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Hear Us
“Linkin Park and Friends Celebrate Life In Honor of Chester Bennington” will stream live today (October 27) via YouTube.

Video of the live stream is set to begin at 7:45 PM PST/10:45 PM EST.

https://www.youtube.com/user/linkinparktv

Special guests joining Linkin Park on stage at the Hollywood Bowl include the following: Avenged Sevenfold’s M. Shadows and Synyster Gates; Korn’s Jonathan Davis; System of A Down’s Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan; Blink-182; Bring Me The Horizon’s Oli Skyes; Yellowcard’s Ryan Key; Machine Gun Kelly; and Kiiara. Other surprise guests will also be joining Linkin Park this evening which will be the band’s first public performance since Bennington’s untimely passing on July 20.
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Events, Hear Us
The semicolon is an instance where an author could have ended their sentence but chose not to. It’s a symbol of continuation, that your story is not over. While SEE Something. SAY Something. is all about teen empowerment, #Ink4Amy is a Taos community event.

Many of us have been touched by the recent passing of Project Semicolon founder Amy Bleuel. For that reason, #Ink4Amy is for anyone feeling compelled to take part in a celebration of life.

Our story isn’t over. Join us SUNDAY, APRIL 9 at Taos Mesa Brewery for music, community support and FREE ; tattoos by Dano and Ashley of Magical Tattoos. Then join SEESAY advocates Justis, Jonakee and Madison on-air at 2PM via KNCE 93.5FM during #HEARUS to share YOUR STORY and what the ; means to you!

* 15 to 17 years old – requires IN PERSON parent/guardian consent. NO EXCEPTIONS *

“Just don’t let them forget why I was here, because that’s what’s important.” – AMY BLEUEL

Project Semicolon #Ink4Amy #OurStoryIsntOver Celebrate LIFE. #INK4AMY . . . a celebration of LIFE & COMMUNITY. Our story isn’t over! ; ink on us! #ProjectSemicolon #SEESomethingSAYSomething! 

Checkout our #INK4AMY event page here!

AMY BLEUEL (August 3, 1985 – March 23, 2017)
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Events, Hear Us

HEAR US: See Something Say Something KNCE 93.5 FM

S4 teen advocates talk suicide prevention, peer support, mental health and how Taos teens are working to prevent teen suicide and empower community. Oh yeah . . . and we play LOTS of cool music too!

ADVOCACY. EDUCATION. TECHNOLOGY.

LISTEN ONLINE: http://truetaosradio.com
CALL-IN: (575) 737-8326

HEAR US in partnership with TrueKids1 and KNCE

#SeeSomethingSaySomething #DOSOMETHING


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Hear Us, Training + Education
Our teen suicide prevention campaign, See Something, Say Something (S4) is just over 3 months old.

Our S4 app concept has been nationally recognized by Verizon Innovative Learning, and in all likelihood will move forward to becoming a real, functional app by Spring. Many local teens have shared their stories of struggle and experiences with loss; and some 30 have expressed interest in becoming S4 advocates to help empower other teens. The Taos community has been overwhelmingly supportive of the initiative and anxious to help push S4 efforts forward. National crisis and prevention organizations have forged alliances with S4 and extended offers of partnership.

Without question, we’ve made great progress.

But in the 3 months since forming See Something, Say Something, we’ve also breathed a sigh of relief last week when deputies were able to intervene at Taos Gorge Bridge, preventing a teen already standing on the other side of the railing, from jumping and taking her life.

We’ve also mourned Brandy Vela (Texas), the 18 year old victim of cyberbullying who took her life by shotgun at home with her family, Lexi Williams (North Carolina), the 16 year old who jumped from a bridge into I-75 traffic to end her life, and to our horror, recently learned Katelyn Nichole Davis (Georgia) and Nakia Venant (Florida), ages 12 and 14 respectively, ended their lives by hanging, via global Facebook Live Stream broadcasts.

Clearly we have work to do, and certainly our efforts must be immediate and aggressive. We are out of time for topical discussions and slow moving planning. 

My advocacy for immediate Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training for all Taos Municipal high school students is neither naive or unrealistic. I spent 14 years delivering programs in at risk communities to diverse populations, targeting everything from literacy, to teen pregnancy, to domestic violence, to aggravated assault and rape. I understand the complexities of program delivery and the burden of my ask.

Yes. I understand the weight of the 8 hour course, and its potential to be triggering to some teens (as well as adults). Yes. I understand as it is now, the Youth Mental Health First Aid course does not contain many “self care” elements that support a teen taking the course who is in crisis and in need of intervention. Yes. I am aware and thankful a “peer to peer” model of the MHFA course is under development. Yes. I am aware there are other factors — community, family, school — to take into consideration and offering YMHFA is not a perfect or complete solution to mitigating our community/cultural issues with suicide.

All factors considered, I still believe we have no time to waste.  Until a better solution is in place, we should work with [and augment if necessary] the instruction we have with certified facilitators trained to deliver it.

The reality of suicidal behavior may be generational but so are the realities of poverty, substance abuse and physical abuse.

