Suicide Prevention To Be Topic Feb. 7

Bev Cobain, a cousin of the late musician Kurt Cobain and a nationally recognized speaker on suicide prevention, will be visiting local schools Monday, February 5, and Tuesday, February 6, before holding a professional development seminar at the Kewadin Hotel and Conference Center in Sault Ste. Marie Wednesday, February 7.

Ms. Cobain, a registered nurse, will be visiting students in Sault Ste. Marie, Brimley, Pickford, and Newberry to talk to them about youth depression awareness and suicide prevention and intervention.

Ms. Cobain's cousin, Kurt Cobain, was the leader of the popular grunge band Nirvana. He committed suicide in 1994. Ms. Cobain herself has struggled with depression and now lectures on suicide prevention to educate professionals, lay persons, and youth about depression and the significant public health issue of suicide.

In 2003, suicide ranked as the third-leading cause of death for youths ages 15 to 24, with only accidents and homicides occurring more frequently, according to the Michigan Youth Risk Behaviors Survey.

Wednesday's seminar is aimed to train people who work in the field of human services, therapy, mental health, law enforcement, and for individuals who want to understand the issue better and hope to provide prevention assistance to suicidal youth.

The seminar is sponsored by the Hiawatha Behavioral Health's Chippewa County Prevention Committee.