Preventing the unimaginable: suicide
Google Public Use
January 16, 2018
High school is arguably one of the hardest times in a person’s life. Some choices made during that time can affect the rest of one’s life. Along with those choices are the stresses and struggles of life.
Around 18 percent of high school students have considered suicide as an option for them. That is almost a fifth of teenagers. LHS is no stranger in the topic, making sure to prevent as many suicides as it can through the resources available in the Counseling Office and the Suicide Prevention Hotlines.
Saving a student’s life before an impulsive decision has been an effort of LHS and other schools alike.
“The counselor of the student in concern makes immediate contact with the student and has a discussion with them to get at the nature of the seriousness of the concern,” said Tanielle Sylvester, an LHS counselor. “Confidentiality is waived and anytime we have a conversation with a student regarding [suicide], a parent or guardian is contacted.”
LHS also helps with the next step in terms of getting the appropriate help needed to students.
“We have a lot of resources and access here in our city,” said Sylvester. “In most cases the family is referred to Avera Behavioral Health where they offer free assessment service and a care plan is put into place.”
Friends and classmates are the eyes and ears of the school who can provide the necessary information to staff members, who can further get help for a student.
“Words are powerful,” said Sylvester. “If a friend or someone you don’t know well makes a comment that can be perceived as a threat against themselves or someone else, we hope that it gets reported.”
Besides the LHS Counseling Office, there are other out of school resources that students have access to.
“There is a 211 texting line for those more comfortable texting,” said Sylvester. “The police in our city also do wellness checks. You can always call 911 if you have a concern [about a person]. So between the texting line, police and National Suicide Hotline, those are all wonderful resources outside of the school day.”
Colleen Weber • Jan 26, 2018 at 4:02 pm
Lillian and LHS,
Thank you for this life-saving article and for the critically important efforts you are making to ensure precious lives are given the help needed. The pain is real and even when we think there is no relief–no way out, that we are a burden to others, we do know one thing for sure— suicide is never the answer!
Thank you for shedding light on suicide and extending hope and help on this needless way to die.
Colleen Weber, R.N. BSN, BC
Manager Child & Adolescent Programs
Avera Behavioral Health