Dear Safe Schools Coalition Members and Friends:

(1) YouTube video of 13-year old Seth Walsh's mom talking about his suicide

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I wouldn't recommend showing it to student audiences, but your staff or your PTA or your other adult group needs to see this.

-- Beth Reis

 

Go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y5CbtXoO74

 

 

Dear ___                ,

 

We have some sobering information to share about youth suicides, but fortunately we have the opportunity to make an impact.

 

The King County Child Death Review is a process to review deaths of children and teens with the intent of making recommendations for the prevention of future tragedies.  In the most recent review the most common cause of death was suicide; 13 King County youth between the ages of 10 and 17 died by suicide in 2004-2008.  While reviewing deaths are the focus of our committee, we also know that 369 King County youth (ages 10-17) were hospitalized related to suicide attempts in 2004-2008.  Furthermore, the voluntary survey that is conducted in public schools each year, the Healthy Youth Survey, revealed that in 2008 350 King County 8^th graders and 331 10^th graders had seriously considered attempting suicide in the past 12 months.   

 

We consider suicide a preventable death and each suicide attempt a tragedy. We want to share prevention strategies with those who work with children and youth.  The majority of youth who die by suicide have an underlying mental illness, like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or substance abuse.  Suicidal youth do not easily turn to others for help; they want their pain to end.  It is therefore imperative that more “gatekeepers” understand what a depressed or anxious adolescent looks like.  Anyone working on the front lines with adolescents needs to know the common risk factors, as well as the warning signs, for suicide as well as the strategies for intervention.  

 

We in King County, now have the perfect opportunity to get that training.  The Division of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Services has contracted with the Youth Suicide Prevention Program (YSPP) to offer FREE workshops to any adult who lives or works in King County.  YSPP is offering a 3-hour suicide awareness class called SafeTALK; YSPP is also offering a more comprehensive 2-day workshop called Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). 

 

The Child Death Review Committee strongly encourages you to check out these offerings at www.yspp.org and get your staff registered.  This training goes beyond graduate and undergraduate academic programs like social work and psychology by training on the specific knowledge and skills to appropriately recognize and intervene with a suicidal adolescent.  Consider that your investment in staff training could be life saving.

If you have questions about Child Death Review, please contact Ronit Gourarie, RN, Coordinator King County Child Death Review at Ronit.Gourarie@kingcounty.gov or

206-263-8387.  If you have questions about the training you can contact Jennifer Barron at YSPP at 206 297-5922 x 117.

 

Sincerely

 

David Fleming, MD                                               Sue Eastgard

Director and Health Officer                                      Executive Director

Public Health - Seattle & King County                   Youth Suicide Prevention Program

 

The Youth Suicide Prevention Program also does suicide prevention training for educators and others who work with you anywhere in Washington State -- beyond King County, but there is a small charge for these trainings. Contact Jennifer at YSPP at 206- 297-5922 x 117 or mailto:jennifer@yspp.org.

For training about suicide prevention specifically among LGBTQ young people -- in King County or anywhere in Washington State -- contact Heather Carter at 206- 297-5922 x 116 or mailto:heather@yspp.org.

School districts in Washington State have until August 1, 2011 to adopt new stronger anti-bullying policies and procedures that are at least as protective as the state's new model ones (see them here http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/BullyingHarassment/default.aspx).

 

15 minutes (longer than many classes will want to use, but great for GSAs and other venues): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKp8WP9z22s

 

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Got a problem at school with anti-gay harassment?
In Washington State:
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Co-Chairs:
Frieda Takamura, retired from the Washington Education Association.
Beth Reis, Public Health - Seattle & King County, 206-296-4970.
Heather Murphy, Ph.D., school psychologist.
Stefanie Fox, community organizer.

 

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