hi I’m Keri Chester Sun Valley Idaho then why is it important where I’m from
then why is it important where I’m from
then why is it important where I’m from because I’m gonna share anything about
because I’m gonna share anything about
because I’m gonna share anything about my community Sun Valley Idaho is an
my community Sun Valley Idaho is an
my community Sun Valley Idaho is an international destination it’s famous
international destination it’s famous
international destination it’s famous for its skiing near perfect weather and
for its skiing near perfect weather and
for its skiing near perfect weather and of course its history but soon Sun
of course its history but soon Sun
of course its history but soon Sun Valley will be known for something else
Valley will be known for something else
Valley will be known for something else and that’s something else is suicide how
and that’s something else is suicide how
and that’s something else is suicide how many of you have lost friends or family
many of you have lost friends or family
many of you have lost friends or family members to suicide raise your hands a
members to suicide raise your hands a
members to suicide raise your hands a lot of you well here are just some of
lot of you well here are just some of
lot of you well here are just some of the faces that my community is lost
the faces that my community is lost
the faces that my community is lost Jacob 13 Lane 17 speedy jarrett peterson
Jacob 13 Lane 17 speedy jarrett peterson
Jacob 13 Lane 17 speedy jarrett peterson 29 and caleb 40 now over the past couple
29 and caleb 40 now over the past couple
29 and caleb 40 now over the past couple of years I created wellness festivals
of years I created wellness festivals
of years I created wellness festivals around the country and last September I
around the country and last September I
around the country and last September I graduated from a two-year master’s
graduated from a two-year master’s
graduated from a two-year master’s program in spiritual psychology from the
program in spiritual psychology from the
program in spiritual psychology from the University of Santa Monica the day after
University of Santa Monica the day after
University of Santa Monica the day after graduation I received a phone call from
graduation I received a phone call from
graduation I received a phone call from a girlfriend telling me that one of our
a girlfriend telling me that one of our
a girlfriend telling me that one of our friends had died by suicide now you
friends had died by suicide now you
friends had died by suicide now you notice I didn’t say committed suicide
notice I didn’t say committed suicide
notice I didn’t say committed suicide and that’s the reason why because people
and that’s the reason why because people
and that’s the reason why because people who are suicidal do not desire death
who are suicidal do not desire death
who are suicidal do not desire death what they want is an end to their severe
what they want is an end to their severe
what they want is an end to their severe emotional pain and they think that’s the
emotional pain and they think that’s the
emotional pain and they think that’s the only way to do it after I got the news I
only way to do it after I got the news I
only way to do it after I got the news I was devastated because my friend who
was devastated because my friend who
was devastated because my friend who died was also a life partner of a great
died was also a life partner of a great
died was also a life partner of a great girl friend of mine she was part of the
girl friend of mine she was part of the
girl friend of mine she was part of the girl tribe it’s one of us and I was
girl tribe it’s one of us and I was
girl tribe it’s one of us and I was devastated
devastated
devastated so with this news I knew I needed to
so with this news I knew I needed to
so with this news I knew I needed to contact my children they were at school
contact my children they were at school
contact my children they were at school because you see I didn’t want them to
because you see I didn’t want them to
because you see I didn’t want them to hear it from anybody else but me caleb
hear it from anybody else but me caleb
hear it from anybody else but me caleb was also a friend of theirs
was also a friend of theirs
was also a friend of theirs and a skiing mentor so I dug deep
and a skiing mentor so I dug deep
and a skiing mentor so I dug deep because I knew this was going to be a
because I knew this was going to be a
because I knew this was going to be a very difficult conversation so I called
very difficult conversation so I called
very difficult conversation so I called the school and I talked to my children
the school and I talked to my children
the school and I talked to my children my son was shocked and stunned but I
my son was shocked and stunned but I
my son was shocked and stunned but I could feel the pain for the phone and my
could feel the pain for the phone and my
could feel the pain for the phone and my daughter was equally a stunned but then
daughter was equally a stunned but then
daughter was equally a stunned but then she said these words Wow mom
she said these words Wow mom
she said these words Wow mom I guess suicide around here is becoming
I guess suicide around here is becoming
I guess suicide around here is becoming normal I was frozen in silence how could
normal I was frozen in silence how could
normal I was frozen in silence how could this be we lived in a beautiful
this be we lived in a beautiful
this be we lived in a beautiful community we live in an amazing
community we live in an amazing
community we live in an amazing community with nature surrounding us
community with nature surrounding us
community with nature surrounding us healthy lifestyle art music education we
healthy lifestyle art music education we
healthy lifestyle art music education we care for one another but when I came
care for one another but when I came
care for one another but when I came back I realized that something had
back I realized that something had
