KITCHEN HONORED FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION WORK

          PHILADELPHIA, March 31 – The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will honor state Sen. Shirley M. Kitchen at its Aaron T. Beck Awards Dinner on April 6 in Philadelphia.

          “I am deeply touched and humbled by this honor,” said Kitchen (D-Philadelphia). “I hope this event brings more attention to the problem of adolescent suicide and the work we are doing in Philadelphia to help young people who are dealing with depression and thoughts of suicide.

          “Our community needs to recognize that many teens are cursed with feelings of despair that result in violence towards themselves and others. We need to reach out to these young people and help them with every available resource – social services, therapy, medicine, whatever it takes.”

          Kitchen is being recognized for her work with Youth With Voices, an adolescent suicide prevention pilot project in North Philadelphia. The program provides education, counseling, and prescription drug treatment (when necessary) for teenagers who are at risk for suicide or mental illness.

          The Temple University Center for Social Policy and Community Development and the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention are also partners in the project.