Signs of Suicide

At Medfield High School, we believe it is important to focus on the whole student, paying close attention to the emotions that are often associated with the teen years. The Medfield High School Guidance Department presents the SOS Signs of Suicide Prevention Program to student annually in Grades 7, 9, and 12. SOS is the only school-based suicide prevention program selected by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for its National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices that addresses suicide risk and depression, while reducing suicide attempts.

Our goals in presenting this program are straightforward:

• To help our students understand that depression is a treatable illness, and help them assess whether or not they may have symptoms consistent with depression.

• To explain that suicide is a preventable tragedy that can occur as a result of untreated depression.

• To provide students training in how to identify serious depression and potential suicidality in a friend.

• To impress upon our students that they can help themselves or a friend by taking a simple step of talking to a responsible adult about their concerns.

The following are the grade specific programs presented:

• 7th Grade - SOS Signs of Suicide Middle School Program

• 9th Grade - SOS Signs of Suicide High School Program

• 12th Grade - SOS Second Act: Preparing for Life Beyond High School

During each program, students watch video about the signs of suicide, learn about depression symptoms complete a depression screening, score their individual depression screening, and then are provided with guidelines for getting further help, if necessary.

For more information about the SOS Program, please visit https://www.mindwise.org/suicide-prevention/