Scribd
Upload
154 views

Suicidepreventiondraft 2

Two students at Copper Hills High School died by suicide in the past six months. Suicide is the leading cause of death for youth aged 15-19 in Utah, with more than a fourth of Utah students feeling sad or hopeless. However, ordinary students can help prevent suicide by learning the warning signs like changes in behavior or mood, paying attention to peers, and talking to those who may be struggling, even if they are not close friends, as well as alerting trusted adults. Talking and listening may be the best ways to deal with the issue and save lives.

Uploaded by

api-305982723
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
154 views

Suicidepreventiondraft 2

Two students at Copper Hills High School died by suicide in the past six months. Suicide is the leading cause of death for youth aged 15-19 in Utah, with more than a fourth of Utah students feeling sad or hopeless. However, ordinary students can help prevent suicide by learning the warning signs like changes in behavior or mood, paying attention to peers, and talking to those who may be struggling, even if they are not close friends, as well as alerting trusted adults. Talking and listening may be the best ways to deal with the issue and save lives.

Uploaded by

api-305982723
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Everyday Heroes: Preventing Suicide One Grizzly at a Time

Did you know talking can save a life?


By Avery Bell
Copy Editor
Theres always light at the end of the tunnel. Every cloud has a silver lining. Good days
are just around the corner. But what do you tell yourself when you dont see the light, when
silver linings seem invisible, when good days are things of the past? Feelings of hopelessness can
overwhelm a person, sometimes to the point where life feels too painful to bear.
Just in the past six months, all Grizzlies have felt the sting of suicide as two well-loved
members of our student body, Dylan Bingham and Kacee Hulphers, took their own lives. Gab
Gillis, a senior and friend of Dylans, tearfully expressed her shock at her friends death, saying.
I couldnt accept it at first. All Grizzlies shared this shock as the voice of our principal cracked
with emotion over the loudspeaker, once, then twice, informing us about the unimaginable
tragedies that shattered our safe community.
Unfortunately, suicide among teenagers is not rare. The Center for Disease Control and
Prevention reports that suicide is the leading cause of death for youth aged 15-19 specifically
in Utah. More than a fourth of all Utah students feel sad or hopeless for an extended period of
time, and 14% have seriously considered suicide. This is an issue that all of us must deal with.
But what can the ordinary student do about this epidemic? It seems like too big a problem to
handle. However, everyone is capable of saving lives.
The first step to preventing suicide is knowing the warning signs. Changes in behavior,
appearance, thoughts, feelings, eating patterns, sleep patterns, and in other major aspects of life
are all telltale warning signs for suicide. Debra Lewis, a counselor at Copper Hills, cautions,
Sometimes the change is so gradual, we dont realize it. The key is to pay close attention to
how peers act and then evaluate whether there may be a sign of trouble. In this evaluation,
remember: it is better to act on tiny signs of trouble than to just let them slide because you are
not sure. Why rationalize when someones life is on the line?
You may be thinking, Of course I have my friends backs. I would always make sure to
lend an ear and get help if they ever needed it. But what about people you dont know? Gab
shares this insight: If people are having those thoughts, talk to them, even if you dont know
them. The people you dont know, whom no one knows, are the ones who need your help the
most. We just have to be aware of those around us, adds Ms. Lewis. A smile or a compliment
could go a long way. People in that state of mind are just looking for something to hold onto.
Will you be what that person holds onto, the only thing keeping them going? Maybe. If you
arent, if you choose to rationalize withholding your aid, Gab warns, You dont know what will
be lost. Imagine what kind of place Copper Hills would be if everyone decided to treat their
fellow students like they are priceless. Principal Quarnberg, when asked about his expectations
for suicide prevention at our school, stresses, [The suicide prevention issue] can't be status quo.

We'd better be aggressive to talk about it and deal with it. And talking may just be the best way
to deal with it.
We must keep talking to each other about those weve lost and how we can help others in
future. If we are aware of someone who is experiencing inner pain, our responsibility is to keep
talking and listening to them, and to talk to a trusted adult, advisor, or professional who can help.
You can even do it anonymously at the CHHS Tip Line or other crisis intervention resource.
Suicide is a difficult issue and we cant solve every problem, but we can save a life if we just
keep talking.

Inserts:

Statistics from the CDC as of 2011


Suicide is the leading cause of death for youth aged 15-19 in Utah
19 Students died by suicide in 2011
43,550 (26.52%) of Utah students feel sad or hopeless for an extended period of time
23,000 (14%) of students in Utah seriously considered suicide
19,720 (12%) of Utah students made a plan for suicide in the last year
11,503 (7%) of Utah students attempted suicide
Over 300 youth received medical assistance for attempted suicide

Warning Signs
Changes in behavior, appearance, thoughts and/or feelings
Sad, depressed, cranky, oppositional, hate-everything attitude
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
Feelings of worthlessness or being a burden to others
Talking about being trapped or in unbearable pain
Sleeping too little or too much.
No energy
Not eating or overeating
Withdrawal or isolation
Extreme mood swings, showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
Trouble in school or with the law
Alcohol or drug abuse
Suicidal threats
Suicide notes and plans
Prior suicide attempts
Making final arrangements

Ways to Prevent
Talk to your friend about suicide
Tell trustworthy adults about the problem

Remain calm
Listen without judging
Be prepared for expression of intense feelings
Dont leave your friend alone
Ask your friend about suicide plans
Dont joke about suicide

Crisis Intervention Resources:


Crisis Text line: 741741
Salt Lake UNI CrisisLine (801) 587-3000
CHHS tipline: Text 88588 and start the message with CHHS1
SAFETIPS App from App Store and Google Play Store

You might also like