COMMUNITY

SUICIDE PREVENTION TEAM AT ORTING HIGH SCHOOL

By: Lane Strassburg February 5, 2010

Ten-years-ago, Michelle Lawson attempted and succeeded at suicide. Why?

Michelle was a student at Orting High School. She was well-liked by her peers, had straight A’s, and was an all around good person who appeared happy.

Michelle was also a student in the Driver’s Education program; this was one of the few things with which she struggled. On the evening before her death, Michelle had taken her parents car and went driving around town without their permission. The next day while her father was at school talking to Leon Matz, the Driver’s Ed instructor, Michelle was at home over-dosing on pills.

There are many reasons people commit suicide. They feel like there is no other option, no relief from the pain or fear they are feeling.

Now, ten years later, the Suicide Prevention team at Orting High School is going strong. Michelle’s father and Leon Matz created the program to provide education to youths and their parents so that other families would not have to go through the same thing this family did.

The Prevention team is comprised of students who wish to bring understanding to other students about recognizing signs of depression, and learning how to listen to people. The students on the team are not qualified to handle seriously suicidal individuals, they are more there just to talk and lend an ear. Sometimes just listening to someone can work wonders, as most of these people just want an outlet, someone who cares about them. At Orting High School that select group of students ca5res, and values the life of their peers. It is through the ongoing efforts of these students, and the efforts of others, that in the ten years between now and Michelle Lawson’s death, there has not been a youth suicide at Orting High School.

If you have a youth you are concerned about please call the youth’s school counselor or call 1 800 273 TALK