Suicide Prevention

Waukegan Public Schools conducts a suicide prevention program annually with students Grades 6-12. The school district implements the Signs of Suicide Prevention Program that has middle and high school curricula.


The program teaches students how to respond if someone he or she knows has thoughts of harming or killing his or her self. It teaches students how to ACT.


A - Acknowledge


C - Care


T - Tell a trusted adult


Program Information

Signs Of Suicide Middle School Program

(www.mentalhealthscreening.org)


The SOS Signs of Suicide® Middle School Program was created to assist in prevention efforts and to address the problems of youth depression, suicide, and self-injury simultaneously and age appropriately. The program uses a universal approach to assist in identification of at-risk youth.

Similar to the high school program, the SOS Middle School Program teaches students that depression is a treatable illness. Through the use of an educational DVD and discussion guide, students are taught that suicide is not a normal response to stress, but rather a preventable tragedy that often occurs as a result of untreated depression. Students are given specific action steps, encouraged to engage in a discussion about these issues with their parents as well as utilize the peer-to-peer help-seeking model known as ACT® (Acknowledge-Care-Tell).

The third leading cause of death for students ages 10 to 24 in the United States is suicide. It results in approximately 4600 deaths each year. Death by suicide is preventable. If you or someone you know is suicidal, please do the following:


If you are home:

Call 911. Law enforcement will come out to help you.


If you are at school:

Tell a trusted adult. A staff member in the building (i.e. school administration, school counselor, teacher, secretary, school social worker, etc.) can get assistance for either the person you know or yourself.


DO NOT REMAIN SILENT!

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or visit the Web

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