Well Aware - Fall 2007 - (Page 2) WELCOME TO Well Aware A message from Missouri Commissioner of Education D. Kent King ASKING STUDENTS ABOUT SUICIDE It is my pleasure to help introduce this first issue of the Well AwareTM newsletter to you. The purpose of this bulletin is to inform your actions and decisions regarding students’ wellbeing. Our goal is to support high academic achievement by fostering students’ resiliency and reducing risky behaviors that, at their extreme, can lead to self-harm and suicide. In our roles as school leaders, teachers, counselors and mentors, we touch the lives of countless others. Through student-centered programs, policies and supportive school environments, we enhance academics and help to ensure that children can grow to achieve their full potential. We are pleased to partner with the Missouri Dept. of Mental Health to bring you this and future issues of Well Aware. We hope that it is a practical resource for you. Please review this bulletin and share it with your colleagues. Working together, we will continue to make a difference in the academic growth and the physical and emotional health of Missouri’s children and youth. Asking teens about suicide. It’s something many adults fear. Yet new research has shown that having the courage to ask highschool students about suicide can be beneficial. Here Columbia University researcher and mother of three sons Madelyn Gould, Ph.D., weighs in on saying the word “suicide” to teenagers: THE COMMON FEAR “Many adults—including school administrators—fear that asking teens about thoughts of suicide may put the idea of self-harm in their minds and potentially spur them to act on these thoughts.” RESEARCH* FINDINGS “Our research showed that asking high-school students about suicide clearly didn’t induce stress, but can relieve somebody in distress.” PRICE OF MISINFORMATION “I believe that this unfounded fear of asking about suicide is an astounding impediment to suicide-prevention programs.” STUDENTS ARE GOING IT ALONE “Research shows youngsters at most serious risk for depression and suicidal ideation are the ones with the most distressing attitudes toward help-seeking. They really feel they can handle this on their own. They keep issues and feelings to themselves, and can think that alcohol or drugs are a good way to help themselves. They have this attitude of self-efficacy when they are not in a position to handle it on their own. They may use the Internet, may go to chat rooms—but these can reinforce harmful attitudes about help-seeking behaviors.” She’s a mother of three boys and a researcher who has studied youth suicide for more than 20 years. Does Dr. Madelyn Gould talk to her sons about thoughts of suicide and self-harm? You bet. Read her groundbreaking research, published in 2005 in the esteemed Journal of the American Medical Association, available online at PubMed: *Evaluating Iatrogenic Risk of Youth Suicide Screening Programs: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Gould MS, et al., Journal of the American Medical Association 2005; 293: 1635-1643. D. Kent King Missouri Commissioner of Education “Our goal is to SUPPORT HIGH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT by fostering students’ resiliency and reducing risky behaviors that, AT THEIR EXTREME, CAN LEAD TO SELF-HARM and suicide.” — D. KENT KING, Missouri Commissioner of Education Q A What does the research say about a link between bullying and potential for suicidal thoughts in youngsters? STEVE BROTHERTON, M.A., Assistant Superintendent, Bayless School District sbrotherton@bayless.k12.mo.us Well Aware [talk back] New research* from Columbia University suggests that victimization and bullying are potential risk factors for adolescent depression and suicidality. Researchers recommend evaluating students involved in bullying behavior for depression and suicidality. *Bullying, Depression and Suicidality in Adolescents. Brunstein KA, et al., Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2007 Jan;46(1):40-9. GOT A QUESTION FOR WELL AWARE? SUBMIT YOUR INQUIRY TO TALKBACK@WELLAWARESP.ORG. IF WE PRINT YOUR QUESTION IN OUR NEXT ISSUE, YOU’LL RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY SOS® SIGNS OF SUICIDE® KIT ($300 VALUE), THAT INCLUDES AN IMPLEMENTATION MANUAL, DVD, DISCUSSION GUIDE AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR STUDENTS, STAFF AND PARENTS. Info? Feedback? Contact Dr. Gould at talkback@wellawaresp.org. 2 WELL AWARE MISSOURI VOL. 1, ISSUE 1 FALL 2007-2008 http://dese.mo.gov/commissioner http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Gould%20MS%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17195728 http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/schools/index.aspx http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/schools/index.aspx
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Well Aware - Fall 2007 Well Aware - Fall 2007 Academic Advantage Among Your Best and Brightest? Weighing In On Well Aware Proactive Engagement Mental Note Lifelines SOS® Signlas of Suicide® Reconnecting Youth C-Care/CAST School Administrator Call to Action 5 Myths About Schools and Suicide Prevention Be Well Aware (Resources and Help) Talk Back Well Aware - Fall 2007 Well Aware - Fall 2007 - Among Your Best and Brightest? (Page 1) Well Aware - Fall 2007 - Weighing In On Well Aware (Page 2) Well Aware - Fall 2007 - School Administrator Call to Action (Page 3) Well Aware - Fall 2007 - Talk Back (Page 4)
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