MU holds suicide prevention event at Dallas High School Misericordia University holds suicide prevention event at Dallas High School

DALLAS TWP. — Representatives of the Department of Social Work at Misericordia University, Dallas School District, and regional medical and emergency responders recently collaborated on the Dallas High School Suicide Prevention Roundtable panel discussion for students at the high school.

The panel included Kori Britton, Wyoming Valley Alcohol & Drug Services; David Hage, assistant professor of social work, Misericordia University; Tom Gilroy, psychology and sociology teacher, Dallas High School; Back Mountain Regional EMS Chief Chris Good, Gina Kotowski, police resource officer, Dallas School District, and Diane Sherman, guidance counselor, Dallas High School.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, one person dies by suicide every five hours in Pennsylvania. Nationally, suicide is the leading cause of death among young people ages 10-14, and is the second leading cause of death for people ages 15-34.

Gilroy and Sherman worked together to expand a classroom lesson plan about Emile Durkheim, a French sociologist, social psychologist and philosopher. They expanded the classroom lecture by developing the suicide prevention roundtable discussion so students could gain access to information about identifying students who might need extra support and preventing suicide.