September is Suicide Prevention Month. Here are recommendations and free resources for K-12 leaders

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra calls rising suicide rates "both gut-wrenching and unacceptable."September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and policymakers, parents, district administrators, and community leaders are taking steps to address rising rates of youth suicide. While it is the eleventh leading cause of death nationally, suicide is now the third leading cause of death among high school-aged youths aged 14–18 years, according to the CDC, a trend that U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has called "both gut-wrenching and unacceptable."

Organizations such as the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) provide a variety of tools to help advance suicide prevention. The SPRC recommends that school and district leaders take a comprehensive approach to addressing the issue, that includes these key components: 

• Promote emotional well-being and connectedness among all students. 
• Identify students who may be at risk for suicide and assist them in getting help. 
• Be prepared to respond when a suicide death occurs.

Access free resources from the SPRC below:

• Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools (from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
• Preventing Suicide: The Role of High School Teachers (Fact Sheet)
• Preventing Suicide: The Role of High School Mental Health Providers
• After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools

Visit the SPRC Schools website for more information: Schools – Suicide Prevention Resource Center (sprc.org)

The Social Media Victims Law Center provides a variety of resources discussing issues related to the use of social media and its impact on mental health and suicide amongst young people on their website.