CFS Staff Complete Youth Suicide Prevention School-Based Guide: Now Available On-line
It is estimated that most of the reported 6-9 million children and adolescents in the U.S. with serious emotional disturbances are not getting adequate help, and tragically, some resort to suicide. In 2001, the Florida Department of Health reported that suicide claimed the lives of 209 Florida youth under the age of 24 - an average of 4 suicides occurring per week. During the same year, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported that 8% of high school students attempted suicide – that's equivalent to 2 students in every class of 25.
These disturbing statistics have led Florida to make suicide prevention programs a primary public health issue, with a major focus on school-based mental health programs – often where children and adolescents with emotional or behavioral problems are first identified. While past state mandates have required schools to teach life coping skills, additional strategies and tools may improve Florida's efforts in reducing the incidence of suicide.
In order to help school administrators create or improve the adequacy of their prevention and response programs, CFS staff were subcontracted to develop a Youth Suicide Prevention School-Based Guide. The CFS Guide team included Kathy Lazear, Principal Investigator, Steve Roggenbaum, Project Director, Justin Doan, Research Assistant and Bill Leader, Production Specialist. The Guide is part of the larger Florida Metropolitan and Non-metropolitan Community Youth Suicide Prevention Prototype Program, which is housed at the Institute for Child Health Policy at Nova Southeastern University (NSU).
" Adolescent suicide doesn't occur in a vacuum,” said Steve Roggenbaum, project director of the Youth Suicide Prevention School-Based Guide. "Research indicates that youth suicide is not only linked to substance abuse, but also to mental health and behavioral disorders, so when preventive programs in schools are combined, such as drug, alcohol, or mental health, a much stronger prevention package can be formed to help students."
The Guide is based upon a review of the current literature and exemplary programs and produced in relatively short, separate sections combined into a pocket folder. Input and reviews were obtained from Florida health and education state administrators, national experts from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, survivors, researchers, school district level staff, and select agencies.
“ This is not a program but a tool that provides a framework for schools to assess their existing or proposed suicide prevention efforts through a series of checklists,” added Roggenbaum. “The guide provides resources and information that school administrators can use to enhance or add to their existing program.”
Roggenbaum and Dr. Deborah Mulligan-Smith, director of the Institute for Child Health Policy at NSU, are presenting throughout the state at numerous meetings and conferences related to adolescent mental health and suicide prevention. The guide, which can be downloaded at http://theguide.fmhi.usf.edu, has already been linked to numerous suicide prevention websites.
For additional information, contact Steve Roggenbaum at 813-974-6149
The Department of Child and Family Studies (CFS) is a department of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida. The faculty and staff of CFS are committed to enhancing the development, mental health and well-being of children and families through leadership in integrating research, theory & practice.