Speaker addresses suicide, bullying at workshop in Boardman

BOARDMAN — The advancement of technology and social media has made it more difficult than ever to be a young person.

So says Doug Merrill, a guest speaker who talked to educators, parents and mental health workers today during a workshop geared toward curbing youth suicide and bullying.

Merrill’s workshop, “In The Face of Adversity,” was at Antone’s Banquet Centre, Market Street. Event sponsors were PNC Bank, The Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation, the Mahoning County Mental Health Board, Help Hotline Crisis Center and Potential Development Program.

Things have changed so much in the last 20 years, he said, explaining that the Internet, MySpace, Facebook, texting and camera phones have made us more connected in good ways and bad.

“You make a mistake today and it’s all over the world,” he said, noting that kids can make pictures, stories and rumors widespread in the click of a button. “This is one of the largest battles we face right now as parents and as adults.”

Merrill touched on stories from his 2008 book, “Fighting the Demon of Suicide,” based on eight of his friends who took their lives. The former Bowling Green High School teacher and coach discussed how those events shaped his life.

For the complete story, see Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com