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Suicide is one of the toughest tragedies students, staff, and the school system has to face. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for youth 15-24 years of age and the 3rd leading cause for 10-14 year olds in the United States. On average, two Wake County students every year die by suicide. It has a lingering effect on a community. Just like it takes a village to raise a child, all of us have a role in trying to protect our students, our children.
Trained school staff work daily to prevent suicide by identifying and assisting students who show warning signs or risk factors, which can include depression, mental health concerns, or thoughts of suicide. WCPSS professionals screen identified students, notify parents/guardians, and connect them with community services when appropriate to address their needs. We watch, we listen, we understand, and we do it without judgement. We never want suicide to be the solution to a student’s problems. (This information, plus information about warning signs and resources, can be found on the WCPSS Suicide Prevention website.)
Signs of Suicide (SOS) Curriculum:
WCPSS Student Services staff use the Signs of Suicide (SOS) to teach lessons to all WCPSS students in grades 7, 9 and 12. These lessons aim to teach students the help-seeking skills needed if they or a friend are having thoughts of suicide. In the 7th grade, students are taught to ACT (Acknowledge - Care - Tell a Trusted Adult).
Parent letters are sent home prior to the teaching of this lesson. Parents who do not want their children to participate should return the signed letter to their child's counselor or PE teacher. (English Parent Letter) (Spanish Parent Letter)
Parents can find detailed information about the program and suicide prevention through the SOS Parent Portal
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