Project Summary

Purpose The purpose of this project is to raise awareness for suicide and to help reduce suicide in the community. By raising suicide awareness, there could be less deaths, not only in America, but all over the world. Relationship to Family and Consumer Sciences/Related Careers Reasoning for Action 4.5 Evaluate the conditions of a particular concern, e.g. historical, social-psychological, socioeconomic, political, cultural, and global/environmental. 4.13 Evaluate actions and results, including consequences on self, others, culture/society, and global environment.

Human Development 12.2.2 Analyze the impact of social, economic, and technological forces on individual growth and development.

Suicide is a major problem in society and, it can be prevented with enough support. This relates to FACs because suicide prevention goes with the STOP the Violence National Program. When I began this project, I did research on suicide and how it affects other people, not just one's self. Each suicide death intimately affects at least six other people. When someone commits suicide, that person usually has a psychological disorder, is overwhelmed by economic decline, has access to drugs, or is being bullied. Society could be negatively affected by suicide in many ways. Bullying often occurs in school, but it could also occur in the workplace. When someone is being bullied, it could potentially harm their self esteem and cause them to commit suicide. When someone commits suicide, the rates go up.

Relevant Research/ Background Information STOP the Violence empowers youth with attitudes, skills, and resources in order to recognize, report, and reduce youth violence. Suicide is definitely preventable. When I did research, I found that there are many things a person can do to help someone that is in need such as reaching out, showing

that you care, encouraging them to talk, remaining calm, staying positive, offering hope, not making a quick judgment, and letting them know that there is always help available. If someone is thinking about committing suicide, they are usually depressed. When someone is depressed, their grades drop and they lose weight. In my community alone, there were approximately thirty-five suicides in 2013.

Change/ Awareness Goal I want to raise awareness for the suicide and depression issue that plagues, not only America, but the whole world. I feel that if enough people are aware of the issue of suicide, we will be much closer to resolving many deaths. If people are aware of the problem, we can work together as a nation to help those in need. I will try to raise awareness by having our FCCLA chapter members and high school teachers wear a yellow ribbon to support suicide awareness. When people ask what the yellow ribbons are for, we will tell them that it is for suicide awareness, and we will also tell them that with enough support we can save a lot of lives. If people spread the word about suicide awareness, then I believe a huge difference can be made in suicide rates.