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Welcome
Teacher |
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"This
is where I think a three-hour workshop (an in-service day)
would be so beneficial. So that we can better understand
how overwhelmed students with depression or other mental
illness can be. So that we can understand their frustration
and struggles instead of just thinking they should take
another pill."
-Anonymous
Middle School Teacher
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Something
is not quite right with one of your students.
You notice a change in behavior in recent days and that changed
behavior worries you. Perhaps the student is:
- Disruptive in class
- Sullen and moody
- Missing assignments
- Skipping school
- Making poor choices
Could
the student be experiencing personal problems or abusing drugs
or alcohol? Is it typical adolescent angst? Perhaps,
it might also be clinical depression.
The
facts
This
year more than 29,000 Americans will end their life as a way
to escape the intolerable pain of living. Suicide is the 3rd
leading cause in death among teens/young adults ages 10 to
24. Some of these young people could be your students.
Suicidal thoughts, gestures and attempts are not rare among
young people. Survey data from 2001 indicates that
(Reference 1):
- 19% of high school
students had seriously considered attempting suicide
- Almost 15% of high
school students had made plans to attempt suicide
- Almost 9% of high
school students had made a suicide attempt during the year
preceding the survey
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| References
for Teacher Introduction |
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| By
better understanding the signs of mental illness, depression
and potential for harm to self or others, teachers can be better
equipped to help students. |
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| What
to do to help as a teacher |
As
a Teacher, you are in a key role to observe students.
So when observing atypical behaviors - from acting out to withdrawing,
destructive or aggressive acts toward themselves or others,
or a fixation with death or morbid themes - take note, and take
action. |
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| What
education is available for a teacher |
| There
is a wide array of resources specifically geared for helping
youths at risk for suicide. As a teacher, you may be asked to
help parents or other students find resources to help the child
in need. |
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| What
researchers are doing of interest to teachers
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| Improved
practices and new treatments are being discovered through research
that may help teachers to better work with students who are
at risk for suicide. |
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| What
other resources are available for teachers
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| There
are some resources that do not “fit” into any one specific category.
Diverse resources are available that are specific with
your interest as a Teacher working to prevent suicide.
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| Teacher as intermediary
pages were last updated March 15, 2004 |
