Orangeburg Area Mental Health Center is hoping to help youth "Work It Out With Hope" at its upcoming Youth Suicide Prevention Conference on Friday, Oct. 24.

The event will be held from 7:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. "Work It Out With Hope" is co-sponsored by OCtech and the Mental Health America of South Carolina.

"This year's conference highlights some of our successes in suicide prevention efforts and equally reinforces the need for continued vigilance," said Sonja D. Glover, CE&P director of the Orangeburg Area Mental Health Center and conference chairwoman of the Youth Suicide Prevention Conference for Orangeburg, Calhoun and Bamberg counties.

Featured keynote speaker will be comedian, actor, writer, director and producer Akintunde. Akintunde has worked as a joke and monologue writer for "Showtime at the Apollo;" wrote monologues for comedian Monique for the 2004 BET Awards; teamed up with fellow comedian Chris Tucker as his monologue writer for the 2005 NAACP Image Awards; and appeared at Bishop T.D. Jakes' Mega Fest 2005 and on The Word Network, TBN's "Praise the Lord" and The Gospel Music Channel. In 2007, his Web series "It's Time 2 Laugh" debuted.

Conference workshops and discussions will include such topics as "Life in the Fast Lane: The Role of Drugs and Alcohol in Youth Suicide Risk," "Life Skills: Lessons on Coping, Problem-Solving and Communication" and "Relationships, Sex and Teen Pregnancy Among Today's Youth."

The OAMHC and MHA of South Carolina continue to work with the health and advocacy community on prevention efforts to help prevent suicide among young people.

"Youth suicide is the third-leading cause of death for persons aged 15 to 24, and suicide overall is the 11th-leading cause of death in the United States," said Donna Soileau, suicide prevention coordinator for MHA of South Carolina.

Bessie Abraham, executive director of the OAMHC, said the center's goal is to prevent suicide and the devastation that accompanies it through prevention and early intervention. Glover added that the OAMHC hopes to connect participants to the services, resources and support available in their own community.

"This conference serves to inspire individuals, organizations and communities to implement strategies needed to protect our states' greatest resources -- our young people," she said. "The objectives of this local initiative are to increase county-wide public awareness about youth suicide and youth suicide prevention; improve youth access to appropriate prevention and intervention services; and reduce the incidence of suicidal behavior among Orangeburg, Calhoun and Bamberg County youth aged 12 to 21."

Early registration deadline for the conference is Sept. 29. Cost is $10 for students and $15 for adults. Regular registration will be accepted through Oct. 6. Cost will be $15 for students and $20 for adults. Registration fees include a continental breakfast, lunch and conference materials.

For more information and registration forms, call Glover at 803-536-1571, ext. 129, or stop by the Orangeburg Area Mental Health Center at 2319 St. Matthews Road in Orangeburg.

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