September 11, 2002
Yellow ribbons reach out to teens
Jaycees Chapter starts Teen Suicide Prevention program
By LISA PERKINS
Herald staff writer
Next week, September 15 to 21, marks the first Yellow Ribbon Teen Suicide Prevention week in Traverse City. Mayor Margaret Dodd made it official in a proclamation signed last week. The Grand Traverse Area Chapter of the Michigan Jaycees has taken on the project as part of an international awareness campaign, sponsored in part by the Jaycees.
The Yellow Ribbon Program, founded in 1994 by Dale and Dar Emme of Colorado whose 17-year-old son took his own life, brings the message to teenagers around the world that it is o.k. to ask for help. Thousands of business size cards have been given to teens in hopes that they would use the card to ask for help if they were thinking about suicide.
"The statistics are very startling and sad," said Lori Carton, secretary of Grand Traverse Jaycees and project chair. "We felt that it was important to spread the information to our community."
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third leading cause for death in teens, behind car accidents and homicides. The agency also noted that on average 11 American teens commit suicide every day.
Next week, the Jaycees will distribute LifeSavers candy attached to a yellow ribbon to area businesses, along with information about the Yellow Ribbon Program. They are also working with local school districts to implement a program which will include speakers and the distribution of the Yellow Ribbon Cards. Traverse City Central High School already participates in the program.
"We want people to support the school systems in implementing this program, we need to get the word out" said Tamara Ylitalo, president of the Grand Traverse Jaycees.