What Schools Can Do to Help Prevent Suicides

“If we’re not working on building our mental wellness for all our students, we’re missing a piece of education,” so says Douglas Fulton, principal of Freedom High School in Chantilly, Va., outside Washington. Fulton believes schools need to tackle this issue head-on, and involve everyone in the effort - from the bus driver to the cafeteria worker. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for those aged 10 to 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Mental health experts say schools are the ideal place to help prevent suicides and educators shouldn’t be afraid to talk about the subject. Educators also need to know that all types of students can be at risk, not just the stereotypical loner, according to a student who needed help herself. Here are five suicide prevention tips for schools. If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line: by texting TALK to 741741