BELMONT PINES Program attempts to prevent suicide

The free service is available to youths, teachers, parents and groups.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- Beginning Thursday, Belmont Pines Hospital will provide a round-the clock program aimed at helping prevent youth suicide.
"They can call for help anytime," said Carla Rae Spackman, Belmont Pines' director of business development.
The local hospital's parent company, Ardent Health Services of Nashville, Tenn., has affiliated with The Jason Foundation, a nonprofit group dedicated to the prevention of youth suicide through education and awareness.
The nationwide foundation was organized in October 1997 after 16-year-old Jason C. Flatt of Hendersonville, Tenn., committed suicide July 16 that year.
It was founded by Jason's father, Clark Flatt.
Ardent has three hospitals in Ohio, including Belmont Pines, that have affiliated with The Jason Foundation and 17 others nationwide in the past year.
Ardent owns 27 hospitals in 13 states, including 20 behavioral hospitals.
Belmont Pines is a mental-health facility.
Availability
The free community service consists of school-based curricula for teachers and seminars for families and community groups.
Parents, teachers and teenagers can call for assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (877) 778-2275.
To make arrangements for a seminar, contact Spackman at (330) 759-2700 during working hours.
Spackman said the presentations are designed to make the community aware of teen suicide, the warning signs and how to prevent it.
If need be, those who call for help may be referred to a medical provider, including Belmont Pines if appropriate, Spackman explained.
Belmont Pines is at 615 Church Hill-Hubbard Road.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death for those ages 15 to 24.
"This issue is both a personal crusade and a national concern," Clark Flatt said.
John A. Flatt, Jason's brother and foundation vice president, said that after Jason died, the Flatt family began to look into youth suicide.
"We found the problem to be overwhelming," John Flatt said.
"Not one member of the family could have guessed how significant a problem youth suicide was in this nation and even throughout the world."
There was a lack of organizations facing the "silent epidemic" of youth suicide, he added in explaining why the foundation was needed.
yovich@vindy.com