Vol, 6, No. 27: September 17, 2007		Get SEAchange by email

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2. Wisconsin schools to receive suicide prevention tool kits

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster and Department of Health and Family Services Secretary Kevin R. Hayden announced plans to distribute 100 new "Middle-School Signs of Suicide" prevention tool kits this fall as part of ongoing efforts to prevent youth suicide. According to Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health, suicide is the second leading cause of death among 10-19 year olds in Wisconsin.

"Education, intervention and treatment are keys to preventing suicides," said State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster. "The more we know, the better we are able to help students and families in need."

"Suicide is a serious issue in Wisconsin and we lose a young person each week to such a tragedy," stated Kevin R. Hayden, Department of Health and Family Services Secretary. "To combat this epidemic, we are pleased to once again be collaborating with DPI to increase awareness about suicide and mental illness."

The Department of Public Instruction will receive $30,000 this year from the Department of Health and Family Services through the Mental Health Block Grant to support school-based youth suicide prevention efforts.

If you know a child is going through a difficult time, having problems in school, or having relationship problems with friends, ask them how they are feeling. Suicide prevention is possible but you must know the warning signs. If your child displays suicide warning signs, contact a local mental health care professional. The mental health care professional will offer prevention and intervention resources.

Warning signs to watch out for include:

• Talking, reading, or writing about suicide or death.
• Talking about feeling worthless or helpless.
• Saying things like, "I'm going to kill myself," "I wish I were dead," "I shouldn't have been born," "Everyone would be better off without me," or "It doesn't matter, I won't be around much longer."
• Visiting or calling people to say goodbye.
• Giving things away or returning borrowed items.
• Organizing or cleaning bedroom for the last time.
• Obsessed with death, violence, guns, or knives.
• Previous suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts.

Burmaster noted that the Middle School Suicide Prevention tool kits are an enhancement to on-going suicide prevention training efforts for educators. A suicide prevention curriculum is already available to high schools in Wisconsin, and DPI offers trainings for schools and educators on how to prevent suicide through the twelve Cooperative Educational Service Agencies located throughout the state.

More information: http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpi2007_94.pdf

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Last updated on 9/18/2007