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SPEAK Would Like To Welcome You To Our Website

 

Every 1 hour and 53 minutes in the U.S. we lose another young person by suicide.
That's a Columbine a day.

For every completed suicide by youth, approximately 100 to 200 attempts are made.

Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds.

For every 2 homicides their are 3 suicides in the U.S.

Children as young as 5 have died by suicide.

 

  SPEAK is an independent organization in the state of Maryland, moving forward
with our mission:

To promote the prevention of youth suicide and working to dispel the social stigma surrounding suicide, bullying and depression through a campaign of education and awareness at the community level. 

 

SPEAK is the leader of suicide prevention in Maryland

 Our accomplishments include some of the following: 

  • SPEAK was instrumental in getting 20 emergency phones and the Maryland Crisis Hotline number on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and six on the Francis Scott Key Bridge for jumpers.  Several bridges in Southern Maryland have also followed suit and we continue to move forward with this endeavor.
     
  • Lisa Hurka Covington/SPEAK and several others, worked with NEMA (National Emergency Medical Association) in 2003, to create the ACT video which addressed youth suicide, bullying, and computer bullying, which is known as "cyberbullying" today.
     
  • SPEAK was the liaison between Delegate Simmons who co-sponsored HB740, Safe Schools Reporting Act 2004, with Governor Ehrlich's office; pushing for the first time bullying legislation that was passed successfully in Maryland.
     
  • We continue our community outreach by speaking to various groups, including police, schools, emergency rooms, medical professionals, faith based organizations, the political arena, as well as offering assistance to survivors.
     
  • We also provide a survivors panel each year for the Maryland's Annual Suicide Prevention Conference and, this year, SPEAK was acknowledged for its dedication to creating a "culture of hope." 
     
  • SPEAK approached Governor Martin O'Malley to create the First Time Suicide Prevention Commission in Maryland, which he approved, and came to fruition shortly after.
     
  • House Bill HB973, Public Schools - Maryland Youth Crisis Hotline Distribution of Information/2010, the first suicide prevention bill to be implemented since 1986 in Maryland.
     

SPEAK will continue to make major strides in the area of suicide prevention in Maryland and the rest of the nation.

"We SPEAK for those who hurt in silence"


All donations to SPEAK are tax deductible

 

 

 
  Hit Counter

 


SPEAK's New Video

SPEAK 2009 Video

SPEAK on Broadcast Radio

Press Release from Governor Martin O'Malley

Former Governor
Robert Ehrlich


The Maryland Youth
Crisis Hotline
1-800-422-0009

National Suicide
Support Groups


The National Suicide Hotlines

Maryland Suicide Prevention Commission

SPEAK on Facebook


Bev Cobain/Jean Larch 'Dying To Be Free'





Linda Goldman
'Coming Out,
Coming In'



Goldman's Great Answers to Difficult Questions about Sex



Nancy Rappaport
'In Her Wake'

Kathryn Seifert, PhD
'Youth Violence'

 

     
 
SPEAK is an Educational/Advocacy organization. We do not offer intervention or counseling.
If you are anyone you know is contemplating suicide, call 1-800-273-8255 immediately.
SPEAK, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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