Mental Well Being and Suicide Prevention
The years between childhood and adulthood represent a critical period of transition and significant cognitive, mental, emotional, and social change. While adolescence is a time of tremendous growth and potential, navigating new milestones in preparation for adult roles involving education, employment, relationships, and living circumstances can be difficult. These transitions can lead to various mental health challenges that can be associated with increased risk for suicide.
Some Common Warning Signs:
- Withdrawal from friends and activities
- Sudden change in behavior (for better or worse)
- Lack of interest
- Increased use of alcohol and other drugs
- Recent loss of a friend, family member or parent, especially if they died of suicide
- Conflicting feelings or a sense of shame about being gay or straight
- Mood swings, emotional outbursts, high level of irritability or aggression
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Preoccupation with death, giving a way valuable possessions
- Talk of suicide: e.g. "no one cares if I live or die"
- "Hero worship" of people who have died by suicide
- Mental Well Being and Suicide Counselors
Parent Resources for Mental Health Mandated Instruction
Florida Statute 1003.42 requires public schools to facilitate at least 5 hours of mental health instruction in grades 6-12. Florida’s First Lady Casey DeSantis has created the Resiliency Toolkit to help educators teach mental health and character education in their classrooms, but parents may find some resources helpful as well. Orange County Public Schools has partnered with RethinkEd to provide lessons on the following topics, as mandated by Rule 6A-1.094124 in the Florida Administrative Code:
- Mental Wellness
- Online Safety
- Human Trafficking Prevention
- Stress Management and Trauma
- Suicide Prevention
- Depression Support Strategies
- Substance Abuse Prevention
- Anxiety Coping Strategies