Suicide & Bullying: Preventing Suicide through Collaborative Upstream Interventions
This was the sixth webinar of the ICRC-S 2018 webinar series. In this webinar, Marci Feldman Hertz, MS, of the Division of Analysis, Research, and Practice Integration at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed research on the relationship between bullying and suicide. Her presentation explored youth risk and protective factors that might increase or decrease the risk for bullying involvement or suicide across several socio-ecological levels. She also reviewed specific strategies that schools and youth-serving organizations can implement to increase protective factors for youth. Particular emphasis was given to increasing school connectedness as part of a multi-tiered strategy. Patricia Agatston, PhD, LPC, Counselor and Prevention Specialist with the Cobb County School District’s Prevention/Intervention Center presented on the history of the district’s Prevention/Intervention Center as a comprehensive crisis intervention and prevention approach to student suicides. She also provided an overview of district strategies to prevent suicide and bullying through various evidence-based interventions and programs, and the role of community collaboration to support and expand school-based prevention efforts.