The Morgan Beverly Suicide Prevention Foundation, Inc. was formed by the family of Morgan Beverly, who ended her 16-year old life by suicide in January, 2009. Morgan's death had a ripple effect on her family, friends, acquaintances, and the community at large.
During the last few years, communities in Anne Arundel County have lost too many teenagers and young adults by suicide. The family was touched by those who reached out to them with stories of their own suicide attempts or thoughts, or those of their loved ones. It became evident that the teenagers were having a difficult time coping with the death of their friends and classmates. It also became obvious that parents of teenagers do not fully appreciate the impact that teen suicides are having on their peers.
There are inadequate resources in our community for both teenagers and their parents to address the wave of teen suicides. We talk to our teenagers about drugs, alcohol and sex, but we’ve avoided the subject of suicide. However painful, parents and teens alike need to address the subject of suicide in a compassionate and educated manner.
The mission of The Morgan Beverly Suicide Prevention Foundation is to prevent suicide, with an emphasis on preventing suicide among adolescents, teenagers and young adults in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. MBSPF will assist schools and community organizations in developing, facilitating, funding and executing programs, activities, workshops and events designed to educate parents, children and other members of the community about the causes, signs and prevention of suicide. Through its website and other activities, MBSPF will provide information about suicide prevention resources available from local, state and national organizations.
Morgan's family hopes that the activities of the Foundation will raise awareness about suicide so that teens and young adults who are in crisis will not turn to suicide as the answer, and that friends and family will recognize the signs and get them help before it is too late.
The Foundation encourages teens to SPEAK UP and prevent suicide.