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Connections

Coming up on Connections: Wednesday, June 20

First hour: Should security guards in schools be armed?

Second hour: Discussing suicide prevention and loss

The Hilton Central School District is considering arming retired law enforcement officers to work security. It's a proposal that has caused debate among parents; some argue that bringing more guns in to schools is inherently unsafe, while others feel that trained former officers are capable of handling firearms in a secure manner. We discuss the proposal with people on different sides of the issue. Our guests:

  • Casey Kosiorek, superintendent of the Hilton Central School District
  • Dave Inzana, director of safety and security for the Hilton Central School District
  • Stephanie Bedenbaugh, parent and leader with the Rochester chapter of Moms Demand Action
  • Kelly Lincoln, parent, member of Progressive Parents of Hilton, and licensed clinical social worker

Then in our second hour, the recent suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain have sparked concern among mental health advocates, who note that celebrity suicides can have a copycat impact on the general population. Our guests will discuss suicide from a range of angles, including the impact of loss on surviving family. In studio:

  • Bill Perun, suicide attempt survivor, past president of NAMI Rochester, vice president of NAMI NYS, member of the NAMI National Peer Council, and certified Peer Specialist for the New York Office of Mental Health
  • Carrie Andrews, survivor of suicide loss
  • Dr. Joe Vasile, M.D., psychiatrist, and president and CEO of the Greater Rochester Independent Practice Association (GRIPA)
  • Megan Clifford, LCSW-R, certified Mental Health First Aid instructor
Connections
Evan Dawson is the host of "Connections with Evan Dawson." He joined WXXI in January 2014 after working at 13WHAM-TV, where he served as morning news anchor. He was hired as a reporter for 13WHAM-TV in 2003 before being promoted to anchor in 2007.
Megan Mack is the executive producer of "Connections with Evan Dawson" and live/televised engagement programming.