In October, the Carnage Middle School Student Services team will deliver the SOS Signs of Suicide® Prevention Program to 7th grade students as a part of the NC Essential Standards (Mental and Emotional Health). SOS is an award-winning, nationally recognized program designed for middle and high school-age students. The program teaches students how to identify the symptoms of depression and suicidality in themselves or their friends, and encourages help-seeking through the use of the ACT®technique (Acknowledge, Care, Tell). 

SOS lessons aims:

* To help students understand that depression is a treatable illness.

* To explain that suicide is a preventable tragedy that often occurs as a result of untreated depression.

* To train students in how to identify serious depression and potential suicidal thoughts in a friend.

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

Information for Parents:

• www.mindwise.org/parents

• Parent / Caregiver Handout

• Parent / Caregiver Handout (Spanish)

• Parent Letter (Yellow)

• Parent Letter_Spanish (Amarillo)

• SOS Brief Screening for Adolescent Depression (Green)

• SOS Brief Screening for Adolescent Depression_Spanish (Verde)

The Carnage Middle School Student Services team will deliver classroom guidance lessons on Trafficking Prevention and Safety to 7th and 8th grade students as mandated by NC Senate Bill 297. Lesson objectives vary by grade level as outlined below. 

Human Trafficking Objectives to be taught by grade level:

• Grade 7 – 7.ICR.3.3 Recognize that sexual harassment may contribute to sexual abuse, sexual assault and sex trafficking and the feelings that result from these behaviors.

• Grade 8 – 8.ICR.1.2 Identify the reasons that people engage in violent behaviors (bullying, hazing, dating violence, sexual assault, family violence, verbal abuse, sex trafficking) and resources for seeking help

• Students had the opportunity to learn fun facts about me, ways to contact a counselor or a member of student services when support is needed, what School Counselors do all day, insight on future classroom counseling lessons, strategies for academic success and how we handle confidentiality and work with staff and school to ensure all students are safe. 

ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors:

• M1. Belief in development of whole self, including a healthy balance of mental, social/emotional and physical well-being. 

• B-SMS 7. Demonstrate effective coping skills when faced with a problem.

Learning Objectives:

• Students will identify cause and effect relationship between emotions and choices and identify coping skills that will help them to make good choices when experiencing intense feelings.