Farmington Suicide Prevention Task Force hosts conversation focusing on abusive relationships

The Farmington Area Suicide Prevention Task Force will host a Community Conversation on 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 at Farmington Hills City Hall focusing on abusive relationships and the risk of suicide.

The event is open to all members of the community.

Studies show that women in abusive relationships are at higher risk of attempting suicide than those in healthy relationships. Dating abuse among teen boys and girls is growing with many teens at risk of experiencing emotional and verbal abuse as well as controlling behavior and sexual pressure.

The Suicide Prevention Task Force is encouraging open dialogue about the warning signs of abusive behaviors in relationships and will provide information on how to find help from local resources.

Featured speakers at the Community Conversation will include Assistant Principal of Farmington High School Bob Crawford, Chief of Police Charles Nebus, Director of Public Safety Robert Schulz, Director of Oakland Community College Womencenter Arlene Frank and HAVEN Director of Prevention Education Cristy Cardinal.

With a theme of “Let’s Talk About It,” the Farmington Area Suicide Prevention Task Force brings community leaders together to reach out to troubled individuals and counteract alarming trends in suicide and suicide attempts.

Farmington Hills City Council Member Dr. Ken Massey, who lost his son Graham E. Smith to suicide, has spearheaded efforts to remove the stigma and bring the topics of depression and suicide out into the open.

The meeting is sponsored by the Farmington Area Suicide Prevention Task Force and the Graham E. Smith Memorial Fund.

For more information, call the City Manager’s Office at 248-871-2500. The city hall is located at 31555 W. Eleven Mile Road in Farmington Hills.

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Monica's goal is to raise awareness about suicide and help erase the stigma associated with mental illness. In 2012, she won first place in News Enterprise Reporting by the Michigan Press Association for her series on suicide in the community, and in 2013, was named “Digital Innovator of the Year” by the Local Media Association. In 2019, she received the Ambassador Award from the suicide prevention nonprofit Six Feet Over. She started the blog Meant to Live to help others by sharing signs of depression, reasons to live, resources, suicide and bullying prevention groups, other people’s stories and memorials. She especially wants to show people that they are not alone.

2 comments

liljulesApril 25, 2013 at 6:23 AM
Im writing an essay for my English class on how people that get into abusive relationships are more likely to commit suicide and I came across this. You seem very educated in the topic and I would be very much pleased if you would help me out with this. I need to "interview" someone that knows about this stuff. My sister attempted suicide so this topic is extremely important to me. Let me know if your interested and I'll give you my email.
Thank you.
Annah
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