Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention
Suicide is among the top ten leading causes of death in the United States claiming 41,149 people in 2013 alone (McCarthy). As of 2011, suicide was the third leading cause of death in teenagers between the ages of thirteen and fifteen (“Help those who Hurt”).   Fifteen to eighteen percent of college students claim that they have thought of suicide at least once, while intentional self-harm (suicide) became the number one cause of death amongst college students. Eighty percent of those who completed suicide had not received on campus help (Rao and Kennedy). In order to better prevent suicide ideation, attempts and completions, better suicide prevention programs need to be integrated into the classroom curricula to allow student to be open about their feelings and thoughts.
  Not every person who contemplates self-harm or has a strong desire to end his/her life can be helped through the integration of these programs; however, having better educational program has proven to be successful in helping to prevent suicides. Currently in Frederick County, a brochure is given to all students at grades six through nine within the first week of school that contains information on suicide prevention such as hotlines, warning signs and what to do if somebody threatens to kill themselves (“Help those who Hurt”). Although this pamphlet gives some students resources and guidance if needed, it is not required that students read the information in this brochure, and it is also not required that teachers openly discuss the information given. Giving hotline numbers to students and other sources to find help will, hypothetically, dramatically decrease suicide rates in the United States, but it is vital that this information be openly talked about amongst classmates and teachers (Rao and Kennedy). Creating even a small program does not take weeks; websites such as suicide.org offer already made programs appropriate for Grammar School, High School and College. Without...