Pair raise awareness about suicide prevention

She's only a freshman in college, but Liz Plywaczewski has already lost multiple friends to suicide in the last two years.

Among young people between the ages of 10 and 24, suicide is the third leading cause of death. It is second among college students.

Plywaczewski, a graduate of St. Charles East High School who now attends Elgin Community College, has found a way to channel the grief into something worthwhile. She is helping to spread the word about suicide awareness through Suicide Prevention Services.

"It was hard to talk about the subject with friends and family," she said. "Getting involved with things helped me cope with it."

Plywaczewski's story had an effect on 18-year-old Kendra Rosborough. The two work together as waitresses at St. Charles' Colonial Cafe.

She started attending planning meetings for the upcoming "Yellow Ribbon Walk For Life", which will take place at Pottawatomie Park Sunday.

The 8-mile walk is intended to raise funds, awareness and help survivors heal. Participants will walk along the Fox River to the Fabyan Windmill in Fabyan Forest Preserve and come back.

"I don't want to see any more kids at St. Charles East commit suicide," Rosborough said. "I want them to be aware that there's help."

From 4 to 10 p.m. today, Plywaczewski and Rosborough will have a fundraising event at Colonial Cafe, 2036 Route 38 in St. Charles, for Suicide Prevention Services and the Yellow Ribbon Walk.

It is the second such fundraising event. Plywaczewski and Rosborough held a previous event Aug. 23 and raised $300 toward the cause. They are hoping to raise as much this time, if not more.

In addition, Colonial Cafe will donate 10 percent of its profits from the night to Suicide Prevention services, or 20 percent if their receipts total more that $1,000.

Suicide Prevention Services will also hand out cards listing suicide warning signs.

According to Plywaczewski, the warning signs can be deceiving because once someone has made the decision to end their life, they may suddenly seem happy.

"When you see them smiling, it seems normal," she explained. "They would talk about how this was going on at home. And to all of a sudden to see them happy might have been a sign."

Other signs include; talking about suicide, making statements about hopelessness, or helplessness, preoccupation with death, loss of interest in things, giving one's things away, and setting business in order.

"They think that they can't get help at school and at home, then they can't get help anywhere, and it's not true," said Rosborough.

Plywaczewski and Rosborough encourage young people who are contemplating suicide to call Suicide Prevention Center's 24-hour hotline at 1-800-784-2433.

"Call for help. Don't think of taking your life away as your last choice," said Plywaczewski. "There's help out there."