Pittston Area High School holds meeting to confront recent teen suicides

Yatesville--Hundreds of people gathered in the Pittston Area High School auditorium on Wednesday night for a special meeting on sucide prevention.

Joshua Santos - Nanticoke

Matt Montagna - Pittston

Jamie Baker - Pittston

The meeting followed after the tragic suicides of four students, one being from the Greater Nanticoke Area School District, another from the Hazleton Area School District, and two being from Pittson Area.

The meeting was presided over by a panel of experts which included Pittston Area Superintendent Mike Garzella,  Carmen Ambrosino head of the Luzerne County drug and Alcohol Service Center, and others from social Services and the Department on Mental Health. The meeting also allowed parents and community members to speak out and address their concerns.

Hundreds of people turned out to express their views at the suicide prevention meeting on Wednesday.

Pittston Area Senior Mary Yozwiak spoke out to the crowd about her struggles with bullying which started in kindergarten and led to her battle with Anorexia.

"When people would call me fat and ugly I would often think I was worthless and have thoughts of suicide," said Yozwak. "However, I realized by clinging to those I love and keeping a level head, the bullies made me stronger."



Samantha Neman lost her son Kyle at the age of 13-years-old to suicide. Neman said Kyle was a kid who loved life and planned on being a doctor who cured cancer once he was older. Neman believes bullying is only one aspect to suicide and their are many others that need to be looked at. Holding up Kyle's picture, Neman said Kyle was a straight A student, was well liked, and doesn't believe bullying was the reason for her son's decision.

Samantha Neman holds a picture of her son Kyle who committed suicide five years ago. 

"Parents need to engage in their kids lives and listen to what they have to say," said Neman. "Bullying is a quick rush to judgement when we all know other factors can be a role in these tragic decisions ."

Members of the suicide prevention panel also took questions and offered their advice on the issue. Superintendent Mike Garzella said "Pittston Area High School has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to bullying and the deaths of these teens are currently under investigation."

Superintendent Mike Garzella addresses the crowd at Wednesday's suicide prevention meeting.

Some parents also issued concerns that the staff at Pittston Area also needs to be trained while dealing with the students and that some members can be bullies themselves. When asked if the staff at Pittston Area is under investigation Garzella would not comment on any particulars of the investigation.

Wilkes-Baree teacher Jamie Andrews addresses the panel  on what things teachers could do to help their students.

"Let me just say I think we have an excellent staff at Pittston Area and I'm taking accusations of our staff being bullies with a grain of salt," said Garzella.

Experts also advised parents to talk to their kids and urged student to talk with someone they know they can trust. Carmen Ambrosino offered the idea of creating a suicide prevention task force.

"This is a community effort and let me assure all of you that this is not the last time this panel is going to meet," said Ambrosino.

Resources were provided by the panel if a parent has any suspicion of their child committing suicide.

1-800-273-TALK
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
http://www.afsp.org/

A lesson to commemorate

 In our vast world change is an inevitable part of life. We went from CD players to i-pods, from typewriters to computers, and from human interaction to facebook. However, despite some of the impressive changes technology brings, we still have a lot to learn when it comes to matters of the heart.

I knew Matthew Montagna only well enough to say I knew his name and to say hi. But from what I've been hearing from individuals who did know Matthew, he had a heart that was larger then life itself. The world can be a cruel place and during our toughest years of growth and development we're presented with a stigma which tells us we have to dress a certain way, act a certain way, and if we don't follow these unwritten "rules," the world will swallow us up in a blink of an eye.

I'm writing this to tell Matthew that he was better then all of that and someone who was a step above all of us when it came to compassion. It's that type of compassion we need to remember everyday and not just when someone is crying out for help.

Matthew's death although tragic, has taught us a lesson and brought forth a special mission to appreciate all life, whether it be a shoulder to cry on when needed, or to provide a simple smile to brighten someones day. Subsequently, their will be many who miss Mathew and many who will mourn over the loss of such a young life. However, even though he will be missed we must celebrate the fact that Matthew decided to be the best of himself while he was with us on earth.

And on that note, Matthew's light will always shine, for he is no longer in pain and he is a symbol for those who need help fending for themselves. With that symbol also comes our responsibility to be there not only when others need us but to also be there to show kindness to every person no matter what our differences may be.

Matthew although I did not know you I hope this column will help others spread the message that you are now the light which shines in individuals that are caught up in darkness. It is your spirit that is needed in each and everyone of us. I will unfortunately never physically meet you but your spirit will now guide me to be a better person and for that, I thank you.

                                                               
there will be a Candle Lighting Service at the Panther's field in Remembrance of Matthew Montagna on Wednesday September 26th at the Jr. Patriots Field on Swallow Street in Pittston.