The scope of the program has changed over the years. Initially, TLC's single objective was to educate students through our suicide awareness curriculum. However, as we became involved in school outreach, we recognized the importance of educating general school staff as well as training suicide resource persons to be available in each school. Therefore, the in-depth training component for school professionals has become as important as the curriculum for students.

This change in emphasis is in keeping with our increased commitment to crisis intervention. Crisis intervention involves the provision of structure and support to an individual who is confused or overwhelmed by the crisis situation. The practical, action-oriented service must be immediately and continuously available since crises do not occur on schedule. The ecological approach requires each player in the network of supports and services to be thoroughly familiar with his/her roles, functions, and means of accessing other caregivers. The role of the school should be to provide readily available initial contact and supports and to refer troubled adolescents for any treatment beyond this crisis-oriented care. Each day that the program volunteers spend in the schools they are available to talk individually to students and to consult with staff if the need arises.

In addition, agency professionals are available to respond if a suicide attempt or completion occurs within the school community. We have found that suicide awareness means more than the presentation of a curriculum to students and the training of school staff. Trained individuals must also be available to help those who may be affected by a suicidal crisis. Again, we want to emphasize that our suicide awareness curriculum is an educational program and is not a therapeutic program.

Depression is a serious illness and is a leading cause of suicide. It can be stress-induced, a result of mental illness, or a combination of both. A person who has negative and suicidal thoughts before participating in the TLC program will probably have negative and suicidal thoughts after the program. TLC did not cause the depression and it cannot cure it. It can, however, make people more sensitive to the fact that some people around them are at high risk and need help. The goal is to sensitize and mobilize people to get help for the suffering person. For the purpose of our program, the specific cause does not matter because the response is the same: crisis intervention. Since adolescents tend to confide more in their peers than in adults, the program teaches teens to be helping friends who can respond for life.

Finally, throughout this project we have solicited feedback from all participants: adults and teens. Participants' suggestions have been used in the creation of the final form of our training curriculum. We have been impressed by the eagerness of students to talk with us, especially if they sense that adults are listening to them with respect. This program has increased the number of at-risk teens referred for help. We take the conservative approach of tolerating false positives more than false negatives with the hope that, as a result of this intervention, these at-risk teens are less likely to become future suicide statistics.