WINTHROP (AP) – A series of five suicides involving youths in Winthrop prompted somber residents to gather for discussions about how the town should move forward, but no solid answers have emerged yet.

Since 2003, five young males from the southern Maine town have taken their own lives. All five of them had played football for the high school team, but their ages were spread out. Four of the five had graduated from Winthrop high and had moved from the town, where the football team enjoys strong community support.

A state-sponsored report that came out less than a week before Wednesday’s meeting suggested that drug and alcohol use and anti-social behavior in Winthrop exceed the state averages.

But Cheryl Dicara of the Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program, a primary author of the report, said participation in football was not a factor in the suicides, whose victims ranged in age from 15 to 24.

“I think there are a lot of reasons to say that being on the football team is not a cause at all,” Dicara said after the report was released. Research shows that sports participation provides a supportive role in youths’ lives and leads to lower suicide rates nationally, she said.

No decisions were reached at Wednesday’s meeting, but the 40 teachers, parents, social workers and town officials who attended were asked to consider a number of steps the town can take. Among them are forming a network for recent Winthrop high graduates and revisiting the school’s drug and alcohol policies.

The town council and board of education have tentatively scheduled a joint meeting for Nov. 30 to consider potential steps the community can take to respond to the tragic pattern, and another community meeting is set for Dec. 14.

—

On the Net:

Report on Winthrop suicides: www.winthrop.k12.me.us