SPEAK (Suicide Prevention Education Awareness for Kids)

SPEAK (Suicide Prevention Education Awareness for Kids) Logo

Basic Information

Address: P.O. Box 36802 Baltimore, Maryland 21286
Phone Number: 410-377-7711

Action Shots

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Additional Information

Executive Director: Lisa Hurka Covington
President: Betty Schmedes
Service Description: Prevention, Education, Awareness and collaboration with other organizations.
Mission Statement:

SPEAK is an independent organization in the state of Maryland, moving forward with our mission:
To promote the prevention of youth suicide and working to dispel the social stigma surrounding suicide and depression through a campaign of education and awareness at the community level.

Membership Fee: Donations are greatly appreciated.
Eligibility Requirements: Desire to volunteer some time for us.
Area Served: State of Maryland
Hours of Operation/Schedule: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Services Offered:
Speaking, book distributions, Maryland Youth Crisis Hotline number printed on student photo id cards, emergency phones and Maryland Crisis Hotline number placed on Maryland bridges
Events:

SPEAK works with other organizations at events, speaking, setting up, networking, etc.

Conferences/Speakers: Governor’s Interagency Workgroup on Suicide Prevention, National Association for Public Interest Law Conference, Million Mom March Press Conference - DC, Baltimore City Teacher's Conference, Baltimore City Public Schools training for School Crises Conference, NAMI Maryland State Conference, The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Trauma, & Resiliency 2002 Conference, Affiliated Santé Group's conference, etc.
Fundraisers: Dinners, raffles, art auctions, concerts, etc.
History:

Lisa Hurka Covington is the Founder and President of SPEAK. Her younger sister, Laura was 28 when she shot herself on July 9, 1991. Ms. Hurka Covington is a public speaker, published writer, and activist fighting for the safety of our young people. She sat on the Public Policy Committee for NAMI Maryland (National Association for Mental Illness) and also on the board of MAHA (Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse), is the community organizer in Maryland for the national organization SPAN (Suicide Prevention Action Network), and is the Maryland spokesperson for suicide prevention. Ms. Hurka Covington has been on radio and television, and has been written up in magazines and newspapers. "Every negative situation has something positive that one day will evolve," she stresses. Her beautiful sister and others who completed suicide will never be forgotten - they were here for a reason!

Lee Tolzman, Vice President of SPEAK is a mother of 5 who lost her youngest son, John, to suicide when he shot himself April 22, 1985. John was only 12 years old. After spending several years in the support group Seasons where she sometimes worked as a facilitator, she spent 3 years with First Step Youth Services speaking on Suicide Prevention. In 1999 she helped found SPEAK where she has continued speaking at schools, conferences and community organizations on the subject of youth suicide.

Betty Schmedes is the Treasurer of SPEAK. Her younger sister Mary died of a self inflicted gunshot wound on Thanksgiving Day in 1988. Betty has been a nurse for 38 years and is the mother of two grown sons and also has two beautiful grandchildren. Her sister's death led her to reevaluate her career. She is now a Youth Minister at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Pikesville and at St. Ursula's Church in Parkville. Betty had also attended Seasons and was involved as a facilitator when she met Lisa and the other women. It was at this time in 1999, that she decided to join them in their efforts to turn their grief around and make a difference with our youth by being their advocates, and developing the SPEAK organization. Betty believes that our loved ones spirits still live through our endeavors.

Marie McLaughlin is one of the original founders of SPEAK and a survivor of her son's suicide death. She serves on the board of Speak and holds the office of Secretary for the organization. Marie holds a B.S. in Nursing from Notre Dame of Maryland and a M.S. Health Science from Towson University. She worked as a Psychiatric and Mental Health nurse for more than 25 years and has experience in Health Education. Marie currently works part time as a clinical research nurse. In addition to Speak and work, she fills her life with family, especially 2 beautiful granddaughters and gardening, hiking, traveling, and writing. She is currently working on a book about the aftermath of her son's death. Christopher took his life on January 2, 1992 by hanging himself. He would have been 23 on March 23rd of that year.

Detailed Organization Information:

 

 SPEAK is the leader of suicide prevention in Maryland

 
Our accomplishments include some of the following:
  • Getting the Maryland Youth Crisis Hotline Number on student photo id cards, beginning with Baltimore County.  Since then, we have now added Baltimore City and five other counties.  We continue to expand this project throughout the state.
  • SPEAK was instrumental in getting 20 emergency phones and the Maryland Crisis Hotline number on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and six on the Francis Scott Key Bridge.  Several bridges in Southern Maryland have also followed suit and we continue to move forward with this endeavor.
  • SPEAK was the liaison between Delegate Simmons who co-sponsored HB740, Safe Schools Reporting Act 2004, with Governor Ehrlich's office; pushing for the first time bullying legislation that was passed successfully in Maryland.
  • We continue our community outreach by speaking to various groups, including police, schools, emergency rooms, medical professionals, faith based organizations, the political arena, as well as offering assistance to survivors.
  • We also provide a survivors panel each year for the Maryland's Annual Suicide Prevention Conference and, this year, SPEAK was acknowledged for its dedication to creating a "culture of hope." 

We will continue to make major strides in the area of suicide prevention in Maryland and the rest of the nation.

Slogan: "We SPEAK for those who hurt in silence"