Keynote speaker Jane Clementi, co-founder of the Tyler Clementi Foundation advocated for anti-bullying policies, mental health experts share evidence-based methods for suicide prevention, immediate resources for Bergen County students and families
NJ4S Bergen Hub, New Milford Public Schools Host Suicide Prevention Symposium, Connecting Community to Vital Mental Health Resources. NJ4S Bergen Hub and New Milford Public Schools hosted a Suicide Prevention Symposium, connecting community members with important mental health resources. Top row (from left to right): Konstantina Bonagura, Prevention Consultant, NJ4S Bergen Hub and Dorene Zacher, MA, SAC, NJCIT, District Coordinator for Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Coordinator, New Milford Public Schools.
Bottom row (from left to right): Jane Clementi, co-founder, The Tyler Clementi Foundation, Anastasia Agramonte, LCSW, School Based Clinical Program Manager, CarePlus NJ; New Milford Public Schools, Danielle Sharples, Suicide Prevention Advocate, Patricia Behrens, Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator, 2NDFLOOR: Youth Helpline of New Jersey, Wendy Sefcik, Chair, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – New Jersey Chapter and Co-Chair, New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council and Stefano Lopez, LCSW, Clinician, NJ4S Bergen Hub; CarePlus NJ.
New Milford, NJ – New Jersey Student Support Services (NJ4S) Bergen Hub and New Milford Public Schools welcomed community members and mental health experts into the high school auditorium for its Suicide Prevention Symposium. The symposium helped connect community members with important mental health resources. NJ4S Bergen Hub is a New Jersey Department of Children and Families (NJDCF) program providing a hub-and-spoke model of services and resources to support youth mental wellness in Bergen County.
According to the NJDCF Youth Suicide Brief, the youth suicide rate among 10- to 24-year-olds in 2022 was 5.3 (per 100,000 youth) in New Jersey compared to the national rate of 11. The New Jersey Department of Health reports suicide was the second leading cause of death for youth aged 15-24 the same year. Across the United States, high school students who identified as LGBTQ+ were five times more likely to report attempting suicide than students who identified as heterosexual. Jane Clementi, co-founder of The Tyler Clementi Foundation, commented on the personal impact of bullying on mental health. The foundation is named after her son, who died by suicide in 2010 after becoming a victim of cyberbullying.
“I believe that all schools need to send a clear message to their students that they are not alone, they have worth, and that they matter,” said Clementi. “No matter our differences, we are all special and precious. Just like Tyler.”
Jane Clementi delivered the keynote speech at the Suicide Prevention Symposium.
Panelists included:
- Wendy Sefcik, Chair, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – New Jersey Chapter and Co-Chair, New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council
- Patricia Behrens, Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator, 2NDFLOOR: Youth Helpline of New Jersey
- Danielle Sharples, Suicide Prevention Advocate
- Stefano Lopez, LCSW, Clinician, NJ4S Bergen Hub; CarePlus NJ
- Anastasia Agramonte, LCSW, School Based Clinical Program Manager, CarePlus NJ; New Milford Public Schools
The panel reflected on evidence-based suicide prevention methods that parents, educators, and students themselves can practice, including:
- Erasing stigma: Have open, honest discussions about mental health and suicide
- Knowing the signs: Shifts in mood and behaviors, including lack of interest and withdrawal from social situations may be indicators of a mental health issue, and students may mask to avoid sharing their feelings
- Being an Upstander: Students should be encouraged to safely diffuse instances of bullying or harassment, including positively interacting with the student(s) being targeted
- Safety planning: Know the resources available before a mental health crisis occurs and what to do if a student or someone they know is thinking of harming themselves or others
- Identifying a trusted person or adult: Students may confide in a friend, teacher, coach, or faith-based organization leader about their mental health, up to and including thoughts of suicide
- Creating a safe space: When a student opens up about difficult emotions, offer empathy, reserve judgement, and hold off-on immediate “problem solving,” oftentimes students need someone to listen and validate them
- Knowing your role: If you believe someone may hurt themselves or others, you should seek help right away, up to and including contacting emergency services
The panel was moderated by Konstantina Bonagura, Prevention Consultant, NJ4S Bergen Hub and Dorene Zacher, MA, SAC, NJCIT, District Coordinator for Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Coordinator, New Milford Public Schools.
NJ4S Bergen Hub and New Milford Public Schools came together to support Bergen County students and show a commitment to their mental health,” said Konstantina Bonagura, Prevention Consultant, NJ4S Bergen Hub. “The Suicide Prevention Symposium was part of a greater outreach effort to inform the community that we are part of a resource-rich ecosystem dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of students and their families.”
Panelists also shared mental health resources at the local and state levels, often available to parents and students at no-cost:
- New Jersey Department of Children and Families Children’s System of Care (PerformCare)
- New Jersey Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services
- The Bergen County Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services
- 2NDFLOOR: Youth Helpline of New Jersey
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
- CarePlus New Jersey Social Support Services
The NJDCF Youth Suicide Brief also showed male youth committed suicide three times more than female youth, at rates of 7.6 to 2.5. Female youth attempted suicide more often. The most youth suicides occurred in The Gateway Region, which includes Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Union and Middlesex counties, the most urban counties in New Jersey.
“The goal of the Suicide Prevention Symposium was to help individuals make today better than yesterday, while believing tomorrow holds even greater promise,” said Dorene Zacher, MA, SAC, NJCIT, District Coordinator for Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Coordinator, New Milford Public Schools. “Collaboration is our greatest tool in addressing the diverse challenges our students face, with NJ4S Bergen Hub and its coalition partners representing the strength of the collective when it comes to effective solutions to the youth mental health crisis.”
NJ4S Bergen Hub’s prevention and intervention services are available through Bergen County schools. School staff can contact NJ4S Bergen Hub and find out if they are currently registered here.
Children’s Aid and Family Services, Inc., is the hub provider for NJ4S Bergen Hub. NJ4S Bergen Hub Coalition Partners include CarePlus New Jersey, CBH Care, Children’s Aid and Family Services, Inc., Vantage Health System, and West Bergen Mental Healthcare.
To learn more about NJ4S Bergen Hub, visit https://www.nj4sbergenhub.org/.
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About New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S)
The New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) is a New Jersey Department of Children and Families program providing a statewide, innovative hub-and-spoke model of services and resources to support youth mental wellness. 15 regional hubs provide prevention and brief intervention services to New Jersey public school students, parents/caretakers, and school faculty. To learn more about NJ4S, visit https://nj4s.nj.gov/s/.
About Children’s Aid and Family Services
Children’s Aid and Family Services is one of northern New Jersey’s leading nonprofit providers of services that protect and support vulnerable children, adults and families. The agency is focused on meeting ever-evolving social needs by expanding our programs to help members of the community live their best lives.