HELPING OTHERS: When Framingham teen Jessica Kruger was in the seventh grade, she remembers wondering whether other students felt as sad as she did. By the time she reached high school, she was experiencing depressive and panic episodes for which she ultimately sought help.
“It started hindering my ability to do my schoolwork. I was sleeping a lot, withdrawing from activities. All the things you learn about in health class really are true,’’ said Kruger, a junior this year at Framingham High School.
“I let myself be open to the fact that it’s OK to have emotions you don’t know how to deal with, and it’s not your fault,’’ she added. “I knew I should be happy, that I deserved to be happy.’’
Kruger had a supportive network of family members, friends, and teachers assisting her to get the help she needed. Now, she is focused on helping those who aren’t as fortunate.
Kruger volunteers twice a week answering the crisis line at Samaritans Inc., a regional suicide prevention and support organization. She also plans to be involved with IM Hear_, an online pilot program aimed at and run by teens at Framingham High School that is on track to begin this month.
While the issues facing callers to the Samaritans crisis line vary widely, Kruger said, they commonly include relationships, sexual orientation, substance abuse and addiction, bereavement, physical or mental illness, disabilities, and past abuse.
Regardless of the nature of their struggle, Kruger said, she has one message for all callers: “Every single Samaritan cares about you.’’Kruger is a committee member for Make Noise 3, a Samaritans fund-raising party taking place tonight from 7 to 11 at the House of Blues, 15 Lansdowne St. in Boston.
The event, for ages 16 and older, will feature DJ Joe Bermudez joined by Davis Ballard. For ticket information, visit www.makenoisetosavealife.org.
HEARING PROTECTION: The Newton Free Library is collaborating with Hear@Boston, a chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America, to share research findings on noise-induced and age-related hearing loss and their long-term ramifications.
Bedford resident Sharon Kujawa, an associate professor of otology and laryngology at Harvard Medical School and director of the audiology department at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, will be the featured speaker at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Druker Auditorium at the library, 330 Homer St. in Newton Center.
In her presentation, “Evidence of a Misspent Youth: Noise Exposure Ages Ears,’’ Kujawa will discuss the importance of protecting your hearing. According to the Better Hearing Institute, some 34 million Americans suffer from hearing loss.
In addition, according to Kujawa, research shows that exposure to loud sounds can cause ongoing degeneration of the cochlear nerve long after the noise has stopped.