Prevention at School: Starting a School Program

With the help of a teacher or school staff, you can organize a prevention education campaign that designates a week or a month to raising awareness about youth suicide.  We don’t recommend assemblies as a way of talking about this serious subject.  It is better to host informational tables at lunchtime or conduct classroom presentations. 

YSPP can help you and your school if you live in Washington State.  There are many creative, fun ways to spread the word – you can choose a campaign slogan (i.e., “Be a Lifesaver”), the campaign elements (i.e., key chains, pencils, t-shirts) you want to use to promote awareness, and how you want to distribute them.

For example, a student group may design and wear t-shirts for prevention week.  Another group may hang posters in every classroom; another may set up an information booth at every lunch hour.  It’s up to you!

Making a Suicide Prevention Video

If you are thinking about making a video as a way of educating your peers, emphasize the warning signs and intervention steps for recognizing and helping a friend who might be a risk of suicide.  It is best that videos not glamorize or glorify suicidal behaviors.  YSPP staff can help you if you ask!

Writing a Paper on Suicide Prevention

If you want to write an article for the school newspaper - or maybe you have a classroom assignment to write about suicide – you can find lots of information at frequently asked questions and statistics.