ASCC begins peer councilor training for ‘You Are Not Alone’

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — American Samoa Community College has implemented and will begin training for ‘You Are Not Alone’, or YANA, suicide prevention peer-mentors,” college president Dr. Rosevonne Pato said at Monday’s cabinet meeting, noting that some directors may recall in the past that ASCC had a suicide task force called YANA.

“We work with the students so they are able to know the signs of suicide, and able to work with their peers in addressing some of the issues that may lead up to possible suicide,” she explained.

“This is a territorial issue and we have to all join in the prevention of suicide,” she declared. “We can’t ignore it or leave it to somebody else. And that is why we will begin also at the college.”

According to information posted on the ASCC website (www.amsamoa.edu), YANA is a support program that reaches out to students and other community members who are experiencing personal problems.

“Counselors are available to assist anyone who is in need of help. Peer Mentors are also available to help students who are not comfortable talking to counselors,” said ASCC.

If you need someone to talk to, or know of someone who needs help, contact the counselors at (684) 699-9155 ext. 326 during regular working hours. Contact emails: [email protected] / [email protected]. YANA after hours contact number: (684) 252-YANA or Crisis Hotline 24hrs Service (684) 699-4211

In the past YANA task force, ASCC worked with the Department of Human and Social Services (DHSS) and “we have also worked together with our faith-based entities to address training and the issues of suicide,” Dr. Pato said during the cabinet meeting.

She asked the Health Department, which has launched a suicide prevention awareness program, not to forget the college’s involvement in this issue. She pointed out that the college has faced many instances of those who have committed suicide, or attempted suicide.

“It’s [most prevalent] in the teenage years up to young adulthood, which covers our high school and our college years. So please make sure that we are all a part of [a plan] to address the issue of suicide,” she said.

Dr. Pato’s comments came after Health director Motusa Tuileama Nua informed cabinet members about the DoH suicide prevention awareness program, along with its partners

Motusa explained that after four suicide cases, which occurred in the last two to three months, DoH called an emergency meeting, which included representatives from  Education Department, Public Safety, DHSS and others

This group has set up suicide awareness programs for the next six months and it was officially kicked off last Friday with a wave.  Motusa said DoH believe these latest suicide numbers link to the current restrictions under the virus declaration.

As reported by Samoa News earlier this week, DoH training on suicide prevention was held last week and the training followed a strategic planning meeting in terms of creating a 30-to-60 day island-wide campaign for suicide awareness and prevention.

The training also focused on staff who will be answering the suicide prevention line. To access the hotline call — “220” or 699-4211.

For its role in suicide prevention awareness, the American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority started sending out over the weekend text messages to its subscribers that there is help available through the hotline. Several cabinet members acknowledged this ASTCA service at the cabinet meeting.

Education director Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga said the local Education Department is ready to assist DoH to bring the awareness message to schools including through sports programs such as the football program.

“We are educators. We’re not in the realm of identifying, knowing the signs of suicide. But we need that training,” she told Motusa. “We’ve already alerted all principals when that time comes that [Motusa] want to hold workshops we’re open for that.”

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga said it’s important that the community knows that ASG continues to work on ways to address this issue. And that DoH and its partners have started a suicide prevention \ awareness program.

He said this is a long-term commitment by the government, and not a short term approach.