Understand Why Suicide Prevention Fits with Your Role as a Teacher
As a teacher, you have an important role to play. You have day-to-day contact with many young people, some of whom have problems that could result in serious injury or even death by their own hand. You are therefore able to observe students’ behavior and act when you suspect a student may be at risk of self-harm.
Teachers can also play an active role in suicide prevention by fostering the emotional well-being of all students, not just those already at high risk. Teachers are well positioned to promote a feeling of connectedness and belonging in the school community. According to the CDC (2009), school connectedness is the belief by students that adults and peers in the school care about them as individuals as well as about their learning. Connectedness is an important factor in improving academic achievement and healthy behaviors, and it is also specifically related to reductions in suicidal thoughts and attempts (Resnick et al., 1997; Blum et al., 2002).
Key Steps to Reduce Suicide Risk among Your Students:
- Understand why suicide prevention fits with your role as a high school teacher
- Identify students who may be at risk for suicide
- Respond to students who may be at risk for suicide
- Be prepared to respond to a suicide death
- Consider becoming involved in school-wide suicide prevention
From: Suicide Prevention Resource Center
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