Today's thoughts are about suicide prevention programs implemented in high schools.
Recently, Arizona high schools have started a state-wide awareness and prevention suicide program. I applaud them for this noble act, but why aren't other states doing something similar? Why haven't suicide programs been put into effect sooner?
Because it usually takes a real-life gruesome death of a teenager that committed suicide to get people talking.
Recently, the popular Netflix series 13 Reasons Why has stirred up conversation. High school is already one hell of a ride. I speak from experience when I tell you it is draining mentally, physically, and emotionally. Adding outside factors like family, work, extracurricular activities, etc. only cause more distress.
My mother told me a story of a girl who jumped out of the girl's bathroom window when she was in high school. She told me of her mangled, bloody body on the ground. My mother says, "Her death freaked me out for a while... It was weird, because I had just seen her in the hallway, and the next thing you know she was splatted on the ground."
This girl's death could have been prevented. How, you may ask?
Well, the first step would be adding more breathing/safe space to schools. There is so much added pressure on high school students, from college preparation to peer pressure, that students do not feel like they are given a chance to take a whoosah or reach out for help. Perhaps schools can create a room that students can go to at any time of the day to unwind, talk to friends, or even have the space to call a hotline.
I know of some schools that have therapists, but that can be intimidating to some students. To have an anonymous hotline or even a texting system can make students feel safer, and therefore more open, about getting advice and help.
The second leading cause of death amongst teens is suicide. Something must be done about teens feeling like they have no way out. Creating safe spaces and anonymous hotlines is a start. The suicide rate has decreased from 29% in 1991 to 18% in 2015, but this rate still needs to be decreased even further. That can only happen if we shed more light on suicide and take it more seriously, with action plans to carry out. Conversation needs to continue to happen, so this topic can stop feeling alienated or foreign.
If you are in the Boston area and are in need of advice/help, you can anonymously reach out to Samaritans Hope through call or text at 877-870-4673 (they are open 24/7).
If you are somewhere other then Boston the national hotline is 800-273-8255.