About Us
In February, 1985, Carbondale Community High School reeled from shock when an 18-year old Senior shot himself. The next few days, confused and dazed in the hallways, students asked each other "Why? He had it all.Everybody liked him. Not him, of all people! We leaned on him 'cause he listened." Teachers struggled with, "I could tell he was troubled, but I didn't know...... He was so bright, so much potential."
Apparently he didn't realize others would listen to him. He felt alone, different, nobody understood or really cared. Who could he talk to? It hurt too much to live. Could this happen again? Was this the first student suicide at CCHS? Some said there had been others, attempts and completions, over the years; handled discreetly to avoid embarrassing the families. Even one is too many. The frightening question: "How could we prevent this from happening again??" Now there is LifeSavers.
LifeSavers is a peer-support, suicide and crisis-prevention training program for students in its nineteenth year at CCHS.
Trainees learn how to really listen with caring and respect to their troubled peers, how to recognize symptoms of an impending crisis, and when to help that person seek a professional helper.The training week-end is a deeply moving and potentially life-changing experience for students and school advisors.
Mature friendships are made, and broken ones are mended. Barriers of differences in age, gender, ethnicity, economic status, roles, and interests, all crumble as students learn how much they share of pain, dreams, confusion, fears, love, and fun! And the growth and commitment continue through the school year in regularly scheduled meetings at which LifeSavers organize activities to enhance their school and their peers and to share their concerns within a responsible and supportive group.
USE YOUR POWER OF CHOICE WISELY
Choose to love . . . rather than hate.
Choose to laugh . . . rather than cry.
Choose to create . . . rather than destroy.
Choose to persevere . . . rather than quit.
Choose to praise . . . rather than gossip.
Choose to heal . . . rather than wound.
Choose to give . . . rather than steal.
Choose to act . . . rather than procrastinate.
Choose to grow . . . rather than rot.
Choose to pray . . . rather than curse.
Choose to live . . . rather than die.
from The Greatest Miracle in the World by Og Mandino