back I realized that something had ignited inside of me I knew that my life
ignited inside of me I knew that my life
ignited inside of me I knew that my life path had changed forever so I flew back
path had changed forever so I flew back
path had changed forever so I flew back home from LA the next day and I dove
home from LA the next day and I dove
home from LA the next day and I dove headfirst into trying to understand this
headfirst into trying to understand this
headfirst into trying to understand this phenomenon that had become my new normal
phenomenon that had become my new normal
phenomenon that had become my new normal so I started studying the statistics and
so I started studying the statistics and
so I started studying the statistics and the data suicides in our country the
the data suicides in our country the
the data suicides in our country the state of Idaho and our community what I
state of Idaho and our community what I
state of Idaho and our community what I found out is that Idaho is part of
found out is that Idaho is part of
found out is that Idaho is part of what’s called a suicide belt
what’s called a suicide belt
what’s called a suicide belt it’s the Northwest region of the United
it’s the Northwest region of the United
it’s the Northwest region of the United States where the the suicides are much
States where the the suicides are much
States where the the suicides are much higher than the national average and
higher than the national average and
higher than the national average and there are about ten states that make up
there are about ten states that make up
there are about ten states that make up the suicide belt the suicide deaths in
the suicide belt the suicide deaths in
the suicide belt the suicide deaths in Idaho per capita according to a report
Idaho per capita according to a report
Idaho per capita according to a report in 2015 is 57% higher than the national
in 2015 is 57% higher than the national
in 2015 is 57% higher than the national average and then the suicide deaths in
average and then the suicide deaths in
average and then the suicide deaths in Blaine County were 17 percent higher
Blaine County were 17 percent higher
Blaine County were 17 percent higher than Idaho and 67% higher than the
than Idaho and 67% higher than the
than Idaho and 67% higher than the national average now can you believe
national average now can you believe
national average now can you believe there’s a 300% increase of more suicide
there’s a 300% increase of more suicide
there’s a 300% increase of more suicide deaths in Idaho than New York or that
deaths in Idaho than New York or that
deaths in Idaho than New York or that outside magazine recently described that
outside magazine recently described that
outside magazine recently described that our country’s ski resort towns have the
our country’s ski resort towns have the
our country’s ski resort towns have the highest suicide
highest suicide
highest suicide rates in Time magazine recently came out
rates in Time magazine recently came out
rates in Time magazine recently came out with a report from the center of Disease
with a report from the center of Disease
with a report from the center of Disease Control and Prevention stating that
Control and Prevention stating that
Control and Prevention stating that teenage deaths between the ages of 15
teenage deaths between the ages of 15
teenage deaths between the ages of 15 and 19 or in an all-time 40-year high
suicide deaths among teenagers have
suicide deaths among teenagers have doubled and they’ve also risen among our
doubled and they’ve also risen among our
doubled and they’ve also risen among our teenage boys by 30 percent with numbers
teenage boys by 30 percent with numbers
teenage boys by 30 percent with numbers like these it took me a long time to
like these it took me a long time to
like these it took me a long time to digest them so the question that came to
digest them so the question that came to
digest them so the question that came to me was why why is this happening why are
me was why why is this happening why are
me was why why is this happening why are we in an epidemic after much research I
we in an epidemic after much research I
we in an epidemic after much research I found out the answer is depression most
found out the answer is depression most
found out the answer is depression most teenagers go through depressive episodes
teenagers go through depressive episodes
teenagers go through depressive episodes that can last for two weeks are longer
that can last for two weeks are longer
that can last for two weeks are longer just during a low emotional point the
just during a low emotional point the
just during a low emotional point the problem is they think this feeling is
problem is they think this feeling is
problem is they think this feeling is permanent the frontal cortexes are not
permanent the frontal cortexes are not
permanent the frontal cortexes are not fully developed yet so they don’t know
fully developed yet so they don’t know
fully developed yet so they don’t know that a feeling can change also there’s a
that a feeling can change also there’s a
that a feeling can change also there’s a rise in teen depression but there’s not
rise in teen depression but there’s not
rise in teen depression but there’s not a corresponding increase among mental
a corresponding increase among mental
a corresponding increase among mental health treatment for kids with these
health treatment for kids with these
health treatment for kids with these numbers I also decided that maybe we
numbers I also decided that maybe we
numbers I also decided that maybe we ought to start with kids in our schools
ought to start with kids in our schools
ought to start with kids in our schools so that’s what I did
so that’s what I did
so that’s what I did I contacted Kevin Hines who’s a suicide
I contacted Kevin Hines who’s a suicide
I contacted Kevin Hines who’s a suicide survivor
survivor
survivor Kevin had prolonged depression all
Kevin had prolonged depression all
Kevin had prolonged depression all during throughout his teenage years and
