community

The Department of Natu-

ral Resources and Environ- ment recently announced that the 2010-11 Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) trail grant applications are available to public agen- cies, and nonprofit incorporat- ed clubs and organizations.

Applications are available

for grants to maintain existing designated state ORV trails, routes and use areas; repair public lands damaged by inap- propriate ORV use; and devel- op new ORV trails, routes, and use areas. Grant funds also are available to pay for liabil-

ity insurance, leases or ease- ments.

“We currently have 28 trail

sponsors that maintain more than 3,300 miles of state des- ignated ORV trails and routes statewide,” said Steve Kubi- siak, DNRE Recreation and Trails program coordinator. “We depend on these partner- ships to maintain the trails, and encourage participation from all user organizations and other public agencies to help us maintain Michigan’s great ORV trail system.”

Applications must be sub-

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

mitted by May 1. Any public agency or nonprofit incor- porated club or organization seeking an application should contact: DNRE-Forest Manage- ment Division, P.O. Box 30452, Lansing, MI 48909-7952. The forms are available on the DNRE website at www.michi- gan.gov/dnr-grants. Under the Grant Programs menu, select “Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Trail Improvement Program,” and then “Forms and Publica- tions.” Applications may also be requested by calling (517) 373-1275.

April 28 - May 4, 2010

Page B-3

Off-Road vehicle trail grant applications available Detroit MINDS fights suicide

By Heather M. Irish

It is springtime in Michigan, which

means we all survived another Midwest winter. Didn’t you feel good when the bright blue skies and sunshine returned along with warmer weather? I know my spirit was greatly lifted at our annual renewal of better weather.

But some people do not feel better when

AGENT SPOTLIGHT

the weather dramatically improves and the earth takes bloom. Karen does not feel better. You see, it was April 1, 2009 when her 19- year-old son Michael committed sui- cide. Michael did not feel better when spring arrived.He was suffering from depression. And contrary to the popular belief that more suicides occur around Christmas, the fact is that the most suicides occur in May. There are two main theories as to why this hap- pens. First, the belief that over the winter some who suffer from depression are too incapacitated to carry through on what they are already thinking and they have a little more energy in spring. Secondly, that when people’s spirits are lifted at the return of spring and the depressed individual does not feel better, they lose hope.

In our country alone, over 30,000 people

Agent Alisa Green

Ste 103 29610 Southfield Rd Southfield, MI 48076-2000

Phone: (248) 559-0000

Office Hours:

Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Evenings and Saturdays by appointment

About Alisa….

■ Truman State University, Kirksville, MO – Business Degree

■ State Farm Agent for 13 years ■ Member, Southfield Chamber of Commerce

■ Member, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors

■ Member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority ■ Member, Madrigal Chorale of Southfield ■ Member, Second Corinthian Baptist Church

Agent Jennie C Flowers

8322 Cooley Lake Rd

Commerce Twp, MI 48382-4713

Office Hours:

Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and evenings by appointment

Phone: (248) 363-4747

About Jennie….

■ State Farm Agent since 1989 ■ Kenyon College, BA ■ John Carroll University, MBA ■ Legion of Honor Qualifier ■ Millionaire Club Qualifier ■ Chamber of Commerce Member ■ Jr. Achievement Econ Advisor ■ Member, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

die each year from suicide. In the United States today, one in five children are esti- mated to have a mental health problem, and for some populations the number becomes one in three. Mental illness is the second leading cause of disability and premature death, and suicide is the third leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 24. Tragically, most of these young people will not receive mental health treat- ment, placing them at risk for lifelong psy- chopathology, school failure or dropout, relationship conflicts, violence, and even suicide. It is estimated that 90 to 95 percent of those who complete suicide are suffering from a diagnosable and treatable mental ill- ness.

We all need to be educated on how to

prevent suicide and how to reduce mental health stigma so that people feel free to get the help they need.

The following are a few warning signs for suicide.

• If someone is talking about killing him/her self, believe them.

• Talk about not being around anymore. Wondering if anyone will miss them.

• Pervasive thoughts about death and dying.

• Giving away prized possessions.

• Writing e-mails/texts about death and dying

• Wanting to desperately be with a loved one who has recently passed away.

• Isolating oneself

• Having access to a firearm If someone you know is feeling or exhib-

iting any of these symptoms, please take them to your nearest hospital emergency room. Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, primary care physicians can help too, but if the person is talking of taking their life now, you need an ER or have some- one call 911.

Do not leave the person alone. Do not

tell your loved one to snap out of it. If they could, they would. Tell them that they are not alone and there is help available. Tell them that you will stay with them.

Many people do not even know that help

is available. The President’s New Freedom Commis-

sion on Mental Health (2003) and the Sur- geon General’s Report on Mental Health (1999) identify stigma as a pervasive barrier to effective treatment of mental illness.

MINDS is a school-based mental health

awareness and stigma reduction curriculum for students designed to prevent negative outcomes by encouraging youth to speak up and ask for help. The children are taught that if they hear of someone talking about suicide or hurting someone else, they need to tell an adult immediately. MINDS receives many letters of gratitude from our teachers, students, and parents. Recently we received a letter from a teacher who reported a young man saved his best friends life because he intervened in his friend’s suicide attempt by telling the friend’s mother about strange text messages the boy had been sending. The mother found her child unconscious from a massive prescription drug overdose. They rushed him to the ER where they were able to save the child. The teacher asked the young man, “How did you know what to do?” The student replied, “The MINDS pro- gram taught me the warning signs and what to do if a friend was ever in trouble.”

Michael’s parents are now working with

MINDS to help ensure that no other families have to go through the heartbreak of losing a child to suicide.

The MINDS program has provided school-

based mental health educational program- ming to Michigan middle and high school students for the past 12 years. It currently works in over 150 schools and serves ap- proximately 20,000 students per academic year by providing over 600 school presenta- tions per school year.

An evaluation conducted by the Univer-

sity of Michigan concluded that the MINDS program increases students’ knowledge and reduces stigmatizing attitudes regarding mental illnesses by using fun, interactive ac- tivities and including a personal testimonial of mental illness, treatment and recovery.

Heather Irish is president and CEO of MINDS: Shining Light on Mental Health.

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