Caption: Former chairperson of the You Are Not Alone (YANA) Coalition at ASCC, Rosevonne Pato, is seen here in front of one of the organization's banners. After this photos was taken, the audience filled-in the entire banner with messages to loved ones. YANA celebrated its third anniversary last week.

YANA, a collective effort by the students, faculty and staff of ASCC, came together in 2003 after a wave of teen suicides, which included two students at the College, shocked the community. Dr. Irene Helsham, formerly the College’s Dean of Student Services and presently its Dean of Academic Affairs, remembers the origins of the coalition. “Our President, Dr. Adele Satele-Galea’i, felt a great concern over how some of our students would cope with losing a friend or family member, and how they would deal with the feelings of grief, depression or even hopelessness. The President requested that Student Services immediately form a task force and schedule an assembly to let the students know that we at ASCC cared.”

            That first task force brought together members of the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Peer Mentors, who worked together with the College’s counselors, faculty and administrators to create a program to assist ASCC students or any youth in the community experiencing a crisis or otherwise struggling with issues most people cannot handle alone. Lui Paulo, at the time President of SGA, had the idea to name this new organization You Are Not Alone or YANA. Over the following semesters, YANA has networked with other social agencies in American Samoa, brought numerous guest speakers to campus, and most importantly organized crisis intervention training for ASCC students.  

            Rosevonne Pato of the Health and Human Services Department assumed the responsibility for these crisis intervention training sessions, which to date have served almost 100 students from SGA, the Peer Mentors, the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, the ASCC student clubs, and the community. During these trainings, Pato shared the basic techniques for students to use when counseling an individual in a crisis situation. Pato also served as YANA chairperson until this past summer, when she passed the torch along to Mark Mageo, a counselor now in his second semester at ASCC, and whose background includes experience working for Catholic Social Services. Pato still remains active in the Coalition as a trainer and advisor.

            For his remarks to open last week’s celebration ASCC Vice President Dr. Seth Galea’i referenced the Biblical tale of Cain and Abel and reminded the audience that in answer to the question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” the Lord answered, “You are!” Reflecting on this story, Dr. Galea’i explained how all of us have to watch out for each other, even when people appear to want to keep their troubles to themselves.   Over the course of the event, the 33 students who participated in the most recent YANA training received their certificates, and the audience enjoyed an array of entertainment and talks. In her speech, Dr. Helsham paid tribute to the ASCC faculty and staff who have served as part of YANA from the beginning till today. She recognized veterans Pato, Dr. Emilia Le’i, Elisapeta Faalafi-Jones, and Maxine Tuiolemotu, as well as new counselors Mageo and Annie Panama. Dr. Helsham also made special mention of the contributions of former ASCC counselor Helmer Mauga, who played a vital role in keeping the Coalition on the right track until he relocated to Seattle, Washington last year. Word reached the College from Seattle this past August that Mauga had passed away, but as Dr. Helsham reflected, his work will always remain alive in the minds of his colleagues at ASCC.  

Faaalu F. Iuli from the Department of Health and Human Services, Leslie Penitusi from LBJ Hospital (representing Leuga Turner), and Vasati Mapo from Social Services also joined in to lend their support. Iuli gave an informative talk on the “Five C's” to prevention and providing services, namely communication, connectivity, commitment, continuity, and credibility. To conclude the event, Acting Dean of Student Services Dr. Le’i encouraged the audience to take advantage of the services YANA has to offer. “Communication and building relationships takes effort,” she advised, “but that effort could end up saving your life or someone else’s. If you feel the need to talk to someone, or know someone who needs help, don’t let shyness keep you from calling the YANA hotline, or communicating with us over the internet. You have to reach out for help, but once you make that effort we will do all we can so that you don’t have to face your problems alone.”

Since its inception YANA has once a year hung a blank banner on which audience members can write-in messages to departed loved ones, and for last week’s assembly they displayed the filled-in banners from the past three years alongside a new one which participants quickly filled in with a whole new set of messages.  Pato says she hopes to see the day when no less than 10 filled-in banners mark a decade’s worth of YANA activities at ASCC. Reflecting on the course the organization has taken so far, Pato reflected, “Each of the ASCC staff members from the beginning to the present has witnessed real growth in YANA. I know that YANA will continue on because every person that begins this journey finds themselves making a lifelong commitment to preventing suicide among their peers and loved ones, and to helping others through times of personal crisis. This anniversary event made me realize that when new students take on the task of maintaining YANA, they actually make a commitment to celebrate life.”

            Anyone passing by the ASCC campus can see the YANA contact number and email address displayed on a billboard-type sign the Coalition recently installed alongside the main road. YANA presently maintains a crisis hotline, thanks to the donation of a cellular phone from Blue Sky Communications. Anyone who would like to discuss their problems with someone interested in helping can call 252-YANA (252-9262). The Coalition also offers counseling and advice over e-mail for anyone who wishes to write to them at: yana@amsamoa.edu.

ASCC counselor Mark Mageo, seen here, has assumed the role of chairperson for the You Are Not Alone (YANA) Coalition.

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