Suicide Awareness Training and Prevention Requires Ongoing Professional Development

The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10-24. According to the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, more than 1 in 7 high school students in the U.S. reported having seriously considered attempting suicide in the 12 months preceding the survey, and 7.8% of students (about 1 in 13) reported having attempted suicide in the preceding 12 months. Anytime we lose a young person to suicide is one time too many.

Recognizing the First Signs

School personnel are in a prime position to recognize the signs of suicide and make immediate referrals for intervention. They need adequate training to acquire the necessary skills and confidence to intervene with youth at-risk. Readily available training is one way to ensure that all school personnel have a baseline understanding of suicide risk and the referral process. In addition to educators and school leaders, school-based mental health professionals such as counselors, social workers, and psychologists are essential to implementing policies and practices to strengthen a safe and healthy school environment, identify students who may be at risk of suicide, and immediately intervene.

Tragically, many of today’s incidences of school violence are perpetrated by individuals who ultimately intended to commit suicide (and often succeed). Therefore, efforts to reduce school and community violence and ensure student and staff safety in our schools must include an understanding of suicide prevention and what is involved in the identification and referral of students at risk of suicide. Effective suicide prevention is an essential component of any violence prevention effort. Schools will be more effective in suicide prevention with a comprehensive approach that involves better awareness, training, and a coordinated effort to link students and families in need of services with community resources.

NEA strongly encourages our members to include suicide prevention, alertness, and intervention and postvention programs in the ongoing professional development and educator preparation programs for teachers, education support professionals, and specialized instructional support personnel, including school mental health service providers.

What can you do?

• NEA members should familiarize themselves with the suicide prevention resources and information available to school personnel.
• Determine whether your state or school district provides training opportunities for school personnel to identify students in need and respond appropriately.
• Use the available resources to advocate for state, district and/or school board policies that support suicide prevention training programs for school personnel.

The NEA Health Information Network has compiled these educator-friendly resources to ensure all NEA members have access to this information.

More information and numerous resources are available from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), and the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration.

Warning Signs for Suicide

These signs may mean someone is at risk for suicide. Risk is greater if a behavior is new or has increased and if it seems related to a painful event, loss, or change. Seek help as soon as possible by contacting a mental health professional or calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

• Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself
• Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or buying a gun
• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
• Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
• Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Withdrawing or feeling isolated
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
• Displaying extreme mood swings

Source: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Posted by Libby Nealis

on May 22, 2014