General Suicide Prevention Information 

The best way to prevent suicide is through education. Most suicides are related to depression, and, since we cannot always prevent depression (although we can frequently treat it successfully), we can learn to recognize and respond to cries for help from people who feel hopeless and helpless.

Verbal Cues

Direct messages include statements such as "I am going to commit suicide," or "I don't want to live anymore." Indirect messages include statements such as "Life isn't worth living," "I want to go to sleep and never wake up," "Soon it won't matter anymore," and "Do you think suicide is wrong?" These are subtler ways that people express their pain and hopelessness, but they just as surely express a desire to die.

Behavioral Cues

Each of the following behaviors by itself may not signal suicidal thinking or depression, but if several are present, there could be cause for serious concern.

•  Depression, moodiness, sadness, or lack of energy

•  Talking directly or indirectly about dying or committing suicide

•  Changes in sleeping habits (too much, too little)

•  Changes in eating habits (sudden weight gain, weight loss)

•  Discouragement about the future, self-criticism

•  Recent lack of concern about physical appearance, hygiene

•  Withdrawal from social contacts or communication difficulty

•  Giving away prized possessions

•  Drop in school grades or work performance

•  Acquiring the means for suicide (guns, drugs, rope)

•  Making final arrangements, writing a will

•  Taking unusual risks

•  Increased drug or alcohol use

•  Preoccupation with death through poetry and/or artwork

•  Previous suicide attempts (80% of those who kill themselves have attempted it before)

Situational Cues

The following events frequently lead to crisis. For some people, internal and external resources are present in sufficient amounts to cope. For others, intense feelings coupled with a lack of external resources result in serious emotional crisis.

•  End of a serious relationship

•  Death of a loved one

•  Divorce

•  Loss of a job

•  Financial difficulties

•  Moving to a new location

•  Isolation

•  National Institute of Mental Health: Suicide Prevention

•  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

WISD staff participate in online suicide prevention and awareness training as well as in person training provided by the campus school counselor. WISD educators know the signs of potential suicidal behaviors, have referral systems in place to help students in need receive care from the school counselor and know how to caringly and professionally assist students in need. 

All WISD school counselors hold a masters degree in school counseling. Along with their educational background, school counselors attend yearly conferences and professional development in order to have the most up-to-date information and training available. School counselors are highly trained to respond to outcries of any kind.

When a student has potentially made a suicidal outcry there are steps that must be followed in order to assist the student and to help the student/person receive the care that is available to them outside of the school system. School counselors can assist in connecting families to resources so that students can be evaluated and so that their mental health needs can be met. Contact your campus school counselor for any questions or support need. 

Students at secondary campuses watch a district created video and are encouraged to always reach out when they need support of any kind.