Youth suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens in the United States, claiming the lives of about 1,800 young people under the age of 20 each year. Because teens spend such a large part of their time in school, teachers, counselors and others who interact regularly with students are in an ideal position to identify those who are at risk for suicide — provided, of course, that they know what to look for.   

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has developed this educational program to help teachers and other school personnel learn more about teen suicide and how they can play a role in its prevention. Topics addressed in the program include:

• How Big a Problem is Youth Suicide?
  A brief overview of trends and statistics on suicide, suicide attempts and suicidal ideation among young people.
   
• How Can Teachers Help Prevent Youth Suicide?
  Presents the film, More Than Sad: Preventing Teen Suicide, which gives an overview of the major mental disorders that may end in suicide among teens, identifies behaviors that suggest suicide risk, and discusses identification and referral of at-risk students as primary suicide prevention tasks of teachers and other school personnel.
   
• What Puts Teens at Risk for Suicide?
  Elaborates discussion of mental disorders that create suicide risk in teens; identifies observable symptoms and discusses how the disorder conveys suicide risk. Also discusses other individual and situational factors that increase suicide risk, and identifies key suicide warning signs.
   
• What Treatments Are Available?
  Describes effective treatments for depression in teens, including psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two.
   
• How Can Teachers Identify At-Risk Students?
  Presents the film, More Than Sad: Teen Depression, which illustrates how depression can be manifested in teens and the paths through which students can get needed help. Poses questions for group discussion following the film, and summarizes key messages for teachers.
   
• How Else Can Schools Decrease Risk?
  Discusses other suicide prevention strategies for schools, including educating students about mental disorders, educating parents about mental disorders and suicide risk, supporting school safety and reducing school bullying, and supporting gun safety programs. 

Brief Video Clips from the program’s two films can be viewed on this website.

More Than Sad: Suicide Prevention Education for Teachers and Other School Personnel is packaged in a two-DVD slipcase that includes the program manual. The manual and other Instructional Materials can be downloaded from this website and also from the DVD, More Than Sad: Preventing Teen Suicide.