Vocal Point-Dr. Joannie DeBrito, Ph.D.

Topic: Suicide

Suicide is on the rise. Focus on the Family is working to prevent them. Focus reports:

• “For several years, death by suicide among children and teens has been increasing in frequency,
• “The suicide rate among teen girls recently reached a forty-year high,
• “On average, more than three thousand teens attempt suicide every day,
• “Nine out of ten deaths by suicide have an underlying diagnosable mental health issue.”

Dr. Joannie DeBrito is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker with three decades of experience in counseling. She is the Director Parenting and Youth for Focus and helped create their new program to help prevent suicide—it is called “Alive to Thrive.” Dr. Joanie DeBrito joins Jerry Newcombe on Vocal Point to discuss suicide, especially among the young, and how to avoid it. She notes that ironically social media often hinders rather than helps. www.Learn.alivetothrive.com