AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Suicide Prevention Program Tea will 1:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, Blaine House, State Street.

Several individuals will be recognized for their efforts at this event, ranging from educators who developed a curriculum on suicide prevention for middle school students to teens and young adults supporting suicide prevention efforts in their communities, to clinicians and community leaders being recognized for their prevention efforts.

The theme of the event is “Collaborations in Suicidology: Bridging the Disciplines.”

Maine Suicide Prevention Day follows National Suicide Prevention Week which was Sept. 9-15.

Featured speakers will be Bonnie Smith on behalf of Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew; Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Sheila Pinette and Cheryl Morin, President of the JD Foundation, whose son, William Jody Day took his life Nov. 18.

Honorees at the event will be Betty Ann Buchan, guidance counselor RSU 1 in Woolwich; Dana Clark, guidance counselor, RSU 5; Kathy Sutton, school nurse supervisor, RSU 10; Peter Spears, health teacher, SAD 49; Jean Zimmerman and Susan Berry, department of education.

The Interact Leaders Club has volunteered many hours of their time to review, revise and develop a set of age-appropriate suicide prevention lessons for middle school students.

* Joan Smyrski is a nationally recognized leader in children’s services, mental health, and adults with intellectual disabilities. She has implemented innovative practices to serve the children, youth and families in these systems.

*Rebecca Morin. Under her leadership and guidance, the Maine Primary Care Association has instituted a progressive structure for engaging primary care providers in effective suicide prevention that has gained national attention.

* The Reid Family. Sunce the death of their son, this family has become youth suicide prevention leaders in their Southern Maine community.

* Danny Gay served on the Maine Suicide Prevention Program Advisory Council and has engaged his peers on the University of Southern Maine campus to raise awareness of suicide prevention.

* Thomas J. Williams has played a fundamental role in raising awareness of the importance of suicide prevention and mental health promotion at USM.

*Nurse Patrick McFarlane brought his interest in suicide prevention, intervention and assessment to primary care sites.

* Nurse Anita Rousseau worked to increase the capacity of clinical and academic staff at St. Mary’s Regional Health Center in Lewiston to assess suicidality in patients.

* The Rev. Mark D. Wilson used his connections with community members to effect change to save lives and enhance the futures of the youth in his community.

For information, call Cheryl DiCara, coordinator, Maine CDC Youth Suicide Prevention Program, at 207-287-5362.