SCHOOL-BASED YOUTH SUICIDE

Effectiveness of School-Based Youth Suicide Prevention Programs in the United States

Effectiveness of School-Based Youth Suicide Prevention Programs in the United States

Introduction

Youth suicide has been a constant problem for schools over the past three decades or so, with many researchers stating that it remains at or near an alltime high. Suicidologists have made a number of recommendations for school personnel, but suicide prevention has not been a primary focus in many districts and there are few or dwindling resources directed toward prevention. In 1989, Poland outlined the role of suicide prevention in the schools and identified many practical strategies and resources to assist schools in prevention efforts. In 2001, Portner found that few school districts have formal suicide prevention/intervention policies and that few counselors and psychologists have been prepared to deal with suicidal students Portner concluded that progress in youth suicide prevention has been slow, with most prevention efforts taking place only after one or more youth suicides occurred in the same community or school. There is debate over what information should be presented to students about suicide prevention and whether the warning signs of suicide should be taught in key classes such as health. The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) has excellent resources available for schools on both prevention and postvention; however, very few schools take advantage of these resources. Surviving parents, such as those who founded Yellow Ribbon and those in Texas who have been working to convince the state legislature to pass laws so that schools have policies, procedures, and training, are making a difference; however, progress has been slow. A great deal of national attention has been focused on school shootings. A U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Department of Education report on its study of 37 school shootings over several decades emphasized that the majority of school shooters were suicidal. An Associated Press (2003) described a recent example in which a fifth-grade boy in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, who went into a school restroom and committed suicide after his friend decided not to participate in their planned school shooting.

Prevalence of Youth Suicide

The suicide rate for high school students ages 15 to 19 years has remained relatively stable during the past decade or so, whereas the suicide rate for young people ages 10 to 14 years has increased more than 100% during the same time period. Citing a “silent epidemic,” Portner in 2001 noted that 1 in 13 teenagers had already made some form of suicide attempt. Statements that the suicide rate of young people has at least tripled since the 1950s and that it remains at or near an all-time high, are, unfortunately, very accurate. Suicide rates by age and state are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and are typically given per 100,000 individuals in a particular age group. In the United States, suicide rates are highest in western states that have a high percentage of Native Americans, and Alaska currently has the highest rate of all ...