Wednesday, September 7, 2022
When we think of the daily lives of teens, we think of mobile phones, friends, sports, theater, schoolwork, jobs, technology, and social media. What might not come to mind is that in schools across Wisconsin, teens are also grappling with far heavier concerns.
In 2019, 15.7 percent of Wisconsin high school students reported considering suicide, 7.4 percent attempted suicide, and 13 percent made a suicide plan. LGBTQIA+ youth were almost 3.5 times more likely to have thought about suicide, planned how to end their life, or attempted suicide than their non-LGBTQIA+ peers (YRBS, 2019). This data compiled from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey provides compelling evidence that Suicide Prevention Month efforts are critical every day, all year long, by all of us.
Suicide Prevention Month provides the opportunity to refocus our efforts on suicide prevention advocacy and action for the entire year. The National Council for Suicide Prevention’s (NCSP) campaign, Take 5 to Save Lives, recommends:
- Learn the signs
- Know how to find help
- Do something to get involved
- Talk about suicide prevention
- Share the 5 steps
Showing up, showing care, and showing support to youth is also suicide prevention in action, as captured in Josh Shipp’s words, “Every Kid Is ONE Caring Adult Away from Being a Success Story.” As the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child report suggests, “Every child who winds up doing well has had at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive adult.”
The newly implemented 988 Lifeline, a 24/7 free and confidential crisis line, is promoting #BeThe1To during September’s National Suicide Prevention Month. Can you #BeThe1To:
- Ask (research findings suggest that discussing suicide may reduce rather than increase suicidal ideation)
- Be there
- Keep them safe
- Help them stay connected
- Follow up
- Learn more
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is committed to Suicide Prevention efforts, advocacy, and action. Suicide Prevention is approached within a Comprehensive School Mental Health System designed to increase health equity by ensuring all students and staff have access to the prevention, early intervention, and treatment supports that they need, when they need them, free of stigma. DPI supports Suicide Prevention with resources on the Youth Suicide Prevention web page, including the 2022 Suicide Prevention Model Notice Fact Sheet and Gatekeeper Training for all school staff.
Crucial to Suicide Prevention is acknowledgement of the central role that peers play in each other’s lives. When students were asked in the 2019 YRBS who they are most likely to seek out for emotional support, 50.7 percent indicated they would turn to a friend or sibling.
DPI offers grants for the implementation of Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Programs to ensure that peers can help other peers during troubling times by having the knowledge and tools needed to recognize warning signs of suicide and depression, and a trusted adult available as concerns emerge. Grants can be awarded for up to $1,000 and support high schools in implementing or expanding programs such as Sources of Strength, Hope Squad, and REDgen. Applications will be available early this fall on the Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Grants web site.
For questions on this information, please contact one of our suicide prevention education consultants: Brian Dean at brian.dean@dpi.wi.gov or Andrea Donegan at andrea.donegan@dpi.wi.gov.
This item was submitted by Andrea Donegan, Suicide Prevention Education Consultant, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.