This doesn’t stop us from introducing STEAM opportunities directly to students with the goal of developing skill-sets that will move them beyond poverty. We also support people who have lived with generations of substance and physical abuse, providing tools, education and encouragement for them to make different choices in their lives to create change.

Introducing MHFA training to teens who encounter crisis is no different.

See Something, Say Something has chosen to focus its efforts on teens because those speaking on its behalf, with the exception of me, are teens. It’s unrealistic to expect S4 (or any other initiative) to be the sole answer to meet every need as it relates to teen suicide. We hope our schools, community and impacted families will also feel compelled to implement/extend services to support the education happening with students. We hope this single action to empower young people already facing crisis daily, with useful skills for intervention, is a catalyst for change.

In the short-term, I challenge crisis and service providers to adapt the MHFA model we have to be more aligned to what we need.

Let’s add an additional facilitator to the 8 hour course to balance its delivery, and have counselors available to support students at the end. Let’s train teens (and allies if need be) who have completed the MHFA course, in delivering the pre-course discussion informing students of what to expect. We should explore a “train the trainer” delivery model to expand our local facilitator resources and work to identify funding to support the program fully.

Because the current course is not a 100% custom solution designed to meet every recipient need is NO EXCUSE to delay on moving forward.

As a parent, I wish my kids didn’t have to face the reality of teen suicide and peer pressures – virtual or close to home. But I’d rather they be fully informed than disempowered. And if by way of the MHFA course they encounter information that’s triggering and gives light to a personal struggle, I prefer being made aware of an issue that might not be on their (or my) radar at all.

Knowing what’s at stake and accepting we have NO WAY to shield our kids from the realities of teen suicide, can we really consider not moving forward because the solution requires refinement?

If you are a teen who has completed the Youth Mental Health First Aid training, we welcome your feedback. Feel free to comment to this post or if you prefer, email your thoughts to Justis at justisluis@gmail.com. Don’t hold back. We really do want and need to hear from you.

Luckie
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Hear Us, In Memoriam
Brandy Vela - In Memoriam

We created “See Something. Say Something.” after the loss of 4 of our friends to suicide. It hurt; every loss does. But the loss felt by suicide, especially when the victims aren’t even out of high school, is something completely different.

So when I heard the story of 18 year old Brandy Vela, the Texas Senior who committed suicide a few days ago, my heart broke. Not just for Brandy, but for her family, friends, and my peers who have and might still consider suicide an option. 

Teen suicide is a reality we don’t often talk about; at least not on the level we need to.

Talking about loss isn’t easy but it must be done. And we have to be able to talk about teen suicide, not just after one has happened, but before. No person, teen or otherwise, should be pushed to the point where they feel like they need to end their life.

“See Something. Say Something.” is a campaign, for teens by teens. A campaign not just for the friends we’ve lost, but also for the friends we’re fighting to save. For friends, for family, and for teens like Brandy.

Justis, advocate and friend


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Hear Us, Resources, Stories
When Justis told me about the death of LEXI WILLIAMS (16) in Gastonia, North Carolina on November 21, I was again speechless. He’d received a Facebook message from a friend who was a friend of Lexi’s. News of Lexi’s suicide, by jumping off the Cox Bridge into I-85 traffic, has been shared by thousands across Facebook and Twitter. 

I read many tweets from Lexi. She knew she needed help and asked for it, MANY times. There were countless signs and too many warnings to cite. 

I didn’t know Lexi but I can’t help wondering if folks witnessing her very public struggle raised a flag? Did they know Lexi had options and hope could be found? Did anyone attempt to take action to save Lexi?

Is there a way to show love and provide support for teens in crisis while they are still living to benefit from it? Is there a real way to stop teen suicide?

Questions but no judgments here.

As a single mom with a demanding technology job, I know I’ve missed my share of crisis signs. With my son, I’ve been guilty of overlooking the stress and burden of living up to everyone’s overly high expectations. At times I’ve diminished teen issues because hell, I’m not walking in teen shoes. Admittedly, there’s much about “teen life” I don’t get.

But I want to. I want to see a sign and move QUICKLY in a way that protects the life of a young person who has EVERYTHING to live for.

I want to talk about action and work with people who are taking action. I want to answer my own question, what could we have done to save Lexi, so we can work to prevent the next “Lexi”?

If you are a teen or know a teen who needs to know there’s hope, we are here. See Something, Say Something is in this fight for the long-haul and accompanied by powerful partners – Project Semicolon and Crisis Text Line, we’re gonna kick hopelessness in the ass!

I’m no expert or mental health professional. I have not lost a child to suicide, and I’m fighting every day to keep it that way.

Checkout PROJECT SEMICOLON and Amy Bleuel. Hope is alive.

Your story is not over . . .

project-semicolon-logooooo

Luckie, mom/warrior
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Hear Us
Tonight I went to the Wailing Wall
And heard a mother scream
Haunting silence
Sliced clear through
As we all stood staring
Praying
Raising desperate hopes
That it wasn’t true
Again
But it was
And it is
And hearts continue to shred with pangs
Of when
And why
And how
Can we make this stop
Tonight I went to the Wailing Wall
And heard a mother scream

– Rev. Jill Cline, a mom

for Miquela
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