69传媒

Student Well-Being

Suicides Are on the Rise. Here鈥檚 How 69传媒 Can Help

By Lisa Stark 鈥 December 04, 2018 2 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

鈥淓xtremely discouraging.鈥

That鈥檚 how the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention describes the from the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC found in 2017, more than 47,000 people died by suicide in the United States. That鈥檚 an additional 2,200 deaths over the previous year.

Suicide is still rare, but it is now the second leading cause of death for those ages 10 to 19. Mental health experts say that puts schools in a prime position to help troubled students and prevent suicides.

What can schools do? Create a warm and welcoming environment, address bullying, and educate students and staff about depression and suicide are a few key strategies.

Molly Kammerdeiner, a former high school student who suffers from depression, believes school counselors helped save her by intervening when she hit rock bottom.

We spoke to Molly and others about suicide prevention in the schools. Here are their 6 tips:

What 69传媒 Should Do After a Student Suicide

Mental-health experts say that as important as it is for schools to work to prevent suicides, it鈥檚 equally important for them to react correctly after a student suicide. There is always the risk of 鈥渃ontagion"鈥攁dditional suicides by students who may already be at risk.

69传媒 are advised not to glamorize the death, but also to make sure there are ways for students and staff to grieve and get counseling. Ben Fernandez, a former school psychologist who oversees prevention services for schools in Loudoun County, Va., told us, the ripple effects of a suicide can be long lasting, 鈥渓ike a bomb going off.鈥 He says schools and parents need to stay vigilant after the immediate crisis is over. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has on handling suicides.

Here are 5 basic tips for educators on how to respond after a tragedy.

69传媒 often struggle with mental health resources; most have fewer than the recommended number of counselors, social workers, and psychologists. Principal Douglas Fulton, at Loudoun County鈥檚 Freedom High School, says schools need a team approach. Everyone, he says, from teachers to cafeteria workers to bus drivers, to the students themselves, need to be engaged in promoting mental wellness and keeping an eye out for struggling students.


Related Stories:

A version of this news article first appeared in the Rules for Engagement blog.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Artificial Intelligence Webinar
AI and Educational Leadership: Driving Innovation and Equity
Discover how to leverage AI to transform teaching, leadership, and administration. Network with experts and learn practical strategies.
Content provided by 
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School Climate & Safety Webinar
Investing in Success: Leading a Culture of Safety and Support
Content provided by 
Assessment K-12 Essentials Forum Making Competency-Based Learning a Reality
Join this free virtual event to hear from educators and experts working to implement competency-based education.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide 鈥 elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

Student Well-Being Opinion 3 Things You Need to Know About Absenteeism
We studied the data from more than 1.5 million students. Here鈥檚 are some overlooked insights to boost attendance.
Todd Rogers, Emily Bailard & Mikia Manley
4 min read
Scattered school desks seen from above, some with red x's on them signifying absences.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week and iStock/Getty Images
Student Well-Being SEL Has Become Politicized. 69传媒 Are Embracing It Anyway
Eighty-three percent of principals report that their schools use an SEL curriculum or program.
5 min read
Image of positive movement when attending to a student's well-being is a component.
Dmitrii_Guzhanin/iStock/Getty and Laura Baker/Education Week
Student Well-Being 69传媒 Don't Want to Talk About Politics, Either
The election is occurring at a time when many schools are discouraged from having tough conversations in class.
6 min read
Viewers gather to watch a debate between Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at the Angry Elephant Bar and Grill, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in San Antonio.
Viewers gather to watch a debate between Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at the Angry Elephant Bar and Grill, Sept. 10, 2024, in San Antonio. Researchers say students are more reluctant to talk politics this election cycle.
Eric Gay/AP
Student Well-Being Opinion Can Athletic Coaches Help 69传媒 Learn More in the Classroom?
School sports can provide an opportunity for mentorship.
8 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty