Signs to Watch for in Students at High Risk For Suicide
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, in 2020, adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 24 had a suicide rate of 14.24. According to a March 2022 report by UCLA Health, suicide is the second leading cause of death among children and young adults, 15 to 24 in the U.S.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness also reports that almost 20 percent of high school students report serious thoughts of suicide and nine percent have tried to take their lives. This means, approximately one in ten young people think about suicide and one in 10,000 die by suicide.
Students have daily contact with teachers and other school employees. For this reason, those in the school community should be familiar with the warning signs that a student may be suicidal.
The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) says to look for these warning signs:
When a student expresses feelings of hopelessness
When a student isolates himself from others
When a student shows dramatic mood changes
When a student starts giving away prized possessions
When a student sleeps all the time or sleeps too little
When a student shows increase use of substances
When a student appears anxious or agitated
When a student displays anger, rage or seeks revenge on another person
When a student feels trapped in any situation
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