Comox Valley student art will be on display at the Filberg Lodge this weekend — and proceeds will go to a good cause.A selection of art created by Grade 8 to 12 students from all three secondary schools in the Valley will be on public display Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. While the art is not for sale, admission is by donation — $5 suggested — and all proceeds will support the Suicide Awareness and Prevention program offered to students in School District 71 schools. And, the craft shop at the lodge will be open this weekend with part of the proceeds from sales also going towards this program.The program was started by the Wachiay Friendship Centre this past fall. Facilitator Patti Vermette provides advice and information on available community resources to students in Comox Valley schools.She said talking about suicide can be hard for people, but it's important, and the issue has become a more open in the community since a number of teen suicides last year. "I think the fear is what has been driving the silence, and people are realizing it's OK to talk about suicide — it's important to talk about it," said Vermette. "If we don't talk about it then we can't get the resources to these folks."At a preview of the exhibit on Friday, Vermette pointed out that suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people — car accidents are the No. 1 cause. She also said 80 per cent of youth will contemplate suicide at some point, and 80 per cent of people who attempt or complete suicide show warning signs beforehand.Vermette provides examples of warning signs and offers advice on what to do if a friend shows signs of being suicidal. Asking someone if they are suicidal can be the hardest thing to do, she said, but it's important."Talking about it, what it does, is it gives a person who is feeling that desperate, that sorrowful, that hurt, it gives them permission to talk about the things that are going on for them," said Vermette, adding that telling an adult is key as well.Vermette speaks from first-hand experience; she was suicidal as a teenager, as was her daughter, and she has lost friends to suicide. She explains how suicide can affect not only the person contemplating it, but also those around them.Wachiay Friendship Centre program director Roger Kishi said he was impressed with the way the community joined together after the tragedies last year."The community reacted to come together and look at ways to address, what was called at the time, a crisis," said Kishi.He also said that while this program is new, a similar program used to be administered in Valley schools thanks to Crossroads Crisis Centre Society. However, this program ended in spring 2010, and the new one through the friendship centre was implemented this past fall.Dave Scott, vice-chair of the Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park Association, said the lodge would be happy to host the presentation annually."The artwork and photography of students from Isfeld, Highland, and Vanier is creative and connecting," said Scott. "I encourage Valley residents to come to the Lodge this weekend and enjoy viewing the impressive work our students produce."writer@comoxvalleyrecord.com