Suicide Prevention Month: How to spot the risks and support student well-being

Written by Katie Allen, LPC, Clinical Director at Rhithm (Acquired)

Trigger Warning: This blog post contains the discussion of suicide and may be triggering to some readers.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. We are proud to partner with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), and all of our over 2,400 existing campuses we serve, to help promote well-being for all K-12 community members. This includes helping educators identify well-being needs and intervene before a suicide is completed.

We think it’s important to demystify this topic and share some facts that can help you be more aware of who is at risk.

According to NAMI.org, suicide is the second leading cause of death among people age 10-14, and the third leading cause of death among people aged 15-24 in the U.S. Compared to their straight peers, lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are nearly four times more likely to attempt suicide.

There are known warning signs to look out for. These include talking about wanting to die, great guilt or shame, or concerns about being a burden to others. People may express feeling hopeless, helpless, trapped, anxious or depressed. People planning to complete suicide may have certain behavior changes, such as making a plan or researching ways to die, withdrawing from or saying goodbye to friends and loved ones, giving away cherished items or pets, increased risk taking behaviors, and increased substance use. And, sometimes a suicide can occur without any of these warning signs being observed.

A key protective factor in suicide is healthy relationships, and having places to safely express feelings and be heard. The Rhithm App can serve as one space for students to reach out to school staff for help and build relationships with their educators. When used regularly, the Wellness Check-In and our Risk Alert system can also help educators identify potential warning signs, including increased sadness, anxiety, and social conflict or isolation. This allows students to be connected to resources sooner, preventing the escalation of a mental health crisis.

If you are ever concerned about someone contemplating suicide, the number one thing you can do is ask. Asking someone about suicide does not increase the risk that they will complete it. And if someone ever approaches you to discuss their suicidal thoughts, it’s important to listen calmly, without judgment and empathetically.

Depending on the situation, you may help the individual get immediately connected to their school counselor or guidance office, or support them in calling or texting the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 to learn more about local resources available. They can also text the Crisis Text line by texting “Hello” to 741741.

For more information visit NAMI.org, as open discussions and education are key to reducing the stigma around suicide.