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U-Matter

High school seniors
raise awareness
about suicide.

Ryan Ishbia and Josh Cooper, both 17

Stacy Gittleman | Contributing Writer

I

nspired to continue the healing process
after three classmates and one teacher
committed suicide last year, West
Bloomfield High School seniors Ryan Ishbia,
17, and Josh Cooper, 17, with the guidance
of teachers, administrators and Rabbi Yarden
Blumstein of the Friendship Circle, planned
“U-Matter,” a weeklong program aimed at
bringing attention to mental health issues
and suicide prevention Nov. 14-18.
The week included art and essay writing
contests and special guest speakers. The
highlight of the week was a day of assemblies

for all students. In shifts, teachers prepared
“Ted Talk”-style lectures complete with
PowerPoint presentations and uplifting vid-
eos to accompany their talks that were given
to the entire student body of 1,700 students.
Some shared personal experiences of how
they dealt with hard times such as failure or
losing a loved one to cancer. Others created
lessons and participatory exercises that cen-
tered on proven scientific studies of the ben-
eficial powers of laughter or paying someone
a compliment.
WBHS Head Counselor Mara Hoffert said

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20 December 8 • 2016

the week’s activities centered around the cel-
ebration of life.
“We wanted our students to come away
from this week with a positive outlook. Life
matters. Through this program, we wanted
to make sure that students understand that
many of us struggle with stress and anxiety,
and there are caring teachers and counselors
right here to help out.”
The boys, who both have leadership roles
in BBYO, this year enrolled in safeTALK
training, a suicide prevention certification
course taught by Blumstein and offered by
the Friendship Circle to teens age 16 and up
and those in the community who work with
youth. All Teen Network Weavers — Jewish
professionals who work across the Detroit
Metro area’s Jewish youth groups — received
safeTALK certification.
Motivated by this training, Cooper and
Ishbia hoped “U-Matter” would not only be
implemented at their high school but also
duplicate itself in a “domino effect” of similar
programming in high schools across the
area.
“We wanted to create a feeling that shows
how proud we are to be Lakers,” Cooper said.
“Everyone matters. Everyone has the power
to either negatively or positively impact
someone else’s life, so why not think of it as
what you say can change a person’s day for
the better.”
In the hallways, one could feel this was a
special week. Everyone, including the secu-
rity guard signing in guests at the front desk,
made a point to warmly greet each other
with a caring, “You matter.”
“After last year’s tragedies at our school,
Josh and I wanted to do something to raise
morale and bring everyone together,” Ishbia
said. “Within my Jewish community, I have
come to appreciate the strong, secure sense
of belonging that is very supportive. I wanted
to bring this same supportive feeling to my
larger high school community.”
During the week, Cooper said he got lots of
positive feedback from his classmates.
“Students told me they got a great sense
of comfort from the program,” Cooper said.
“They were reassured to see that on the stage
were not outsiders but teachers they see
every day and teachers who will be around in

the building whenever a time may come up
when they have problems. The students now
know they can come to them to talk.”
The week concluded with a safeTALK
introduction where students were given an
overview of the warning signs of suicide. As
a follow up, teachers will choose between
30-72 students to take the three-hour certifi-
cation course.
In his wallet, Ishbia keeps a small informa-
tion card he received from safeTALK. On
it contain the signals or “invitations” that a
suicidal person may give to a friend in hope
of getting their attention.
“We were taught that a suicidal person
does not really want to go through with
the act of taking his own life,” Ishbia said.
“But the warning signs, like sudden drug
or alcohol abuse, moodiness or out-of-the-
ordinary withdrawn behavior, really serve
as invitations the person may be giving out
to get help.”

*

GET HELP

If you or someone you know is
depressed or considering suicide,
contact the 24-hour National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
To learn more, go to the website:
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

SIGNS THAT INDICATE
SUICIDE RISK INCLUDE:

• Talking about suicide
• Seeking things to help carry out
suicide, whether it be guns or pills,
knives or other objects
• A preoccupation with death, dying or
violence
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Lack of self-worth
• Self-destructive behavior
• Getting affairs in order or saying
goodbye to loved ones
• Withdrawing from others
• A sudden sense of calm after a
bout of depression can suggest a
person’s decision to commit suicide.

Source: HelpGuide.org