Suicide prevention will be the focus of a community forum in Waconia from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

The program will include information about suicide demographics nationally and locally, risk factors and warning signs, and effective intervention techniques.

It will also feature discussions led by mental health crisis therapists about what youth need to know about suicide and what parents need to know about suicide.

Driving the concern is eight reported suicides in the county in the first half of 2012, including two high school students at Norwood Young America.

The event is free of charge and registration is encouraged, but not required. It is sponsored by the Mental Health Consortium of Carver County.

The forum will be held at the Ridgeview Medical Center, 500 S. Maple St. in Waconia.

For more information, contact Shawna Vivant at 952-442-3058.