The Hawk of Farmington Hills to host panel on suicide awareness

FARMINGTON HILLS — Farmington Suicide Awareness For Everyone, known as “SAFE,” is hosting a community conversation on Black youth mental health from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at The Hawk, located at 29995 W. Twelve Mile Road in Farmington Hills.

The event, sponsored by the nonprofit Graham E. Smith Memorial Fund, will feature a panel presentation with local mental health experts, including Lorrena Black, Chaplin Dorsett and Jamal Randall. The panel discussion will be followed by smaller group topical discussions led by panel members. There will also be resource tables from local community mental health providers.

With a theme of “Let’s Talk About It,” Farmington SAFE aims to bring together community members, leaders, and mental health experts to remove the stigma around depression and provide a connection to available resources. Anyone interested in getting involved is invited to attend Farmington SAFE meetings held at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in the community room at Farmington Hills City Hall, located at 31555 W. Eleven Mile Road.

Those in mental health distress or who know someone who is can find prevention and crisis resources by calling 988. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provide free and confidential emotional support to individuals 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the United States.

More information is available at www.facebook.com/FarmingtonSAFE.