1. Anne Arundel County Public Schools Presented by Jan Arnold jarnold@aacps.orgjarnold@aacps.org and Kris McNally kmcnally@aacps.orgkmcnally@aacps.org Office of Health Education, May 6, 2010 Suicide Prevention in Health Education

2. What in Health Education? Middle School - Grade 6, 7, and 8 15 days within phys ed at each grade to address ALL areas of health: Mental and Emotional Health Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Personal & Consumer Health Family Life and Human Sexuality Safety & Injury Prevention Nutrition and Fitness Disease Prevention and Control

5. High School Health 1 semester course, ½ credit graduation requirement mostly 9 th and 10 th grade students All 7 Health Content areas, but able to focus more on Health Skills Decision Making Goal Setting Accessing Information Health Enhancing Behaviors Analyzing Influences Communication Skills Advocacy

8. Accomplished 2009-2010 Curriculum  Reviewed existing Safety/Injury Prevention and Mental Health Units  Selected research based curriculum - Lifelines  Piloted Lifelines in two schools  Arundel & Chesapeake  Purchased for all schools Training  Trained as Trainers for QPR  Attended statewide Suicide Prevention Conference

9. Plans for 2010-11 Curriculum  June 2010- Rewrite high school health – align with state curriculum  Suicide Prevention- increase time and move it from Safety/Injury Prevention Unit to Mental Health Unit  Lifelines program in all high school Health Classes  ½ credit semester-long graduation requirement (gr. 9-10) Training  August 12 th & 18 th – all high school teachers trained in QPR and Lifelines

10. 1. To increase the probability that persons who come into contact with potentially suicidal adolescents: a. can more readily identify them b. know how to respond to them c. know how to rapidly obtain help for them d. will be consistently inclined to take such action 2. To make sure troubled youth are aware of and have access to helping resources so that they are inclined to seek help as an alternative to suicide Lifelines Objectives

11.  To present relevant facts about suicide  To alert students to signs of suicide risk in peers and encourage serious responses  To outline ways to respond to troubled peers  To demonstrate positive attitudes about intervention and help-seeking behavior  To identify resources Student Curriculum Objectives

12. PRIOR TO TEACHING LIFELINES Attend a QPR Training and Lifelines Professional Development Let your Guidance Counselor and School Nurse know when you will be teaching the lessons. Know who students can go to for help in your building & share this information with your students. Be as specific as possible (names, locations, procedures) Post the Youth Crisis /Suicide Prevention Hotline Numbers in your classroom. Refer to student ID’s.

13. SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES: Anne Arundel County Crisis Warm Line 410-768-5522 The Crisis Response System known as the "Community Warmline" is a service that provides Anne Arundel County Residents in crisis with supportive assistance and linkages to resources within the community. The "Community Warmline" can receive calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Maryland Youth Crisis Hotline – 1-800-422-0009 Services for crisis can range from addressing the needs of the homeless, family conflicts, emotional difficulties, and suicide attempts to large scale disaster relief. National Youth Suicide Hotlines 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, toll free 1-800-SUICIDE 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-784-2433)(1-800-273-8255)