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New Required Training Aimed At Reducing High State Teen Suicide Rates

Last updated on Wednesday, August 15, 2018

(UNDATED) - Tami Silverman, President & CEO, Indiana Youth Institute says kids are going back to school and many of us are thinking about backpacks, school supplies and physicals.

With bus schedules, class schedules and after school activities, our kids can easily get stressed about the beginning of a new school year. For some children, especially teens, this stress and anxiety exists at a dangerous level.

In Indiana suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for youth ages 15-24 and the 4th leading cause of death for youth ages 5-14. Experts and teens list several reasons for the increase, including insufficient mental health screening, poor access to mental health services and resistance to seeking care. Suicide ideation and attempt rates are also found to be higher during the school year than in the summer.

Sadly, Hoosier youth are significantly more likely to consider or attempt suicide than their peers nationally,
and Indiana faces significant disparities in youth suicide among vulnerable groups.

For more data on Youth Sucide in Indiana, read IYI's latest Data Brief.

Based on these pressing needs, the Indiana General Assembly has passed youth suicide prevention legislation in the past two sessions. Effective June 30, 2018, all teachers and educators for students in grades 5-12 are required to participate in at least two hours of youth suicide awareness and prevention training every three years.

For details about the required training, school responses and effective interventions, go to the Indiana Department of Education's website.

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