SUICIDE PREVENTION FORUM SET FOR TONIGHT AT NHS
Suicide prevention is the topic of a free teen-adult community forum set for tonight, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. at Nantucket High School.

Supported by funds from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, the program will feature talks by experts on depression and the signs of suicide risk. Designed with two "tracks," one for adults and one for teens, the forum will offer both age groups a learning session and a small-group discussion and opportunity to ask questions of an expert facilitator.

The forum is designed to be family-friendly. Child care is available for children age seven or younger in the High School's Early Childhood Education Center, and the Boys & Girls Club will be staying open late to accommodate older children. The high school is providing classroom space, and the school administration will ask teachers not to assign homework that night so that parents and older teens can attend the forum.

To assist working parents, the high school's Culinary Arts program will offer a 5 p.m. dinner with a range of menu options, including vegetarian pizza and parmesan chicken. Entrée prices range from $10-$15 and the proceeds benefit the culinary arts program. Children staying late at the Boys & Girls Club will receive a light meal, as will children at the Early Childhood Center. To reserve a spot at the High School dinner, please call Pauline Proch (228- 7285 x1162) by Nov. 13.

PHOTO BY LEAH MENCER Skye Flegg (left) and Anna Steadman (right) were among many volunteers packing shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child at Summer Street Church on Saturday, Nov. 10. This is their 4th year sending shoe boxes to a processing center in Charlotte, N.C. through Samaritan's Purse which then sends out over seven million boxes to approximately 100 countries. They filled and sent 176 shoe boxes this year. To get involved, contact Summer St. Church at 228-4930.

Peter Swenson, Director of Nantucket Family & Children's Health Services, is the local contact for the state mental health department and the information link for an informal community working group that sprang up in the wake of recent suicides affecting Nantucketers.

"The state Department of Mental Health is concerned about the number of suicides on Nantucket or affecting Nantucketers within the past year," Swenson said. "They've made funds available for programs to educate the community about suicide risk, and will be sending facilitators for the small group discussion sessions."

The all-volunteer community working group on suicide prevention includes representatives of the clergy, parents of school-age children, parents with adult children, the Nantucket Public Schools, and local therapists. Nantucket Police Chief Bill Pittman is appointing an officer to serve as liaison to the group, and hopes that the police department can work closely with others in the community to prevent suicide. "My officers are called in when it happens," Chief Pittman said. "We need a community-wide prevention effort."

School Superintendent Bob Pellicone has asked Assistant Superintendent Carlos Colley to join the working group on behalf of NPS. "The Nantucket Public Schools will cooperate in every possible way with the recommendations of the state mental health department," Dr. Pellicone said. "This forum on suicide prevention is an important first step."

Members of the informal community working group include psychiatrist Lauri Robertson, therapist Nancy Rappaport, Community Network for Children coordinator Pauline Proch, School Committee member Jenny Garneau, Assistant Superintendent and NES principal Carlos Colley, librarian Maggie Head, experienced parent Bette Spriggs, Rev. Nancy Nelson, and

Rev. Jennifer Brooks. I