Youth suicide rates are rising, and nearly one in five students say they’ve seriously considered suicide in the past year. How can we keep them safe? With the right knowledge and skills, school communities can be a lifeline of hope for students.
Educators in San Joaquin County can learn how to be that lifeline through the LivingWorks Start training, available through the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE). It is part of a statewide effort coordinated by the California Department of Education (CDE) and the San Diego Office of Education (SDCOE)
LivingWorks is a leading developer of suicide prevention training to provide life-saving skills training for teachers, staff, and students. It’s called LivingWorks Start: a 90-minute online program that equips people to recognize when someone is struggling and take action to keep them safe.
LivingWorks Start is designed to equip people with the knowledge and skills to recognize when someone—a friend, family member, student, or co-worker—is experiencing thoughts of suicide. Learners are equipped to ask that person directly, engage them in a brief conversation to show they are taking the issue seriously, and then connect them to help, such as a counselor, mental health professional or a crisis line. As more and more people are trained, they develop a “safety network” for their school communities, making it more likely that someone’s distress will be identified and they can be kept safe.
Students and educators are also invited to take part in the virtual LivingWorks Youth Summit on Sept. 15. The summit will feature musicians, speakers, and performers raising awareness for youth mental health and suicide prevention. Learn more at lwyouthsummit.com about the virtual summit.
The LivingWorks Start training is available to middle and high school teachers in San Joaquin County through the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE). The next wave of training will include students.
Download the flyer for more information. For access to the training, contact Nora Hana at nhana@sjcoe.net and (209) 221-9488.