Your Role in Suicide Prevention
A guest article by Camille Goldy, OSPI Program Supervisor of Suicide Prevention, Student Engagement and Support Division
Someone who dies by suicide experiences a complex set of emotions, and one experience or emotion cannot be determined as the cause of suicide. Suicide is not a normal reaction to daily stressors and mental illness. Someone who experiences suicidal thoughts has reached a state of hopelessness where they are no longer able to seek solutions for themselves.
However, prevention and recovery are both possible, and as community members, we each have a role to play in preventing suicide.
What you can do
By learning to recognize the warning signs of suicide risk, asking someone if they are having suicidal thoughts, and knowing whom to call when someone answers affirmatively to having suicidal thoughts, you can do your part to prevent suicide. Asking someone if they are having suicidal thoughts does not make them suicidal. By asking them, you offer to share the burden and assist them in finding help. There are crisis lines available in each county, and a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1–800–273–8255. Save these numbers in your phone, and share them with your friends and family. Research shows that suicide hotlines save lives.
During National Suicide Prevention Week, visit take5tosavelives.org, bethe1to.com, or imlistening.org to learn more about your role in suicide prevention and how to engage with others who may need your help. These resources will also ensure you are protecting yourself by maintaining self-care through mental and physical health, building and maintaining healthy connections and relationships, and stress management.
Our resources & partners
OSPI’s Suicide Prevention Program assists schools in meeting the requirements of RCW 28A.320.127 which requires districts to have a plan for recognition, screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress in students, including possible sexual abuse. The plan should be updated annually and include staff training.
OSPI maintains a plan template for schools to use that was developed on national best practice recommendations for prevention, intervention, and postvention. By having these plans in place before a crisis occurs, schools are able to respond appropriately to support students and staff during a crisis. Additionally, the Washington Health Education Standards include recommended grade level content for suicide prevention, and school counselors, social workers, psychologists, and nurses are required to have suicide prevention training.
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction partners with the Department of Health, Department of Social and Health Services, University of Washington Forefront Innovations in Suicide Prevention, and other state and local agencies on the implementation of the Statewide Suicide Prevention Plan. Through leveraging these partnerships, we are working to help communities mobilize to promote mental health and prevent suicides across the lifespan.
Get involved
For other ways to get involved in suicide prevention in your community, The Department of Health maintains a list of suicide prevention coalitions across the state, and The Crisis Text Line is recruiting volunteer crisis counselors.
If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, immediately call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800–273-TALK (800-273-8255). The free, 24/7 service can provide suicidal persons or those around them with support, information, and local resources. Individuals can text “start” to 741741 to speak to a counselor.
Author bio
Camille serves as the Suicide Prevention Program Supervisor for OSPI. Her role provides guidance, training, and technical assistance to schools and Educational Service Districts on implementing the laws in Washington relating to youth suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. Camille works in partnership with state agencies and suicide prevention organizations to promote awareness of everyone’s role in suicide prevention through statewide suicide prevention initiatives.
