Willie Ragan believes that lending an ear is the best way to prevent teen suicide. Recently, through the Southside Youth Projects that he is a part of, the Lend an EAR program was established to reach out to young people in distress.

“Suicide has touched me many times,” Ragan stated. “Last August a boy I knew, 22 years old, killed himself. He had everything to live for – it was just out of the blue.”

“I knew his parents,” Ragan continued. “I wanted to start a program then, but I didn't.”

When another young man killed himself with a shotgun Ragan decided it was time to take action.

“I have a welding business and knew his father,” the Burkeville resident commented.

When the Ragans went to pay their condolences to the family, the boy's father asked Ragan to “keep on doing things for local kids.”

“He said he hoped something good could come of that tragedy,” Ragan added. “We decided to start Lend an EAR.”

Ragan, the organizer of the Southside Youth Festival held every year in Crewe, has always been involved with helping young people. The Festival, which focuses on music, art, and poetry, is intended to give teens inspiration on the possibilities life holds for them.

“I think sports are wonderful, but for some kids it's not their thing,” he explained.

The music festival offers a $1,000 top prize. One former contestant has been on the Grand Ole Opry.

“Another girl was inspired by the poetry contest to be a writer and has gone on to college,” he added. “I've always been concerned about the well-being of kids.”

The Southside Youth Festival started with 400 to 500 the first year; last year over 1,500 attended. Since the Youth Festival is held only once a year, Ragan decided to branch out into other areas.

“We call ourselves Southside Youth Projects now,” he advised. “We raise money through sponsors for the festival, plus we make money at the festival – adults pay to get in. Last year we gave back over $3,000 to local youth programs and organizations in this area.”

Judging from his experiences with working with youth over the years, Ragan believes that the increasing problem of suicide in teens is a complex one.

“Bullying is bad, but it isn't the whole thing,” he observed. “It's probably a combination of several things that hit all at once. To a young person, when something bad happens it's the end of the world to them.”

Sadly, sometimes it is.

“How does suicide happen?” Ragan wondered. “When you get so far down does something come in – something evil? Sometimes it does seem like Satan at work.”

Working against that evil is the goal of Lend an EAR.

“The research I've done says that when someone is thinking about suicide if you can just get them to talk, to get through that day, it can make the difference,” Ragan stated.

The flyer for Lend an EAR provides the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline as well as a local number for Willie Ragan.

“Young people aren't going to talk to their parents,” he noted. “The local number I'm giving is good anytime. If I don't answer it will give my cell phone number. They can call anytime, night or day.”

Ragan hopes to bring his program to local school systems.

“If we're going to declare war on teen suicide we need the help of the schools,” he stated. “They have programs now, but we need to step them up.”

One school superintendent has already contacted Lend an EAR, Ragan noted.

Ragan is also passing out cards from SAVE, the Suicide Awareness Voice of Education.

“I'm passing out these cards that give the signs of suicide,” he said. “Parents and friends need to know what to look for.”

As for signs, Ragan has already thought of a way to make that work for his local program.

“I'm planning to go to all the town councils in the area and ask them to put up signs that read – 'Suicide is no solution – call somebody!'” Ragan said. “We'll put the numbers to call on there, too. Maybe some young person will be riding around upset and they will call.”

While it might not save every teen, it's a start.

Recalling a conversation with the father of one suicide victim, Ragan related, “After that boy died all the students from his school went to the family and told them how much they loved him. His father said – 'but he didn't know it. '”

“We're going to try,” Ragan affirmed. “If we don't try we can't help. And that's what God put us here for.”

The local number for Lend an EAR is (434) 767-2584. Additional assistance is available from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255.