suicide prevention

Spring Requires Extra Vigilance

Suzanne Sibole School Safety, School Violence Prevention, Suicide Prevention, Violence Prevention, Warning Signs , , ,

Extra Vigilance in Spring Months

Spring requires extra vigilance when it comes to identifying warning signs of trouble in our students. There are many rites of passage that occur during the spring months – prom, graduation, senior skip days, and the ending of the school year. All of these events carry the potential for misuse of substances, compromised driving skills, and the sense of freedom that is often accompanied by risk-taking in teens.

But, what I’m talking about here is the increase in suicide numbers that tend to peak during the months of May and June. During an average month, 700 persons die by suicide. During the months of May and June, that number increases to 800 per month. This effect is also seen in the southern hemisphere, in opposite months.

The complexity of suicide makes it difficult to determine the exact reason for the increase, but researchers have a few theories. One is that an individual’s energy may increase as the weather warms, providing just enough of a surge to complete a long-considered suicide. Other theories deal with agitation caused by bipolar disorder, inflammatory diseases, low vitamin D levels, and even tree pollens.You can take a deeper dive into this topic here.

It’s also important to be aware that there are a number of anniversary dates of school violence in the spring. For students who may be considering violence, the following anniversary dates can be significant:

April 1, Prescott High School, Prescott, Arkansas

April 2, Oikos University, Oakland, California

April 2, Cardozo High School, Washington, D.C.

April 9, Gloversville Middle School, Gloversville, New York

April 10, North Park Elementary School, San Bernardo, California

April 11, East English Village Preparatory Academy, Detroit, Michigan

April 12, New River Community College, Christainsburg, Virginia

April 12, Raytown South Middle School, Raytown, Missouri

April 13, Wayne Community College, Goldsboro, North Carolina

April 13, Sheeler Charter High School, Apopka, Florida

April 14, John McDonough High School, New Orleans, Louisiana

April 15, Booker T. Washington High School, Tulsa, Oklahoma

April 16, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia

April 17, Flex High School, Flint, Michigan

April 19, Ross Elementary School, Houston, Texas

April 20, Columbine High School

April 20, Forest High School, Ocala Florida

April 23, Antigo High School Prom, Antigo Wisconsin

April 24, Red Lion Area Junior High School, Red Lion, Pennsylvania

April 25, Wynbrooke Elementary School, Stone Mountain, Georgia

April 30, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina

May 4, Paine College, Augusta, Georgia

May 4, North Lake College, Irving Texas

May 4, East High School, Pueblo, Colorado

May 5, Paine College, Augusta Georgia

May 5, Highpoint High School, Belleville, Maryland

May 7, Randallstown High School, Randallstown, Maryland

May 7, STEM School Highlands Ranch, Highlands Ranch, Colorado

May 8, Second Chance High School, Chicago, Illinois

May 9, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

May 10, San Jose State University, San Jose, California

May 11, Highland High School, Palmdale, California

May 14, Duvall County School Bus, Jacksonville, Florida

May 13, Southside High School, Greenville, South Carolina

May 13, Chimborazo Elementary School, Richmond, Virginia

May 15, Augusta High School, Augusta, Kansas

May 15, Moss Bluff Elementary School, Lake Charles, Louisiana

May 16, Dixon High School, Dixon, Illinois

May 17, Raines High School, Jacksonville, Florida

May 18, Harvard College Dormitory, Cambridge, Massachusetts

May 18, South Gate High School, South Gate, California

May 18, Larose Louisiana

May 18, Santa Fe High School, Texas

May 18, Mount Zion High School, Jonesboro, Georgia

May 21, Thompson K-12 International Academy, Southfield, Michigan

May 21, Clarke Street Elementary School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

May 23, University of California-Santa Barbara

May 23, Highlands Intermediate School, Pearl City,k Hawaii

May 24, Robb Elementary School, Uvalde, Texas

May 24, Technical High School, St. Cloud, Minnesota

May 24, Redland Middle School, Homestead, Florida

May 25, Noblesville West Middle School, Noblesville, Indiana

May 26, McLain High School, Tulsa, Oklahoma

May 27, Horizon Elementary School, Everett, Washington

If you’re not sure what to look for in terms of warning signs, check out the suicide warning signs and violence warning signs freebies from Youth Risk Prevention Specialists. If you need more help, please contact me for training opportunities.

Your Back-to-School Resource Guide

Suzanne Sibole Safety Resources , , , , ,

It’s the beginning of a new school year and you have a lot to do!

I’m a big fan of having research-based strategies and practices at hand, ready to implement when the time is right. I’m also a proponent of low cost training and resources to help school staff members do their jobs more efficiently. The resources below provide both!

Bookmark this resource guide for later use. It’s full of prevention and safety resources for your student services staff and building administrators.

Have a great beginning to the school year!

End of School Year Vigilance

Suzanne Sibole School Safety Strategies , , , , ,

With everything else on educators’ plates right now, we need to remind ourselves to practice end of school year vigilance. The spring months typically have the highest number of school violence incidents, and we have seen an increase in school threats and attacks over the past few weeks. While many are transient with no substantial plan, we must evaluate each one to ensure safety.

What to watch for

If you’re not sure what you should be looking for, you can refresh your memory with this list of warning signs.

