Empowering Communities: Ocean Partnership for Children's Commitment to Suicide Prevention Month

TOMS RIVER, N.J. - Sept. 13, 2024 - PRLog -- Toms River, NJ - September is National Suicide Prevention Month – a time to remember the lives lost to suicide, acknowledge the millions more who have experienced suicidal thoughts, and the many individuals, families and communities that have been impacted by suicide. It's also a time to raise awareness about suicide prevention and share messages of hope. Through local community outreach, Ocean Partnership for Children (OPC) is equipping their employees, the young people of Ocean County, and the greater community with the education and resources needed to help struggling youth and prevent suicide.

The OPC team brainstormed what they could do to reach the young people in the community during suicide prevention month specifically . "We wanted to stand out and invite our community partners to join us in an event where we would have direct interactions with teens to provide resources not only to help them, but to give them tools to help their peers if they are not comfortable enough to approach an adult in their life," explained Jennifer Liscombe, MA, Lead Care Manager at OPC. Through this, the Dare to Care event was created. "The name, Dare to Care was inspired by our focus on
teenagers in our community and encouraging them to care for others, go out of their way to
talk to others and be kind and also to promote other alternatives to suicide that teenagers can participate in to promote healthy lifestyle and mindset," continued Liscombe. "We figured it's common for teenagers not to be up for a challenge like this, but if they are dared to do something, chances are they will be more likely to do it. That's the hope."

This year's Dare to Care event will take place on September 18th outside the OPC office
in downtown Toms River, closest to Toms River High School South. It will include engaging activities, spreading awareness for suicide prevention, providing resources via hotlines, text lines, agencies to outreach, and phone applications to utilize prior to a crisis. The event will have giveaways with prizes that encourage youth to practice self-care and self-love. "Every year, we hope Dare to Care can spread posivity, encourage people struggling to speak out and get help and, above all else, we hope Dare to Care can be a catalyst to prevent suicide for everyone in our community," noted Liscombe.

Ocean Partnership for Children is a non-profit organization. Care management services are available at no cost to all youth and families in Ocean County who meet the eligibility criteria of the New Jersey Children's System of care. To learn more, visit https://www.oceanpartnership.org or https://www.oceanresourcenet.org.