during throughout his teenage years and
during throughout his teenage years and he was feeling less and less hopeful so
he was feeling less and less hopeful so
he was feeling less and less hopeful so what he did 20 years ago at 17 years old
what he did 20 years ago at 17 years old
what he did 20 years ago at 17 years old while his father was at work he sat down
while his father was at work he sat down
while his father was at work he sat down and he wrote a suicide note and then he
and he wrote a suicide note and then he
and he wrote a suicide note and then he decided to take a bus to the Golden Gate
decided to take a bus to the Golden Gate
decided to take a bus to the Golden Gate Bridge crying all the way he did make
Bridge crying all the way he did make
Bridge crying all the way he did make one promise to himself one decision that
one promise to himself one decision that
one promise to himself one decision that if just one person would come up to him
if just one person would come up to him
if just one person would come up to him at the bridge and ask if he was okay he
at the bridge and ask if he was okay he
at the bridge and ask if he was okay he wouldn’t jump
sobbing at the bridge he saw women she
sobbing at the bridge he saw women she was walking up he was hopeful but
was walking up he was hopeful but
was walking up he was hopeful but instead as she walked up to him she
instead as she walked up to him she
instead as she walked up to him she asked would you mind taking a picture of
asked would you mind taking a picture of
asked would you mind taking a picture of me in front of the bridge as tears were
me in front of the bridge as tears were
me in front of the bridge as tears were streaming down his face his heart broken
streaming down his face his heart broken
streaming down his face his heart broken remember he only needed one person to
remember he only needed one person to
remember he only needed one person to show they care they didn’t and so he
show they care they didn’t and so he
show they care they didn’t and so he jumped the minutes kevin said as he let
jumped the minutes kevin said as he let
jumped the minutes kevin said as he let go of the railing he wished he didn’t as
go of the railing he wished he didn’t as
go of the railing he wished he didn’t as his body hit the water breaking almost
his body hit the water breaking almost
his body hit the water breaking almost every bone and sinking to his death
every bone and sinking to his death
every bone and sinking to his death something rose up underneath him a sea
something rose up underneath him a sea
something rose up underneath him a sea lion the sea lion kept him buoyed up
lion the sea lion kept him buoyed up
lion the sea lion kept him buoyed up above the water until the Coast Guard
above the water until the Coast Guard
above the water until the Coast Guard arrived kevin describes this now as the
arrived kevin describes this now as the
arrived kevin describes this now as the luckiest day in his life after recovery
luckiest day in his life after recovery
luckiest day in his life after recovery he soon understood that his life did
he soon understood that his life did
he soon understood that his life did matter so he began sharing a story all
matter so he began sharing a story all
matter so he began sharing a story all across the country saving one life at a
across the country saving one life at a
across the country saving one life at a time
time
time well Kevin came to our community last
well Kevin came to our community last
well Kevin came to our community last February
February
February he and his team and he spoke to every
he and his team and he spoke to every
he and his team and he spoke to every middle school in high school every
middle school in high school every
middle school in high school every eighth grader and 12th grader
eighth grader and 12th grader
eighth grader and 12th grader and then we had breakout sessions where
and then we had breakout sessions where
and then we had breakout sessions where he could actually talk to the kids
he could actually talk to the kids
he could actually talk to the kids one-on-one they absolutely loved him he
one-on-one they absolutely loved him he
one-on-one they absolutely loved him he was so authentic and then what he did
was so authentic and then what he did
was so authentic and then what he did the kids asked them what are they
the kids asked them what are they
the kids asked them what are they feeling what are they thinking tell him
feeling what are they thinking tell him
feeling what are they thinking tell him their struggles and they did they opened
their struggles and they did they opened
their struggles and they did they opened up and they were vulnerable and they
up and they were vulnerable and they
up and they were vulnerable and they shared with him the struggles about
shared with him the struggles about
shared with him the struggles about alcohol and drug abuse cyber bullying
alcohol and drug abuse cyber bullying
alcohol and drug abuse cyber bullying cutting domestic abuse he listened so
cutting domestic abuse he listened so
cutting domestic abuse he listened so Kevin and his team decided that they
Kevin and his team decided that they
Kevin and his team decided that they would talk to them one-on-one and they
would talk to them one-on-one and they
would talk to them one-on-one and they did the risk and they figured out which
did the risk and they figured out which
did the risk and they figured out which student was in trouble and some lives
student was in trouble and some lives
student was in trouble and some lives were changed so after Kevin left he
were changed so after Kevin left he
were changed so after Kevin left he wrote up a report and he gave us some
wrote up a report and he gave us some
wrote up a report and he gave us some suggestions how we can start the healing
suggestions how we can start the healing
suggestions how we can start the healing process and
process and
process and our community and so with the few
our community and so with the few
