Getting educated about depression and suicide
Educators are on the front lines of dealing with young people day in and day out. That’s why it’s necessary for teachers, counselors and other school personnel to have a comprehensive understanding of risk factors, warning signs and recommended approaches for dealing with young people at-risk. Contrary to popular belief, talking about suicide or asking someone if they feel suicidal will not put the idea in their head or cause them to kill themselves. Research has demonstrated that in more than 80% of suicides, warning signs were given.
Suicidal behavior should not be dismissed as “attention-getting” or “manipulative”; it may be a serious cry for help. People who talk about suicide do kill themselves. We must take every threat seriously. Suicidal youth do not really want to die — they want to escape their pain and may see no other alternative course of action.
Young people who are discriminated against or victimized because of physical differences, sexual orientation or other reasons are at higher risk for attempting suicide. Any trained individual can greatly increase the likelihood of a young person getting the help he or she needs and may very well make the difference between life and death.
Reference: This information was modified for Delaware by Project LIFE from the Oregon Youth Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Guidelines: A Resource for School Personnel. December 2009
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