High School

Creating Suicide Safety in Schools (CSSS) is a one-day workshop designed for school-based interdisciplinary teams, empowering them to establish realistic short-term plans for effective suicide prevention and response planning. Participants spend time planning and problem solving for specific actions needed for suicide-safer schools. The workshop's format includes didactic presentations coupled with small workgroup discussions, checklists, group planning documents, and exposure to free and low-cost resources that meet best practice recommendations and/or evidence-based practice standards. Creating Suicide Safety in Schools incorporates key aspects of the Social-Ecological Prevention Model, public health perspectives, and recommendations for school-based suicide prevention practices (e.g.. Berman, Jobes, & Silverman, 2006; Miller, 2011). Further, the workshop explores six broad categories of school-based suicide safety: (1) policies, procedures, and standardized protocols; (2) staff training; (3) promotion of student protective factors; (4) identification and reduction of student risk factors: (5) postvention planning; and (6) engagement of family and community.

To accompany the workshop, the Suicide Prevention Center of New York developed a resource binder that included public domain materials using two criteria: (1) well-researched and well-aligned with principles of the Best Practices Registry; (2) usable by school personnel for suicide prevention planning. Original material was added to introduce and organize existing materials and to fill in missing information. Evaluations of early workshops guided the refinement of materials in the binder and led to added planning worksheets, checklists, and structured activities.

Journey to Wellness (J2W) is an eight-week wellness program for American Indian youth 12-18 years of age. Participants receive a sequenced set of eight one-hour sessions that are framed positively toward healthy living styles while at the same time exploring risk factors, suicide prevention, and other suicide-related issues. The sessions are activity-oriented and designed to engage youth. Sessions topics include: relationship building, problem solving, self-esteem building, facts and myths of suicide, networking, life planning, emergency planning, and finally, a celebratory event to close out the sessions.J2W is delivered along gender and age group divisions to promote comfort and safety.

J2Wwas developed by BTC Indian Health Servicesstaff. An initial literature review of best practices was conducted. Input was sought from youth in the communities.  The initial program was piloted to female students in two communities. After pilot, focus groups were conducted with the participants. In addition, focus groups were held with male students to review the program and the potential effectiveness with this population. 

The FIRE Within: Youth Entrepreneurs Preventing Suicide is a 30-hour, classroom-based program for high school students that applies entrepreneurial strategies to suicide prevention. Co-curricular instruction (combining the talents of classroom teachers and local business leaders) using a hands-on approach helps students develop and use business, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills to advance suicide prevention and awareness.  The FIRE Within is delivered to students using a combination of Junior Achievement’s Be Entrepreneurial and Carson J. Spencer Foundation’s (CJSF) The FIRE Within curricula.  Students learn facts about teen suicide, research and identify the root causes of suicidal ideation among their peers, explore possible prevention strategies, and develop and execute a business plan to prevent suicide within their own community. The program includes a  business plan competition in which students develop sustainable businesses that raise revenue and achieve market-based solutions that address the root causes of suicide in their communities.  Students compete for varying levels of seed money to implement their plans.

From 2006-2009, CEO and Co-Founder Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas piloted The FIRE Within at Regis University. In 2009 CJSF started implementation in high schools in partnership with Junior Achievement and the Second Wind Fund. While scaling the program statewide, external evaluators and standardized materials/training ensured quality control. The program’s goals are to promote student-driven suicide prevention (students are trained as QPR Gatekeepers and taught best practices in safe messaging); increase student engagement; and develop socially responsible business leaders.

Kognito Step In, Speak Up!:Supporting LGBTQ Students is a 25-minute, online, interactive training simulation intended for use by teachers and school staff. In the training, users assume the role of an educator and engage in three simulated experiences that address common challenges affecting educators and their students who may be struggling with psychological distress and suicidal ideation related to harassment or exclusion related to sexual identity, sexual orientation or other differences. During the simulations users learn about the challenges facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and how to (1) address harassment and homophobic language in the classroom, (2) broach topics such as bullying, harassment and sexual identity with a student, (3) ask a student about suicidal thoughts or plans, and (4) make appropriate referrals, including referrals to supportive adults and mental health or crisis services, on and off school grounds. By addressing the common challenges facing LGBTQ or other vulnerable students, teachers and staff will create a more supportive academic environment for all students and support prevention and early intervention through effective referrals.

The program was developed by Kognito Interactive with input from mental health experts and staff from not-for-profit, LGBTQ youth-serving organizations. Kognito also conducted several face-to-face focus groups with LGBTQ students and educators as part of the development process.