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Independence facility tackles teen suicide

Posted at 7:43 PM, Apr 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-25 21:01:48-04

A new behavioral health facility is opening its doors to teens, hoping to give them a place to turn when things get difficult.

Great Circle provides a full spectrum of treatment services to children who have serious emotional and behavioral disorders. Preventing self-injury is a primary focus of their Independence, Missouri campus.

Mark Leavell is the director of Home Services for Great Circle. He says social media can influence suicide-related behaviors.

"Social media can be a real problem and that's in the best of circumstances," said Leavell.

Great Circle's newest location in Independence offers foster care case management to 225 children and their families. They advise caretakers to stay vigilant when it comes to the internet and social media.

"You can't entirely know your child. You can't entirely know what's going on. Keeping your eyes and ears open is the very best you can do. But also monitoring their use of social media," said. Leavell.