Speaker sets two Havre presentations on suicide and self-esteem for Friday

Globally known speaker and author Ganel-Lyn Condie will be holding two separate presentations in Havre Friday to raise awareness about suicide and self-esteem.

Condie will be speaking at the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line Teen Center at 4 p.m. and again at 7 at Havre Inn and Suites.

Both events will be free and open to the public.

Boys & Girls Club event organizer Susan Brurud said that once she heard Condie would be hosting a presentation at Havre Inn and Suites she wanted to see if she would be interested in speaking at the Boys & Girls Club, as well.

Brurud said she was familiar with Condie from other youth speaking events she has done in the past, as well as her books, and wanted her to speak to the middle school and high school youths. The presentation will addressbuilding self-esteem and suicide prevention.

“I like reading her stuff because I feel like she is speaking on a very current topic,” Brurud said.

She added that the event at the teen center is open to any middle school and high school students regardless if they are members in the club.

Suicide is an epidemic, brunnel said, with the state having a high suicide rate. Suicide is a risk factor for youth and the Boys & Girls Club is excited about having the opportunity to have a national presenter come and speak to the children she added.

“Mental health is something that the more that we talk about it, with other friends and family and people at school, the more we realize people aren’t alone in it,” Brurud said. “It’s becoming a conversation that needs to be had.”

Condie said this is not only going to be her first time speaking in Havre, but her first time speaking in Montana.

Condie said she has spoken in a number of different states, as well as in the Middle East and England. She added that she speaks to any size community and is always happy to have the opportunity to have people come together and connect. She said she would be happy to come back in the future if she was asked again.

“I hope it goes well,” she said. “… I love that your community has really put a lot of support behind having an event that brings everybody together.”

Brurud said she hopes the presentation serves as a springboard for children to start talking about mental health. Mental health is at the forefront for these children and studies have proven they are more successful and have stronger relationships when they have a stable base, she said.

Condie shares her personal experiences, Brurud said, not just research, but something she has lived through and experienced. Condie shares her experiences with the youths and adults alike, showing them what it is like to come out on the other side and that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Brurud added that Condie also brings a great sense of humor into her presentations, and is popular with the youth, because they feel like she is relatable.

“I think she is one that has so much to share,” Brurud said.

The goal of youth league programs the club is doing is to build a support network for children when they have a hard time, she said.

“We want these kids to be engaged and enlightened,” she said. “We want them to be able to talk about it with each other and other people afterwards. We want to have our youth starting to have these conversations.”

Condie said she lives in Utah and is releasing her seventh book in April. She has spoken at more than 750 speaking events over the past four-and-a-half years. She makes appearances on different TV and radio networks and also has a podcast.

She said that although she enjoys the written word, video, TV and speaking events have a different connection with people.

“I like writing, I like speaking to the two different parts of my soul,” she said.

She added that the issues with mental health and suicide are close to her heart. Her sister committed suicide, at age 40 in March of 2014.

She said that before she published her first book she felt directed by God to write prior to her sister’s death. Her sister’s suicide occurred shortly before her first book was published. She later rewrote the book to include her sister’s story in honor of her, she said.

“I felt really directed to do it,” she said.

When Condie first started writing, her books were a collection of other people’s stories, she said. She believes a true story is much more powerful and motivating for people when they are going through hard times.

“Everyone is kind of fighting their own battles,” she said. “Every one of us is on our own arena floor somewhere.”

She said she speaks about suicide prevention, depression and anxiety.

“That’s not all that I speak about, but I will always talk about that,” she said.

Condie said she is willing to talk about her scars in a way that can inspire, so she can make more of a connection to families and connect people as a community.

“I feel passionate about that because it’s a matter of life and death,” she said.