Suicide Prevention

• Fact Sheet on Youth Suicide in Wisconsin
• School-Based Suicide Prevention Training
• WI Statutes and Administrative Rules Related to School-Based Suicide Prevention
• Gatekeeper Training for Schools

  This is a link to a webcast and PowerPoint slides. The webcast includes on-screen sign-language interpreting for people with hearing impairments. In a 30-minute presentation, John Humphries of DPI reviews the basics of youth suicide and what schools can do to prevent students from making destructive choices to end their own lives. This followed by a 20-minute presentation on the suicide prevention curriculum for health educators and pupil services to use in classrooms with students. This section is presented by Jon Hisgen, also of DPI.

• Well Aware: A Suicide Prevention Newsletter for Administrators
  • Issue 1: Awareness/Resources
  • Issue 2: Legal Issues
  • Issue 3: Resiliency

Youth suicide is a pressing problem for Wisconsin schools and communities. According to the CDC, Wisconsin has the 8th highest youth suicide rate in the U.S. (4 years ending 2003, higher than all surrounding states). Our 2005 YRBS data show over 27% of high school students with symptoms of depression. And, while the percent of students reporting seriously considering suicide has fallen over the last 12 years, our youth suicide rate has remained consistently high. Suicide is the second highest cause of death in Wisconsin's youth behind motor vehicle accidents and well beyond cancers and homicide.

In the past, DPI relied on funding given to CESAs to support suicide prevention efforts in schools. Starting in 2001, because of funding limits, DPI began providing that support directly. We began by collaborating with a national expert in youth suicide prevention, Dr, Leona Eggert of the University of Washington. She completed an exhaustive literature search in an effort to identify evidence-based programs available for school-based youth suicide prevention. She then took the best of those published programs, and developed a 3-tiered prevention and intervention model for use in schools. In addition, DPI staff and health education teachers from around the state developed a classroom curriculum on suicide prevention that meets state law regarding this important topic. WI 118.01 requires schools to teach: "The skills needed to make sound decisions, knowledge of the conditions which may cause and the signs of suicidal tendencies, knowledge of the relationship between youth suicide and the use of alcohol and controlled substance".."and the knowledge of the available community youth suicide prevention and intervention services. Instruction shall be designed to help prevent suicides by pupils by promoting the positive emotional development of pupils."

WI 115.365, "Assistance to schools for suicide prevention programs" also requires DPI and DHFS to collaborate on youth suicide prevention. DPI meets this requirement by providing training to school staff, which includes support in using our classroom curriculum for suicide prevention.

Please click here for more information on our training for schools.

In the spring of 2004, DPI staff from the Student Services/Prevention & Wellness Team started training school staff to use the 3-tiered prevention and intervention model and the classroom curriculum as described above. During the 2004-2005 school year we trained over 1,000 people in 22 training days around Wisconsin. DPI covers the cost of these workshops including travel for the trainers, all materials, and a comprehensive CD with Dr. Eggert’s literature review and best practices guide for schools. The interest level has been extraordinarily high with very positive evaluations from participants, and many schools continue to call DPI for support and technical assistance as they implement the programs discussed in the training. In July of 2005, DPI was awarded the "Outstanding Organization" Award from Children Come First for our efforts to train school staff and support prevention efforts in schools and communities.

The latest news from 2006 is that Wisconsin received a $1.2 Million grant from the federal government to support youth suicide prevention efforts in selected communities around the state. You can learn more about the grant activities on the web site of the Mental Health Association of Wisconsin, http://www.mhawisconsin.org/.

For questions about this information, contact John P. Humphries (608) 266-7189

Last updated on 4/30/2008 1:11:02 PM