According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 9% of high school students have attempted to take their lives with another 20% of high school students reporting serious thoughts of ending their lives. Someone might consider the thought of a child being suicidal as nonexistent. After all, they haven’t lived long enough to know what a “real problem” is.
According to Lifeline Prevention’s parent workshop, “The expectations placed on young people in our society can be difficult to handle because they have not yet developed the skills needed to deal with these stresses. A loss that seems minor to an adult can feel life-threatening to a young person if they cannot find a way to cope with the feelings.”
YSS (Youth and Shelter Services) is dedicated to preventing suicide and believes one way this can be achieved is through an educational prevention service offered to children and adults.
YSS offers youth suicide prevention education through four 45-minute sessions, covering prevention, intervention, and postvention. Alison Friesleben, CGD Middle School Counselor, is teaming up with YSS to bring sessions to the children at the middle school level. Parents were offered an overview of the course material and a chance to ask questions last week. Few parents attended and only half of middle school parents signed permission forms, allowing their children to partake in the prevention sessions at the time of writing this article. “That is an indicator to me that there are different thoughts and opinions about this and we are trying to be respectful of all,” shared Friesleben in an email to Amanda Rink.
According to YSS after prevention sessions, students will…
-
See the threat of suicidal thoughts and behavior
-
Take troubled peers seriously without feeling the need to fix the situation
-
Know important facts about suicide and warning signs
-
Demonstrate positive opinions about intervention and help-seeking behavior
-
Be able to name at least one helpful adult
During the meeting, parents were offered a moment to ask questions. Parents shared concerns about social media’s influence on children’s well-being, how mental health is tied in with active shooters, and the policy of the district regarding a student who is considering suicide. Parents were relieved to know CGD is working to formalize a policy addressing suicidal children and hopes to do so with YSS’s involvement.
Kali Kennel stressed during the parent meeting that talking about suicide with children does not increase the risk of suicide. She also shared that the prevention strategies mentioned within the education for the children do not leave children feeling the need to “be their peer’s therapist.” The content is to teach children how to handle their peers sensitively and pass them off to someone “with warm hands.” Of course, the content is also good to remind children who may be experiencing troubling thoughts that there is help.
As of the writing of this article, CGD High School or surrounding districts have not announced plans regarding a partnership with YSS. Furthermore, the education sessions are postponed because of a lack of permission slips returned to the school. If you have concerns or want to get involved with YSS, please reach out to Coordinator Kalli Kennel at kkennel@yss.org or 515-233-3141, ext. 4406.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of harming themselves, please call 988.
