Well Aware - Fall 2007 - (Page 3) [Bayless District spotlight] Lifelines SCHOOL CURRICULA TO CONSIDER Proactive engagement Middle school is not too early to address mental health, say researchers. And Missouri’s Bayless School District is responding proactively by weaving a nationally regarded evidence-based curriculum into its health classes at both the middle- and high-school levels. Jennifer Nelson, LCSW, who is overseeing this implementation of the SOS® Signs of Suicide® program, notes that because it’s part of existing health classes, no additional classroom time is required. “We were affected by the suicide of a 7th-grade student last year,” says Nelson. “Suicide had been on our radar screen for quite awhile even before that.” As for whether to bring the curriculum into upper grades only, Nelson is adamant that schools need to start earlier. “We’re going at this with more of a comprehensive approach that spans more grade levels,” Walking to reduce stigma and silence surrounding suicide, students and their supporters show a commitment to saving lives. On May 12, 2007, “Kids Walking for Kids” event from MO-based CHADS Coalition raised more than $75,000. The Bayless School District will implement a suicide-prevention curriculum during the 2007-2008 year, with support of administrators and parents alike. Nelson adds. “We need to be hitting this hard—it’s not just a high-school issue.” For more on SOS, see sidebar at right. FROM THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCE CENTER (sprc.org) Curriculum on warning signs of suicide, how to respond to a suicidal peer, help-seeking and school resources Target ages: 12–17 Info: www.sprc.org SOS® Signs of Suicide® The high-school program combines four prominent strategies into single single program: curriculum and screening for youth, educational materials for staff and parents Target ages: 14–18 Info: SOSinfo@MentalHealthScreening.org Reconnecting Youth Semester-long class for youths with at-risk behaviors; teacher and peer group support are core hypotheses Target ages: 14–18 Info: beth.mcnamara@comcast.net C-Care/CAST (Coping and Support Training) Combines one-on-one counseling with small-group training sessions Target ages: 14–18 Info: elainet@u.washington.edu MENTAL NOTE Youth suicide death rates [academic struggles?] State MISSOURI ILLINOIS KANSAS IOWA ARKANSAS MIDWEST US Suicide deaths (per 100,000) Leading cause of death Research has shown that nationally, 11% of youngsters have trouble at school, at home or with peers because of a mental illness*. In Missouri, this number is likely even greater, evidenced by a troubling rate for youth suicide versus Midwest overall and national rates. In our state suicide is alarmingly the third-leading cause of death for adolescents ages 15 to 19. *SOURCE: As reported by the Office of U.S. Surgeon General, issued in 1999 under the title “Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General” (www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/summary.html) 9.65 6.02 9.65 6.56 9.00 8.44 7.81 3RD 3RD 2ND 3RD 2ND 3RD 3RD SOURCE: Data are from CDC National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 1999-2004, for ages 15-19. 50% [school administrator call to action] An astounding 50 percent of all lifetime cases of mental illness in the United States begin by age 14. This is according to data released in July 2005 by the National Institutes of Health in its National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). What are the implications for school systems where these youngsters most often are enrolled? Significant, says Caruthersville Superintendent Nick Thiele: “This information needs to be given and repeated, every time we have a conference; that’s the only way it’s going to become commonplace. We need to hear this—and build mental health into curriculum. I don’t think isolated programs are a way to tackle this problem. Just like we have awareness of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, we need to build this into health curriculum.” SEE SIDEBAR AT UPPER RIGHT FOR SCHOOL PREVENTION CURRICULA AND BEST PRACTICES FROM NATIONAL EXPERTS. FALL 2007-2008 WELL AWARE MISSOURI VOL. 1, ISSUE 1 3 http://www.atypon-link.com/GPI/doi/abs/10.1521/suli.2007.37.2.154?cookieSet=1&journalCode=suli http://www2.csd.org/schools/bayless/baylesshome.html http://www.sprc.org http://www.sprc.org/featured_resources/bpr/ebpp_PDF/lifelines.pdf http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/programfulldetails.asp?PROGRAM_ID=66 http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/schools/index.aspx http://www.modelprograms.samhsa.gov/pdfs/model/Reconnecting.pdf http://www.sprc.org/featured_resources/bpr/ebpp_PDF/ccare_cast.pdf http://chadscoalition.org/Kids.htm http://chadscoalition.org/Kids.htm http://chadscoalition.org http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_sy.html http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/summary.html http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2005/mental-illness-exacts-heavy-toll-beginning-in-youth.shtml
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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