suicide prevention, talking about it is vital because it breaks the stigma. It is OK to ask, “Are you thinking of killing yourself? Do you have a plan?”

Members of the Circle of Friends have been trained to be Youth Mental Health First Aiders by Anne Nesbit and Annie Schuster, teen mental health trainers.

Here is what they have to say:

Charlie: Over 7,000 people in the U.S., ages 10-24, die each year by suicide. It has become the second leading cause of death for teens. Those statistics alone show why talking about suicide prevention is important. For many people, this may seem like the only option in hard times. When I was 11 years old, I myself struggled with depression and thoughts of ending my life. The main cause of my depression was feeling alone.

A big part of suicide prevention is making sure people in need have community support. By coming together in Circle of Friends, we can support each other and make it easier to talk about mental health in a safe place. Sometimes we don’t have all the answers, but what we can do is notice when someone is feeling down, listen to them, and help them in any way we can. A simple conversation and a little kindness, as well as being there for someone, can save a life.

Kelsea: Circle of Friends has given me a sense of belonging and something to look forward to during the week. Seeing people from all parts of Gig Harbor come together inspires us all to work toward a better community.

Abby: Circle of Friends has given me a purpose. It has given me a support system that has saved my life. My peers and mentors in this group are always here for me and are genuinely amazing people.

Avril: Circle of Friends has been a huge lifesaver for me. It’s one of the few places where I can be myself without worrying about being judged or feeling like I have to be “perfect.” I can talk, laugh, share what’s on my mind, and just be me. It’s given me people I can connect with and a place where I feel accepted for who I am. Even on difficult days, knowing I have Circle of Friends to look forward to gives me something to be excited about. It means more to me than I can put into words, and I’m so grateful to have a place where I can feel comfortable, welcomed, and like I belong.

Thelma: Take time to listen to each other. Acknowledge your neighbor, family member, and friends with kind words, a positive gesture, a smile and hello, a helping hand.

Fight hate. Stay hopeful. Help each other make a difference one life at a time.

Thelma Brown is president of the Gig Harbor-Key Peninsula Suicide Prevention Coalition and a retired principal, counselor, and teacher. She lives in Gig Harbor.