Middle School Suicides

Last week, I spoke to the staff at my elementary school about suicide prevention.  The school psychologists in the WS/FCS have been asked to speak to all of our schools about this topic.  At the elementary level, I'm sure some teachers were puzzled about why we were talking to them.  To explain, you have to look at the statistics.  They show that the suicide rate among U.S. youth ages 10-14 has doubled from 2007 to 2014.  Just as frightening, 425 young people in this age group died by suicide in 2014.  That number really drives this issue home.  This article from NPR explains more about the increase and describes six myths about suicide every educator should know.  One of those myths is that young children cannot be suicidal. In order to reverse this trend, we must understand why it is happening and begin to have those difficult conversations.  To learn more, visit NPR middle school suicide

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