We also want to watch for students who may dread the summer months and loss of structure and support that school provides. Unfortunately, the spring and summer months are also host to a high number of suicides. If you’d like to send some information out to parents along with other end-of-year correspondence, here are two options for you: warning signs of suicide and tips for parents.

If you are yearning to learn something new this summer, Youth Risk Prevention Specialists offers a free online school safety course that takes about 20 minutes to complete. A longer, more in-depth course is also available for individuals, and to train your entire staff. It takes about 2 hours to complete.

I want to thank you for all you do to help keep kids safe throughout the school year. I wish you an amazing, relaxing summer.

Mass Shooter Contagion

Suzanne Sibole School Violence Prevention, Suicide Prevention , , , , , , , ,

Mass Shooter Contagion

When you review your school safety practices this summer, be sure to consider the phenomenon known as the mass shooter contagion effect.

We’ve already learned that it’s best not to extensively memorialize deaths that were caused by suicide. The reason for this sometimes unpopular practice is that we don’t want to encourage suicide in those individuals who may view it as a method of getting the recognition and sympathy they desire.

There appears to be a similar effect operating with regard to mass shooting incidents. For this reason, we also want to minimize the recognition of mass violence perpetrators.

Dr. Sherry Towers led a research team from Arizona State University to apply a statistical model for detecting contagion in disease to shooting data previously collected by the Brady Campaign and USA Today. The researchers found that mass shootings increased the incidence of similar events within a period of 13 days. It was noted that this effect is present in 30% of mass shootings and 22% of school shootings.

This type of clustering may have roots in a similar copycat effect regarding suicide that was noted by sociologist Dave Phillips in 1974, and termed the Werther Effect. The Werther Effect uses social learning theory to explain that vulnerable individuals may see or hear of the suicide of someone with whom they identify and make a decision, either consciously or unconsciously, that suicide is an appropriate choice for him/her as well. This effect is thought to be responsible for cluster suicides.

Mass shooter contagion and schools

There is some indication that the national media is beginning to review and act on this information. Our job is to do the same in our own schools and communities.

Here’s what we need to do:

  • Make our staff aware of both the suicide and mass shooting contagion effects
  • Become increasingly vigilant when either suicide or violence occur in our geographic area, or anywhere in the world, if there is national media exposure.
  • Train school staff members in the warning signs of suicide and violence. For a list of each, consider taking this free online school safety course, which contains both lists.

If you have found this post helpful, please forward to your friends and colleagues. If you have had this post forwarded to you, you can get your own copy by subscribing here.

Suicide Rates Increase in Spring

Suzanne Sibole Suicide Prevention , , , ,

Suicide rates increase in the spring

Spring has sprung, so to speak, and it’s time for a reminder that research data indicates that suicide rates are higher in spring. In fact, they are higher during the spring months than at other times of year, which may feel a bit counterintuitive. It is estimated that 700 suicides occur each week in the United States. During the spring months, this number increases by roughly 15%, to 800 suicides per week.

Conventional wisdom would have us believe that rates are higher during the dreary months of winter and around the winter holidays. In fact, records from as far back as the 1800s show a peak in suicide rates during the spring months. One study conducted in 1995 followed rates in both the northern and southern hemisphere and found that rates were highest during each hemisphere’s spring months.

While there are a number of theories, none has been proven as the definitive explanation. Most focus on biological factors such as increased energy or inflammation that occurs in the body during spring. One theory postulates that increases in pollen also trigger anxiety producing chemicals in the body. Others seek social explanations such as the increased social activity that typically occurs after a winter of isolation.

What’s undeniable is this: suicide rates increase in spring

Regardless of the cause, this is a time for increased vigilance and a reminder to staff, parents, and students about the increased risk of suicide in the spring and early summer months. Parents should be especially watchful during the transition from school to summer. This is a perfect time to post an article on  your district website and in your next parent and staff newsletters to make sure everyone pays close attention to signs of depression and suicidality during a time when many of us erroneously believe the risk is lower.

Please visit Youth Risk Prevention Specialists to learn more.

Spring = Higher Suicide Rates

Suzanne Sibole Suicide Prevention ,

Spring suicide rates

It may be counterintuitive, but the numbers show that the rates of suicide are higher in the spring than during other times of year. It is estimated that 700 suicides occur each week in the United States. During the spring months, this number increases by roughly 15%, to 800 suicides per week.

Conventional wisdom would have us believe that rates are higher during the dreary months of winter and around the winter holidays. In fact, records from as far back as the 1800s show a peak in suicide rates during the spring months. One study conducted in 1995 followed rates in both the northern and southern hemisphere and found that rates were highest during each hemisphere’s spring months.

While there are a number of theories, none has been proven as the definitive explanation. Most focus on biological factors such as increased energy or inflammation that occurs in the body during spring. One theory postulates that increases in pollen also trigger anxiety producing chemicals in the body. Others seek social explanations such as the increased social activity that typically occurs after a winter of isolation.

Bottom line: Spring = higher suicide rates

Regardless of the cause, this is a time for increased vigilance and a reminder to staff, parents, and students about the increased risk of suicides in the spring and early summer months. Parents should be especially watchful during the transition from school to summer. You may want to post an article on  your district website and include an article in your next parent and staff newsletters to make sure everyone pays close attention to signs of depression and suicide during a time when many of us erroneously believe the risk is lower.

For additional suicide prevention resources, please feel free to contact me here.