A friend with something to say
I have a friend, who I consider close, who always has something smart to say and todays post, above all her other ones of late, made me think, and I want you to think too. “Don’t laugh at me….”
On another note, a fellow blogger posted this entry in her post and I’ve copied & pasted it directly here in hope of passing it on.
I just got an email from a family associate about the daughter of someone they know. There is a local girl MISSING. Please look at the picture below, read the text, copy it, paste it into your own blog… let’s use the power of the blogging community for good.
Thanks in advance to everyone who takes two minutes to look at this photo and read the story.
It might save a life and a family.
Official Story: WTOP WASHINGTON - There is no evidence of foul play in the disappearance of two teenage girls missing since Jan. 19, Montgomery County Police say.
Police are looking for Rachel Samantha Smith, 16, of the 14000 block of Platinum Drive in Potomac, and Rachel Crites, 18, of the 600 block of Gate Stone Drive in Gaithersburg.
However, police are concerned about the mental state of Smith and Crites. Police and family members say they want the girls to know the concerns or problems they may be facing can be resolved.
An entry from Crites’ diary has her family particularly concerned, WRC-TV (Channel 4) reported Tuesday.
The entry read: “Wherever I end up laying, whether buried or cremated, I want to stay with my true love, buried next to her. This is my choice. I’m sorry.”
Detectives believe the girls may have traveled to Charleston, W.Va. on Jan. 19, but do not know if they are still in that area.
The girls were last seen on Jan. 19 before leaving to see a movie in Georgetown.
Smith is 5 feet 1 inches tall and weighs about 118 pounds. She has green eyes, and medium-length brown hair.
Police say she might be driving a dark blue 1997 Subaru Outback station wagon with Maryland license plate MBJ-485.
Rachel Crites is 5 feet 4 inches tall, and weighs about 110 pounds. She has brown eyes and brown medium-length hair.
You can see pictures of both girls by clicking on the photo gallery.
Smith had spent the night at Crites’ house on Thursday with both sets of parents’ permission.
Anyone with information about the location of either girls is asked to call the Montgomery County Police non-emergency telephone number at (301) 279-8000 or the Family Crimes Division at (240) 773-5400.
January 24th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
thanks for posting that … i appreciate your support
February 6th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
SMYAL CALLS FOR RAISED AWARENESS OF SUICIDE RISK FOR LGBTQ YOUTH
WASHINGTON, DC – The Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL) today called on youth service professionals to be aware of the elevated suicide risk among young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning of their sexual orientation or gender identity (LGBTQ). The statement comes after last week’s discovery of the bodies of two Montgomery County, MD teenagers who apparently took their own lives. Todd Peterson, Chair of the SMYAL Board of Directors, issued the following statement: “On behalf of the SMYAL Board, staff, and volunteers, I wish to express deepest condolences to the family and friends of Rachel Crites and Rachel Smith. This tragic loss demonstrates the importance for all youth workers to be vigilant for any signs of suicidal ideation, attempted suicide and depression in the young people they serve.
“SMYAL urges our region’s youth service professionals to be aware of signs of suicidal behavior in all adolescents. While we do not presume to understand the thoughts, feelings and causes of this tragedy, social science research continues to show that LGBTQ young people are at significantly greater risk than their peers for attempted suicide and other behaviors which may lead to suicide.
“For the sake of the lives of our young people, all youth workers must be particularly sensitive to the needs of LGBTQ youth and aware of the increased risks they face, including suicide, as well as other mental health issues, substance abuse, homelessness as well as physical and verbal abuse.�
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About SMYAL
The Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL) is the only Washington, DC metro area service organization solely dedicated to supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Founded in 1984, SMYAL is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization.
SMYAL’s mission is to promote and support self-confident, healthy, productive lives for LGBTIQ youth ages 13-21 as they journey from adolescence into adulthood. To fulfill our mission, we focus our commitment and energy on five focus areas: (1) Life Skills & Leadership Development, (2) Counseling & Support, (3) Health & Wellness Education, (4) Safe Social Activities, and (5) Community Outreach and Education.
SMYAL also provides programs for LGBTQ youth in participating Maryland public schools and conducts LGBTQ youth cultural competency trainings to teachers, emergency housing personnel, social workers, and other youth service professionals across the region.
Resources for LGBTQ Young People and Youth Service Professionals
Youth are always able to refer themselves to SMYAL’s programs. Youth interested in learning about activities at SMYAL’s youth center can visit http://www.smyal.org/calendar/calendar.php , E-mail youthcenter@smyal.org or contact Victor Price, Youth Services and Activities Manager, at (202) 546-5940 ext. 107.
School counselors and social workers who wish to refer a youth to SMYAL’s individual counseling program may do so by contacting either of SMYAL’s Mental Health Counselors:
Sean LeSane
sean.lesane@smyal.org
(202) 546-5940 ext. 117 Xanthia Johnson
xanthia.johnson@smyal.org
(202) 546-5940 ext. 106
LGBTQ young people who are contemplating suicide should call the Trevor Helpline at 1-866-4-U-TREVOR (488-7386), a national, toll-free 24-hour suicide prevention helpline for LGBTQ young people.
Youth service professionals who wish to schedule LGBTQ youth cultural competency training for their staff should contact Christopher Lane, Acting Director of Programs, at christopher.lane@smyal.org or (202) 546-5940 ext. 103