Monrovia Healing Connections Hosting Community Education Events in Suicide Prevention

Monrovia Healing Connections, a task force of community members, city officials, students and Monrovia Unified School District staff, is presenting March4Balance, a series of community outreach and educational events to raise awareness of suicide prevention and related mental health issues.

Task force members are visiting service clubs, teen commissions, churches and other community-based gatherings through March 23 to give presentations on suicide awareness, talk about what is being done in Monrovia to aid and support those dealing with emotional and psychological issues and provide brochures listing tools and resources.

"Over the past four years, we have lost five Monrovians under the age of 24 to suicide," said Ulises Gutierrez, March4Balance campaign coordinator. "We can't all be mental health professionals, but all of us should learn how to respond when someone needs help. Our goal is to get all community members trained on how to recognize and respond to people who are suffering and in danger of harming themselves," Gutierrez said.

The campaign is due to end on Tuesday, March 25 with a community rally at 5:30 p.m. in Monrovia Library Park.

—City News Service