The program at West Hartford’s Northwest Catholic High School is aimed at educating parents. 

Submitted by Kimberly Sanders Spera, Director of Communications, Northwest Catholic

Submitted photo

On Wednesday, April 8, from 7-8:30 p.m., Northwest Catholic will be visited by John Halligan, who will present a program titled “Bullying, Technology, and Teen Depression.” The program, aimed at educating parents on bullying and cyberbullying, will cover current social media teen issues, depression and suicide statistics.

Halligan lost his son, Ryan, to suicide on October 7, 2003, at the age of 13. At the time of his death, Ryan was a student at a middle school in Vermont. It was revealed in great detail after Ryan’s death that he was ridiculed and humiliated by peers at school and online.

In memory of his son and in just a few months after Ryan’s death, Halligan spearheaded the Vermont Bullying Prevention law in 2004. He also led the passing of a law in 2006 pertaining to suicide prevention education in public schools.

Halligan has been outspoken about the need for more education and prevention of bullying, cyber bullying and teen suicide throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America. He and his wife Kelly have appeared on several national TV programs including Primetime with Diane Sawyer, PBS Frontline and Oprah.

More information is available at www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org.