The number of teen suicides in Anne Arundel County, Maryland is rising…

And as Jessica Forres reports…local residents are responding to what they are calling a crisis.



On the lawn of St. Paul’s church in Annapolis, Marsha Tonarelli
is taking part in the city’s first ever Out of the Darkness Community Walk…. She points to her t-shirt. It's a photo of her seventeen-year old son...

HE PASSED AWAY APRIL 15, 2009 FROM SUICIDE SO WE ARE GOING TO WALK FOR HIM TODAY….WE MISS YOU DEN..AND YOU SHOULD BE HERE...

Nancy Reynolds is with a local group called, Guiding Coaltion to Prevent Teen Sucide. She says the walk is meant to raise awareness and prevent teen suicide in the county. Since May 2008 thru April 2009, she claims there have been six deaths…putting Anne Arundel county on the high end nationally of teen suicides...

WHAT WE’RE FINDING IS THAT MANY OF THESE KIDS ARE NOT NECESSARILY DEPRESSED, THEY’RE NOT ON DRUGS OR ALCOHOL. THEY’VE JUST MADE THAT DETERMINATION. THEY’VE JUST MADE THAT DETERMINATION THAT THEY DON’T WANT TO LIVE ANYMORE AND THAT’S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO SHIFT

Reynolds says suicide is the number three killer of fifteen to twenty-four olds in America today.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

Residents of Anne Arundel County, Maryland are responding to a growing number of teen suicides in their community.

Jessica Forres reports…



More than a hundred men, women and teenagers gather on the grounds of St. Paul’s church in Annapolis. They are taking part in the city’s first Out of the Darkness Community Walk…Nancy Reynolds…with the Guiding Coalition to Prevent Teen Suicide… says Anne Arundel county is on the high end nationally of teen suicides...

THIS WALK AND THIS COALITION IS TO KIND OF DO A CULTURE SHIFT IN SOME WAYS IN THAT WE’RE REALLY ABOUT BUILDING LIFE, NOT TAKING IT AND THERE ARE LOTS OF REASONS TO KEEP ON GOING.

Pointing to her shirt, Marsha Tonarelli says she’s there for her son...

THIS IS MY SON DENNIS SMITH AND HE PASSED AWAY APRIL 15, 2009 FROM SUICIDE SO WE ARE GOING TO WALK FOR HIM TODAY.

The Coalition offcials say, suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens and young adults.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News