Education Law

Participate in National Suicide Prevention Week

Did you know that? 

• Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year olds;
• One youth completes suicide every 2 hours and 5 minutes, which approximates 11.5 persons each day;
• For every completed suicide by youth, it is estimated that 100 to 200 attempts are made; and
• In 2006, more than 33,000 people died by suicide in the U.S.

National Suicide Prevention Week is September 6 – 12, 2009. This year’s theme is “A Global Agenda on the Science of Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery.  According to the American Association of Suicidology (AAS), suicide prevention is everyone’s business and anyone can participate in Suicide Prevention Week, including schools. BoardBuzz agrees: the statistics above communicate the need for schools to be more proactive about increasing awareness of suicide warnings and signs and helping prevent its incidence among youth. 

According to the AAS, risk factors for suicide can vary, but usually include mental illness, substance abuse, previous suicide attempts, hopelessness, access to lethal means, recent loss of loved ones, unemployment, and vulnerability to self-harm.  Protective factors, on the other hand, include high self-esteem, social connectedness, problem-solving skills, and having supportive family and friends.  

NSBA’s School Health Programs is currently funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to promote a school health model that can help increase such protective factors among young people.  This model, called Coordinated School Health Programs, helps schools create policies and programs that include: family and community involvement; a healthy school environment; and counseling and psychological services; among others.  But in the fight against suicide, BoardBuzz also believes it is imperative that schools address bullying which has been shown to be a frequent problem within schools and many times a precursor of suicide for bullying victims who end up feeling helpless. 

According to the AAS, it is also important that individuals and organizations 1) recognize suicide as a national, state, and local public health problem; 2) acknowledge that no single suicide prevention program or effort will be appropriate for all populations or communities; and 3) encourage initiatives based on the goals contained in the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. 

BoardBuzz thinks that a good way to start doing all that is by celebrating National Suicide Prevention Week!  Suicide Prevention Week activities that can be held within schools include: offering speaking engagements; coordinating training sessions on suicide assessment, intervention, and resources available in the community; creating promotional materials; and inviting public officials to related events.

For more information on the event, visit the AAS website and access the National Suicide Prevention Week Information and Media Kit.  And to learn more about suicide prevention visit the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on September 07, 2009 (boomark / email).