Suicide Prevention and InterventionSuicide is the second leading cause of death for our young people between the ages of 10 to 24 years old. Many of those who take their own life display warning signs. We can help.
Our HERE Now program is a school-based program to help educate, prevent and heal.
The program, Helping, Engaging, Reconnecting and Educating (HERE) Now, focuses on increasing awareness, promoting conversations and inspiring connections to prevent suicide—one community, one school, one life at a time.
HERE Now uses the SOS Signs of Suicide Prevention Program®, an evidence-based curriculum that includes addressing bullying and bystander roles. The program teaches youth the warning signs of suicide and depression and encourages them to seek help for themselves and others.
Acknowledge – that there is a concern for yourself or a friend Care – let your friend know that you care Tell® – a trusted adult
We use this curriculum to provide awareness and education in hopes to reduce the stigma associated with mental health. Students who feel better, learn better. Last year, the HERE Now team presented the curriculum to 13,061 students.
Services
For Teachers and Support Staff
Presentations can range from 15 to 60 minutes. They include an overview of the program and specifically what to expect during our time at the school. Information on suicidal ideation and self-injurious behaviors and what that can look like in the classroom, as well as bullying and how this can appear on school campus is also included.
For Parents
HERE Now can work with schools to host a coffee talk/parenting meeting to present information on “Check Your Mood” week. Presentations also include topics such as suicidal ideation and what this may look like for their student, self-injurious behaviors and what this may look like, bullying and ways to help students, mental health – childhood depression, effective communication and teen development and stress.
This presentation is given during a single class period and includes information on depression, suicide and bullying, warning signs of suicide, normal vs. atypical reactions to stress in relation to depression, bullying prevention and bystander reporting, personal strengths and coping skills. Students are taught how to respond to a friend, if they are concerned about their safety.
Students also complete a survey and a response card following the presentation about whether they would like to talk to someone regarding themselves or a friend.
Following the presentation, HERE Now team members check in with all students who identified themselves as needing to talk or having a question about the presentation. These students are assessed for suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, homicidal ideation, self-injurious behaviors, substance use and/or abuse and school safety concerns. We help the students identify trusted adults, review the student’s strengths and coping skills and provide community resources.
Community Support
Please contact us about community events such as wellness events, street fairs and other community happenings where we can help raise awareness of these important issues.