our community and so with the few community leaders what we did is we got
community leaders what we did is we got
community leaders what we did is we got together once a month and we discussed
together once a month and we discussed
together once a month and we discussed how can we lower the suicide rate in our
how can we lower the suicide rate in our
how can we lower the suicide rate in our community and as you can see from the
community and as you can see from the
community and as you can see from the chart we had many different people on
chart we had many different people on
chart we had many different people on the around the table at policeman first
the around the table at policeman first
the around the table at policeman first officers first responders we had doctors
officers first responders we had doctors
officers first responders we had doctors nurses hospital administrators school
nurses hospital administrators school
nurses hospital administrators school administrators and this was led by a
administrators and this was led by a
administrators and this was led by a local hospital in town now the first
local hospital in town now the first
local hospital in town now the first thing that we did is we asked herself
thing that we did is we asked herself
thing that we did is we asked herself how could we intervene and help and that
how could we intervene and help and that
how could we intervene and help and that what we did is we assessed the risk and
what we did is we assessed the risk and
what we did is we assessed the risk and protective factors and we found out the
protective factors and we found out the
protective factors and we found out the three areas that our community needed
three areas that our community needed
three areas that our community needed help the most
help the most
help the most one was mental and health disorders the
one was mental and health disorders the
one was mental and health disorders the second one was alcohol and drug abuse
second one was alcohol and drug abuse
second one was alcohol and drug abuse and the third one was history of family
and the third one was history of family
and the third one was history of family trauma and abuse so what we decided to
trauma and abuse so what we decided to
trauma and abuse so what we decided to do is to focus on our teenagers in the
do is to focus on our teenagers in the
do is to focus on our teenagers in the schools because they were the key
schools because they were the key
schools because they were the key setting for suicide prevention private
setting for suicide prevention private
setting for suicide prevention private struggles on average happen in the
struggles on average happen in the
struggles on average happen in the hallways of our schools let me give you
hallways of our schools let me give you
hallways of our schools let me give you an example a student leaves home having
an example a student leaves home having
an example a student leaves home having a traumatic and difficult experience and
a traumatic and difficult experience and
a traumatic and difficult experience and comes to school so what sets in is the
comes to school so what sets in is the
comes to school so what sets in is the stigma because they’re saying what’s
stigma because they’re saying what’s
stigma because they’re saying what’s wrong with me then from the stigma comes
wrong with me then from the stigma comes
wrong with me then from the stigma comes the silence and then it becomes
the silence and then it becomes
the silence and then it becomes increasingly more difficult to ask for
increasingly more difficult to ask for
increasingly more difficult to ask for help
help
help now we think if we train our teachers in
now we think if we train our teachers in
now we think if we train our teachers in all school personnel these are the
all school personnel these are the
all school personnel these are the individuals that integrate with our
individuals that integrate with our
individuals that integrate with our children than most during the day our
children than most during the day our
children than most during the day our kids are in school eight hours a day
kids are in school eight hours a day
kids are in school eight hours a day a teenager dies by suicide at least two
a teenager dies by suicide at least two
a teenager dies by suicide at least two and ours in the US and for every young
and ours in the US and for every young
and ours in the US and for every young person who dies there are a hundred to
person who dies there are a hundred to
person who dies there are a hundred to two hundred attempts so how can our
two hundred attempts so how can our
two hundred attempts so how can our schools take action number one promote
schools take action number one promote
schools take action number one promote national well-being and connectedness
national well-being and connectedness
national well-being and connectedness among all students connect
among all students connect
among all students connect tivity is the key so instead of saying
tivity is the key so instead of saying
tivity is the key so instead of saying the old adage of I’d rather not get
the old adage of I’d rather not get
the old adage of I’d rather not get involved you simply don’t have that
involved you simply don’t have that
involved you simply don’t have that ability anymore it’s unacceptable we
ability anymore it’s unacceptable we
ability anymore it’s unacceptable we need to get involved we need to start
need to get involved we need to start
need to get involved we need to start with our kids the second thing is
with our kids the second thing is
with our kids the second thing is conduct the mental screenings now this
conduct the mental screenings now this
conduct the mental screenings now this is an evaluation of kids emotional and
is an evaluation of kids emotional and
is an evaluation of kids emotional and mental health and it can be done by
mental health and it can be done by
mental health and it can be done by mental health provider the third one is
mental health provider the third one is
