Fundraiser to benefit teen suicide prevention group

Tonight, the Caf/ Presidio in Tubac will host a fundraiser to educate and increase awareness of teen suicide and depression.

Charlene Westgate is the founder of “Tea for Teens,” a project that organizes community members in order to raise funds and to educate and inform local parents and teens about teen suicide and depression.

All donations from the events go toward purchasing brochures that teach teens and parents how to identify and deal with signs of depression in young people.

“I wanted to find a way to raise funds to make the teen guides that they have available to local schools,” Westgate said. “So I just created a project to be able to make that happen.”

Westgate’s project has already reached as far as Tennessee and Virginia, thanks to enthusiastic family members who set up their own “Tea for Teens” gatherings, each with their own individual spin.

“Each person adapts it to their own situation,” she said.

Though little more than a collection of “concerned members of the community,” Westgate believes that these gatherings, which are normally two hours or less, provide an opportunity to learn and to help local high schools. The brochures that the parties raise money to purchase are published by Families for Depression Awareness, an organization that Westgate discovered after her son, Joseph, committed suicide two years ago, at the age of 19.

“I had done a lot of research after I lost my son to suicide,” she said. “After looking around, I just felt that the teen guide that they make available would really make a difference to teenagers experiencing depression.” Westgate said the guides would go to local high schools. ”Every dollar donated will purchase one teen depression resource guide, and we will be making them available to local schools.”

Michael Barr, training manager for the Southern Arizona Mental Health Center, will give a brief talk at the meeting. Barr spoke at a previous “Tea for Teens” gathering at Westgate’s home, and said he fully supports community-based initiatives like the one she has started.

“The point is that this is coming from the community, and that, I think, is a lot more meaningful, and I want to support that,” Barr said.

Personal interaction and communication are pivotal to helping those who are depressed and considering suicide, he said. “Notice people’s distress,” he said, “and then ask, hey, are you OK?”

Westgate said that those looking for more information about teen depression can visit the Families for Depression Awareness web site at www.familyaware.org.

The “Tea for Teens” party will be held tonight, Friday, Aug. 8, at Caf/ Presidio, 50 Avenida Goya, in Tubac, 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Those interested in hosting or attending a “Tea for Teens” party can contact Charlene Westgate at (520) 398-9893.