Dist. 303 to let students discuss their own struggles

Students will offer their own consumer report of St. Charles Unit District 303's suicide prevention efforts tonight at the second in a series of meetings addressing the problem.

One of the most common suggestions following the first summit two weeks ago was having more students attend to provide input.

Attendees will get their wish as a panel of students from St. Charles East and North High Schools peel back the curtain on what it's like to be a teenager in today's world.

The information should be key to addressing a problem that has seen six student suicides in the district within the past seven years. All have involved high schools students, mainly at St. Charles East.

The summit also will feature Jerry Ciffone, a social worker at South Elgin High School who has developed his own approach to suicide prevention and intervention. He detailed his research, findings and curriculum in the journal "Social Work" in January 2007.

Examples of Ciffone's approach can be found by searching the Internet. Part of what he's done in the past includes partaking in classroom discussions following the viewing of a 15-minute video where an attempted and an actual suicide occur.

His approach involves changing the stigma teens often attach to seeking mental health treatment for themselves or their friends.

The event takes place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., tonight at the summit room on the lower level of the Charlestowne Mall in St. Charles. Attendees are encouraged to register in advance through the district's Web site, www.d303.org, but registration is not necessary to attend. The event is free and open to the public. There will be additional suicide summit meetings June 3 and June 10.