LORAIN COUNTY, Ohio — John Arch loves hanging with Gavin. They met five years ago through Big Brothers Big Sisters and now they're inseparable.
“He likes to fish, likes to bicycle ride-we go to museums, do things like that,” said Arch.
But Arch has quickly learned his responsibilities go far beyond just hanging out with his 17-year-old mentee.
“The more we talk about it I think the more people are going to be able to feel empowered to intervene if they have to,” he said.
Arch is talking about suicide prevention training and although he hasn't had any reason to take it, he and about a dozen other mentors from Big Brothers Big Sisters Lorain County were anxious to learn.
"Our young people nowadays are being bullied, they're being ridiculed they are being you know just ostracized for being who they are,” said Orlando Grant, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County,
The training is coming from the people at the Lorain County Board of Mental Health.
“You never know when someone around you is going to be struggling and it’s better to be prepared,” said Clare Rosser from the Lorain County Board of Mental Health.
One of things they went over in Thursday night’s session at the Lorain Public Library South Lorain Branch, are the signs to look out for that may indicate your loved one is contemplating suicide:
- Significant changes in behavior
- Suicide threats
- Long term depression
- Giving away prized possessions
“Really it’s just about being able to ask someone with confidence how they're doing, and be able to connect them to the right resources if they are struggling,” said Rosser.
Here’s a few of those resources:
24/7 Mental Health Crisis Hotline: 1-800-888-6161
Non-emergency Navigator: 440-240-7025
Crisis Text Line: 4HOPE to 741741
