Grain Valley, Missouri
Learning to recognize
signs of depression and suicide was the focus of discussion this fall for
sixth grade and ninth grade students in the Grain Valley School District. New
students in grades 6-12 this fall also received training, preparing nearly all
2262 students in grades 6-12 to recognize that suicide is not a normal response
to stress, but rather is a preventable tragedy that often occurs as a result of
untreated depression.
The SOS Signs of
Suicide® Prevention Program is a national program that teaches students how to recognize
symptoms of depression and suicide in themselves or friends that indicate a need for further evaluation. Students view
videos about the signs of suicide and the steps to take if they, a friend, or
loved one is at risk.
Students learn to ACT:
A – Acknowledge: Admit that you are seeing signs of depression or suicide
in a friend and that it is serious.
C – Care: Let your friend know that you care about him or her, and
that you are concerned that he or she needs help you cannot provide.
T – Tell: Inform a trusted adult, either with your friend or on his
or her behalf. Never promise to keep the secret!
High school seniors
received instruction on a revised ACT this year that called on these young
adults to seek treatment beyond high school: T – Treatment.
The Grain Valley School District is committed to helping our students navigate the challenges of the teen years, while helping to develop coping skills that serve them as adults as well.
Administering the SOS program is a collaborative effort
with district counselors and regional mental health professionals to the meet
the mental health needs of Grain Valley students. For this year’s program at the high school, 14 mental health
professionals from inside and outside our school district were on hand to
directly assist high school students.
This is the sixth
year for the SOS Signs of Suicide® High School Prevention Program at Grain
Valley High School. In that time, trained staff have followed up on dozens of
students who have made self-referrals because they were concerned for
themselves. Still others have referred a peer out of concern. When these
referrals are for students not attending our high school, staff still follow up to ensure those children’s needs are being addressed no matter where they
live.
Referrals in the high
school program were down overall this year compared with previous years. Grain
Valley High School Counselor Corey Vuagniaux attributes
this measure, and the overall comfortable reaction of the students to the
program, as an indication that increased awareness in middle school is getting
students the right support at the right time. “This school district is doing a better job of identifying struggling
students earlier for a variety of reasons. We also believe this is a
direct result of implementing the middle school version of the SOS program at both middle schools last
year.”
Parents are notified
immediately if a concern is raised by or about their child. The schools offer parent
orientations to preview the videos and learn more about the program. Parents are offered the opportunity to have their
child opt out of the program ahead of time, and a few elect to do so each year.
HB 1583 was signed into law in June, 2016, requiring
Missouri school districts to adopt policy on youth suicide awareness and
calling for annual training on suicide prevention.
