Building a Suicide Awareness Toolbelt: A Guide for Elementary School Teachers

September is Suicide Awareness Month and while we may not associate elementary school aged children and suicide, the unfortunate fact is that they are still at risk. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, when children under the age of fifteen commit suicide, it “may be associated with feelings of sadness, confusion, anger, or problems with attention and hyperactivity.” We’d like to think that children get their emotional needs, as well as other needs, met at home, but the sad truth is that many children walking through the front doors of their elementary school have an empty tank upon arrival. Teachers have the opportunity to be the light in one of these little lives. Some young children find teachers to be their only source of affirmation, security, joy and happiness, and although that is a heavy and sorrowful thought, it’s also a great opportunity. Furthermore, these students will quickly grow into teenagers and young adults, and the suicide rates and suicide attempt rates are staggering for that age group. A planted seed early on may provide the strong roots that they cling to when the heavy winds blow throughout the next several challenging years, and even on through adulthood. Mental health is a very real concern among our children these days, and while teachers have limited resources to help with the time that their students spend away from them, they can give them the encouragement and tools that they need in order to cope. So, let’s get started with some simple steps that teachers can take to start making a difference today –

Step One – Be Open to New Tools and Ideas and Research How Best to Utilize Them.

Just reading this article, and articles like this, are a great first step. Do you remember the old saying that goes along the lines of something like “the best teachers are those that can also be students?” It’s so true. Growing up, my dad told me that no matter how good we get at something, we should always be open to learning a new way to approach an old issue. Sometimes, we get stuck in the rut of doing things the same way because it’s comfortable. Other times it’s because we are stubborn and prideful. We’ve all been there, right? Trust me, I understand how easy it is to get into a rhythm everyday and find that your pattern generates a sense of organization in an otherwise chaotic mess, but the world is constantly moving and we have to choose to pick up our feet and move forward with it. And in this case, our students really need our help. So, kudos to you for taking the first step! I hope you find this information inspiring and motivating, but don’t stop there! Educate yourself as much as possible about childhood suicide prevention. Set up a meeting with your school counselor and other teachers to talk about common issues in the age group that you teach. Join social media groups or pages online to learn more about the signs, and prevention tips, and discuss ideas for helping your students. Use as many education tools as you can access so that you can be the best version of yourself as an advocate and teacher! Remember, some students are looking to you every day for the reassurance that they matter, they have a purpose, and they make the world a brighter place. If you take it that knowledge to heart, it may have a profound difference on how you choose to teach.

Step Two – Don’t Assume You Know

We’ve just started the school year and I bet you already have one student that you are thinking about as you read this article. One student that “fits the mold,” if you will, of what you would define as at risk for suicide. But while our internal “at risk” gut meter is a helpful and important tool in our toolbelt, we should also constantly be aware that statistics and our “gut feelings” only take us so far. Never assume that the most vibrant child in the classroom, the one always smiling and laughing, isn’t the one hiding the darkest secrets and sadness. We must take these skills and tools that we learn and apply them to every child that we can, not just the ones that we identify as at risk in our eyes.

Step Three – Act

Just as every student has a different personality or comfort level, so does every teacher. I don’t assume to know what will work well for every teacher, or every student, but I do think that the best step is to just jump in and start trying. Research ideas and tools, join a community of teachers and build a dialog where you can meet online or in-person and discuss what you are trying and what works best, and play with ideas until you find something that inspires you and really reaches them. Just “act.” I would encourage you to try something new every week, or every month, because different approaches will reach different children. You are not only filling up their little empty tanks, but you are showing them key tools to use in their every day lives that will help them cope, both today and tomorrow. Lastly, I encourage you to take this one step further and share! Share your experiences, your successes, and even your challenges. Inspire other teachers to do the same and build a community where you can lean on each other when you face challenges or momentarily lose your “why.”

Here’s a great way to get started:

Idea #1 – Incorporate Power Words, Not Just Positive Affirmations

I’m sure you are familiar with the power of positive words of affirmation. These sentences or phrases are meant to inspire, encourage, or make declarations that leave the recipient feeling more confident and valued. We are often encouraged to put sticky notes of affirmations on our mirrors that say, “you are enough” or “today will be a great day.” Or maybe we are encouraged to use positive words of affirmation to remind others that they are important and that they matter. “You are an amazing (insert appropriate word).” These are an important and great way to help your students, but I’d like to take the positive words of affirmations challenge a step further and say let’s look at the use of power words. Afterall, little minds, as we know, are like little sponges, and they are not only absorbing knowledge and skills, but they are also absorbing all of the words that we pour into them about who they are and interpreting this information in ways that mold their views of their own self-worth and value. Ever heard the saying, “your words become a child’s inner voice?” Well, if you take that idea to heart, then every word that a teacher pours into a child either plants a seed or waters a seed. So, my challenge to you is as follows: Pick three power words each week and find ways to use them with your classroom to show each student that they matter and are valued. Get creative. I suggest taping your three words somewhere that you see throughout the day, every day, such as inside your desk drawer, to remind yourself to utilize them. Here are some possible power words to help you get you started: Unique, Inspiring, Captivating, Memorable, Impressive, Profound, Unforgettable, Powerful, Extraordinary, Remarkable, Sensational, Awe-Inspiring, Transformational, Astonishing, Astounding, Brilliant, Untapped, Unstoppable and Unbelievable. Depending on the age level, the appropriate activities, or even the power words used, may be different, but find some way to use these power words, or others, to help them define themselves in a positive light.

In Conclusion

While we would like to imagine that everyone should play a role in providing our children with a safe and encouraging environment, the sad truth is that many are too busy or too consumed with other things to notice when our little ones begin to struggle. The idea of a village coming together to raise a child has almost evolved into extinction and all too often, the children are the ones left behind. In this progressively isolated world, very few of us have the unique opportunity of impacting these little lives for hours each day like a teacher. It’s a sad reality that their young minds could even think of turning to suicide before they even have a chance to truly blossom into the beautiful purposes for which they were created. I personally wish that I could scoop each one of them up and love them in just the way that they need it most. But while it’s out of our reach to save them all, we can make a start by proactively making a difference for the students in front of us today. Fill your toolbelt with new tools and resources, such as articles, people, research, and groups. Start building a list of ideas and incorporating them into your classrooms to see what works. Share information with other teachers to motivate, inspire, and educate each other on your findings. And always remember your “why.” Write it on your mirror, tape it to your desk, or put it as your screensaver. The life you change today, the seed you plant, the plant you water, the roots you provide, it all makes a difference. They deserve to know that they matter. Let your words be their inner voice.