Preventing youth suicide, Monmouth U. takes the lead

EATONTOWN - Tens of thousands of people take their own lives each year, so when Monmouth University's School of Social Work launched its Suicide Prevention Research and Training Project and a conference aimed at reducing youth suicide, registration filled up quickly.

University officials said interest in the inaugural conference, held Wednesday, was so "overwhelming" that they were forced to move the event to the DoubleTree hotel in Eatontown to accommodate more attendees.

Conference goers were there to learn about how media affects suicide trends and how vulnerable individuals can be motivated to attempt suicide by certain types of coverage.

The inspiration for Monmouth University's conference was the discussions around suicide that followed the release of the popular Netflix series "13 Reasons Why," which brought the topic into the national spotlight.

Supporting your kids: Your kids are watching '13 Reasons Why' and you should, too

Conference leaders are looking to shape that conversation in order to spread knowledge about available resources to people in crisis and reduce the number of people who take their own lives.

Anyone in need of help should call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255). The lifeline proves free, around-the-clock support for people considering suicide as well as others who support them in their time of crisis.

Visit www.monmouth.edu/SRF for more information about the university's Suicide Prevention Research and Training Project.

Amanda Oglesby: 732-557-5701; aoglesby@GannettNJ.com