Marshall County Tribune: Story: 'Cowboy Up' program seeks to combat teenage suicides (02/27/08)

Photo by Rhonda Poole Stephanie Robinette, Carrie Bell, Misti Griggs and Regina Peery, members of the Maury County Junior Auxiliary, presented a Suicide Prevention workshop at Marshall County High School.

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The Marshall County FCCLA recently sponsored a suicide prevention workshop entitled "Cowboy Up" for all FCCLA members and ninth graders in the school.

Presented by the Maury County Junior Auxiliary in conjunction with the Jason Foundation and organized by FCCLA members Taryn Hutton and Breanna Dowell as part of their FCCLA Chapter service project, the morning event left students and staff looking at family and friends in a different light.

"Approximately one young person dies from suicide every 1 hour and 45 minutes," said Regina Peery, Cowboy Up chairperson. "Suicide ranks as the third leading cause of death for ages 15-24 and fourth for ages 10-14. It is the second leading cause of death for college-age youth, as well as for ages 15-19 in many states.

Peery noted the suicide rate in Tennessee is 20 percent higher than the national average.

See Wednesday's Tribune for the complete story.