mental health provider the third one is integrate school centered education and
integrate school centered education and
integrate school centered education and the curriculum
the curriculum
the curriculum perhaps in the K through 12 and their
perhaps in the K through 12 and their
perhaps in the K through 12 and their health classes the content would include
health classes the content would include
health classes the content would include healthy choices coping strategies for
healthy choices coping strategies for
healthy choices coping strategies for mental and emotional health and then the
mental and emotional health and then the
mental and emotional health and then the fourth one is implementing peer-to-peer
fourth one is implementing peer-to-peer
fourth one is implementing peer-to-peer training and this is where student peer
training and this is where student peer
training and this is where student peer groups are actually designed to help
groups are actually designed to help
groups are actually designed to help find the kids at risk in schools and
find the kids at risk in schools and
find the kids at risk in schools and then lastly how many of you know how to
then lastly how many of you know how to
then lastly how many of you know how to talk to someone if they’re in crisis
talk to someone if they’re in crisis
talk to someone if they’re in crisis raise your hand how many of you don’t
that was me a year ago a vital tool that
that was me a year ago a vital tool that I learned from many health providers is
I learned from many health providers is
I learned from many health providers is that if you believe a friend or family
that if you believe a friend or family
that if you believe a friend or family member is in crisis or contemplating
member is in crisis or contemplating
member is in crisis or contemplating suicide you ask them you’d be direct and
suicide you ask them you’d be direct and
suicide you ask them you’d be direct and you say I care but I’m worried are you
you say I care but I’m worried are you
you say I care but I’m worried are you contemplating suicide and they will tell
contemplating suicide and they will tell
contemplating suicide and they will tell you and then the follow-up question is
you and then the follow-up question is
you and then the follow-up question is is what you planned again they will tell
is what you planned again they will tell
is what you planned again they will tell you because they want to know that you
you because they want to know that you
you because they want to know that you care lastly as you do not leave them
care lastly as you do not leave them
care lastly as you do not leave them alone you tell them you want to help and
alone you tell them you want to help and
alone you tell them you want to help and you help them right away whether it’s
you help them right away whether it’s
you help them right away whether it’s taking them to a facilitator to a
taking them to a facilitator to a
taking them to a facilitator to a suicide counselor or just making a call
suicide counselor or just making a call
suicide counselor or just making a call to the crisis hotline you stay with them
to the crisis hotline you stay with them
to the crisis hotline you stay with them you could save a life by your words and
you could save a life by your words and
you could save a life by your words and actions now let me be clear I’m not a
actions now let me be clear I’m not a
actions now let me be clear I’m not a suicide expert
suicide expert
suicide expert I’m a woman and a mom and a community
I’m a woman and a mom and a community
I’m a woman and a mom and a community member who cares we must stop this
member who cares we must stop this
member who cares we must stop this epidemic so I’m asking you will you be
epidemic so I’m asking you will you be
epidemic so I’m asking you will you be the sea lion get involved in your
the sea lion get involved in your
the sea lion get involved in your community my takeaway in this TEDx talk
community my takeaway in this TEDx talk
community my takeaway in this TEDx talk is to let you know in order to decrease
is to let you know in order to decrease
is to let you know in order to decrease the suicide rates in our country we must
the suicide rates in our country we must
the suicide rates in our country we must get together and take care of each other
get together and take care of each other
get together and take care of each other love one another show compassion our
communities all want to be strong and
communities all want to be strong and the three words that the national
the three words that the national
the three words that the national suicide organization encourages us is to
suicide organization encourages us is to
suicide organization encourages us is to ask for hope give people hope ask for
ask for hope give people hope ask for
ask for hope give people hope ask for help and give each other strength in
help and give each other strength in
help and give each other strength in closing if anyone out there is in crisis
closing if anyone out there is in crisis
closing if anyone out there is in crisis or you know someone who is please take
or you know someone who is please take
or you know someone who is please take notes of these two numbers one is the
notes of these two numbers one is the
notes of these two numbers one is the national crisis hotline also the second
national crisis hotline also the second
national crisis hotline also the second one is the Idaho line you can call our
one is the Idaho line you can call our
one is the Idaho line you can call our text and I guarantee you there will be
text and I guarantee you there will be
text and I guarantee you there will be someone on the other line who cares we
someone on the other line who cares we
someone on the other line who cares we must move and heal from our past and
must move and heal from our past and
must move and heal from our past and move into a healthier future we all
move into a healthier future we all
move into a healthier future we all deserve it and so do they thank you
”
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