As a teacher you are in the position to reach out to student at risk for suicide Youth suicides, or suicide attempts, rarely take place in schools, but many young people who are at risk of suicide attend school and exhibit warning signs. When teachers recognize theses signs and take action they can prevent death or injury and reduce emotional suffering.
If you are concerned about a student you should not hesitate to contact the counseling and student support specialists at your school (school counselors, psychologists, social workers, and nurses)
Resources exist to help school personnel concerned about youth at risk for suicide. Here is a list of resources for dealing with suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention (sometimes referred to as “aftermath”).
This website has helpful resources for teachers and educators
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
If you or someone you know is in crisis or in need of immediate help, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
This is a free hotline available 24 hours a day to anyone in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.
Dr.Phil recently aired a show on teen suicide prevention in which PsychAlive’s Dr. Lisa Firestone discussed the many ways we can all reach out to our youth and help prevent suicide. The full episode, “Teens Under Pressure,” is now available to view online. Click here to tune in for free
