Suicide prevention newsletter debuts

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster announced publication of the first Well Aware bulletin, a cooperative effort of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Mental Health Association in Milwaukee County. The publication, directed to Wisconsin school administrators, is intended to raise awareness of the serious problem of youth suicide, and to lend support to local suicide prevention efforts.

Suicide is the second most common cause of death among adolescents in Wisconsin, which has the eleventh highest rate in the U.S. Almost twenty percent of teens seriously consider suicide. “The stories told by those left behind when a young person makes what is usually an impulsive, confused decision are compelling,” said Burmaster. “They talk about all kinds of young people: a high achiever unable to overcome a disappointing test score, a “lost kid” obsessed with dying, or a student that no one knew was taking depression medication. Suicide impacts students from all social and economic levels.”

The publication reminds administrators that Wisconsin schools are required to provide content-specific suicide prevention instruction. Ideally, health education staff uses a high-quality curriculum, such as the suicide prevention unit of instruction developed by DPI, to meet the requirements. In addition, every school could include strategies such as all-staff training, screening, referral, support groups, and parent education as parts of a comprehensive suicide prevention effort.

“I encourage school administrators to read Well Aware, and pass it along to other school leaders. Working together, we can reduce youth suicides in Wisconsin,” said Burmaster.

Two more issues of Well Aware will be published this academic year. The initial newsletter is available as a .pdf file.

Last updated on 1/22/2007