Spotlighting a Dark Subject

Ken Middleton will offer his insights on suicide prevention on May 22, the second speaker in a series of free talks offered this spring by the Woman's Club.

While society continues to shun and shame suicide victims, the National Institute of Health declares suicide rates at epidemic levels. Based on statistics compiled by the county coroner, Laguna Beach's effective suicide rate was more than twice the state average of 9.4 per 100,000 people in both 2006 and 2005, the most recent statistics available.

Middleton begins his talk at 7 p.m., 286 St. Ann's Drive.

A psychologist, Middleton, of Mission Viejo, provides suicide prevention training and counsels about its aftermath with border patrol and customs agents. He serves as the critical incident response coordinator for Health and Human Services Group, also of Mission Viejo, which provides psychological services under contract to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other government agencies.

"It isn't death they're seeking," Middleton explained of suicide victims. "People who kill themselves have real pain; they want a way out of pain." He promises to challenge his audience to put aside their fears about a taboo subject to aid those exhibiting suicidal behavior. "Do you dare listen to the hard questions and become a partner?" Middleton promised he will ask listeners.

Closing the series on June 12 will be Mary Pat Kelly, an Internet child safety investigator from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. She will discuss the importance of parents monitoring their children's use of the Internet and the danger of Internet predators.

Please RSVP to 497-9490 to attend the talks.