Suicide Prevention Resources

Annual Notice on Suicide Prevention

This coming Saturday September 10, 2016 is World Suicide Prevention Day. September is recognized as SuicidePrevention Month. 

Suicide Prevention Training on September 14th

On Wednesday September 14th the Medford Area Public School District in collaboration with the Taylor County Health Department will be offering Suicide Prevention trainings for staff and community members. 

• 2:15 pm to 3:30 pm for all districtwide paraprofessionals
• 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm for all certified staff, community members, and parents
• Both trainings will be held in the MAES Library
• Michelle Armbrust from the Health Dept will be the lead speaker
• Nancy Hemmer will be a guest speaker on her personal involvement

Suicide Resources

• Taylor County Crisis Line: 1-866-317-9362
• Taylor County Sheriff: 715-748-2200
• Text "hopeline" to 741741
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• Wisconsin DPI resources: http://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/mental-health/youth-suicide-prevention
• Youth Suicide Prevention Resources: http://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/sspw/pdf/spmodelnotice2016.pdf

Suicide Facts

(www.save.org - Suicide Awareness Voices of Education)

• Suicide takes the lives of nearly 40,000 Americans every year.
• Many who attempt suicide never seek professional care.
• For 15-24 years olds, suicide is the second leading cause of death.
• 80% of people that seek treatment for depression are treated successfully.
• 15% of those who are clinically depressed die by suicide.
• There are an estimated 8 to 25 attempted suicides to 1 completion.
• 1 in 65,000 children ages 10 to 14 die by suicide each year.
• In 2011, 39,518 people died by suicide. (CDC)
• Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. (homicide is 16th). (CDC)
• An average of one person dies by suicide every 13.3 minutes. (CDC, AAS)
• There are four male suicides for every female suicide. (CDC, AAS)
• Research has shown medications and therapy to be effective suicide prevention.
• Suicide can be prevented through education and public awareness.
• In 2004 it is estimated there were 811,000 suicide attempts in the US. (AAS)

District Annual Notice on Suicide Prevention

This is our Annual Notice on Suicide Prevention to all school staff which helps provide further education and resources to help staff who support our students and families. It is our hope these resources will help prevent victims of suicide or help those who are impacted by it.

(Suicide Prevention Policy JHH and JHH-R)
The Medford Area Board of Education recognizes that suicide and suicide tendencies among youth are continuing problems in the schools and communities of the nation.  The board also recognizes that it is not a problem that it can deal with alone.  Communication and cooperation within the school district and between the home, school, and community is crucial. 

The Board of Education has established Suicide Prevention Policies (JHH and JHH-R) in an effort to take positive steps toward preventing childhood/adolescent suicide and to outline procedures by which students can receive professional help and support.

Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Rules Related to School Based Suicide Prevention:

http://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/sspw/pdf/spwiscstats.pdf

Suicide Prevention QPR Trained Staff

• MADA and Alternative HS: Kellie Keene
• MASH: Beth van der Berg
• MAMS: Jackie Strick
• Elementary: Tasha Mallak, Misty Galli, Richelle Woller
• District: Jill Koenig
• Community: Michelle Armbrust (Health Department), Jen Meyer (Human Services), and Sue Eloranta (retired counselor)

Student Services Team 

• Joseph A. Greget = Director of Student Services/Special Education
• Don Everhard = School District Safety and Crisis Coordinator and Human Services Suicide Support
• Kathy Alexander = MAMS/MASH School Psychologists
• Stefanie Eggert = MAES/SES School Psychologist
• Jessica Martin and Sam Penry = RVA School Psychologists 
• Terry Lybert and Tolea Kamm-Peissig = MASH Guidance Counselors
• Jackie Strick - MAMS Guidance Counselor
• Jill Koenig - School District Nurse
• Jason Lang - School District Police Liaison Officer
• Kylie Weiler - School Social Worker
• Richelle Woller - Guidance Counselor and PBIS Internal Coach
• Kelly Schultz - School Based Mental Health Counselor

For more information or support - please contact a Student Services Team member.

Closing Thought

Thank you for providing students with encouragement, kindness, and support to meet their learning, emotional, and social needs. Continue to deposit them each day as this helps build them up more and more both now and in the future. You can and do make a difference for them. Leave them feeling better about themselves then when they came into your classroom, lunchroom, or even passing you in the hallway.  The more deposits you can leave the better they will be. Let's hope that no one is a victim of suicide in the 16-17 school year.

Thank you,

Joseph Greget
Director of Student Services and Special Education

715-748-2316 ext 324