Hello TMSA Families!
The Main Street Academy's Counseling Department has a lot going on this fall. This month, September, we are focused on Suicide Prevention Awareness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is among the leading causes of death for people ages 10-66 and is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10-14. While this is a very hard topic to discuss, suicide is preventable.
During the month of September, TMSA has been drawing attention to the problem of suicide, as appropriate for our differently-aged students, and advocating for the prevention of this tragedy by encouraging our community to Stay Connected.
We encourage our TMSA students and families to participate in Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. We will be sharing resources and activities throughout September to bring awareness to suicide prevention. The awareness generated this month has the potential to have an enormous impact on our school community, even the chance to save a life. Thank you for supporting this initiative and continuing the conversation at home with your students.
September Events and Activities:
- Parent Information Night (All parents and guardians are welcome)– Virtually on September 21st at 6:00 pm. Learn important information on how to prevent mental health tragedies, support your children, and have space to ask your questions!
- Classroom lessons (in 6th grade) – The SOS Program is used nationwide and has been shown to reduce and prevent mental health crises. Parental opt-out letters have been sent home by 6th-grade teachers. If no letter is returned, the student will receive the important material. All students are asked whether they would like to speak to someone after the lesson and if they select “yes”, Mr. Nixon or myself will follow up within 24 hours.
- Encouragement Wall (All grades) We’ve set up a visual reminder in our hallway with notes from students and staff that they are loved and with words of encouragement and ways to stay connected. Our post-it heart wall will be up throughout September, and members of the TMSA community can add their responses to one of the prompts listed. Below I’ve included pictures and close-ups of the results 😊
As this is a very difficult topic and we want to ensure all our community members have resources if needed, please view the free, safe, and 24/7 emergency mental health resources listed below.
24/7 Free, Safe, & Confidential Emergency Mental Health Resources:
TEXT 4 HELP | 1-844-201-9946
NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE | Dial 988 www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
SAMHSA NATIONAL HELPLINE 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Thank you,
Ms. Letzler
School Counselor
The Main Street Academy