Shannon Decker is Executive Director of The Speedy Foundation. The foundation was formed after Jeret “Speedy” Peterson died by suicide in July of 2011. Jeret was an American World Cup aerial skier and silver medalist at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The Speedy Foundation’s mission is to prevent suicide, promote conversations to end stigma, and support mental health education. Shannon talks about the warning signs of suicide and what to do if someone you love is having thoughts of self-harm. She discusses some of her interactions with teens affected by suicide, hopeful programs that she is seeing across the country and her work as a Mental Health First Aid Trainer.
Resources:
1-800-273-TALK (Suicide Prevention Lifeline)
The Speedy Foundation
Youth Mental Health First Aid Courses
My3 Suicide Prevention App
Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program
Jason Flatt Act – Idaho – Empowering Schools in Suicide Prevention
ACE’s (Adverse Childhood Experiences Study)
The Big Little Book of Resilience by Matthew Johnstone