SPEAK (Suicide Prevention Education Awareness for Kids)

SPEAK (Suicide Prevention Education Awareness for Kids) is a non-profit organization that was founded in Maryland in 1999. It "promotes the prevention of youth suicide and works to dispel the social stigma surrounding suicide and depression through a campaign of education and awareness at the community level."

Since 1999 they have grown to include a Board of Trustees and a Board of Advisors. SPEAK has also become the Baltimore representative for Suicide Prevention Action Network (SPAN USA) and the Baltimore Affiliate of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

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Accomplishments

• The 24-hour Maryland Crisis Hotline phone number was printed on students' public school ID cards in the counties of Baltimore, Montgomery, Charles, and Howard, as well as Baltimore City

• Phones were put on the Bay Bridge and Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland in order to prevent people from jumping

Board members

Judge Lawrence Daniels, Chairman
Lisa Hurka Covington, Founder and President
Lee Tolzman, Vice-President
Marie McLaughlin, Secretary
Betty Schmedes, Treasurer
Brian Kelly
Kim Becker
James Cooper
Ronnie Feldman
Diana Lynn Carpenetti

Advisory Board

Linda Goldman
Jade Smalls Simmons
Delegate Bill Bronrott
Dr. Meena Vimelananda
Rebecca Hoffberger
Bev Cobain
Timothy C. Donovan
Colonel M. Kim Ward
Dr. Jodi Jacobson
Cheryl Lewis Orr
Cydney Wentsel
Rowland Savage
Father Ray Chase

About the logo

The people on the logo all died as a result of suicide. As described by SPEAK's website: "They wanted the pain to end, not their life. They entered a dark tunnel, unfortunately, not seeing the light at the end."

• Suicide Prevention Action Network USA

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention