In Kansas, Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for our youth ages 12-18 (middle and high school age) and also 2nd leading cause of death for our youth ages 10-14…(*)
It has also been declared by SAMHSA as not only a leading cause of death for our youth, but a leading cause of PREVENTABLE death.
Prevention begins with Awareness and Education on this national public health issue.
This is why our State Legislators passed The Jason Flatt Act – Kansas in Memory of Cady Housh –which requires all school personnel to be trained annually on youth suicide awareness and prevention. Kansas joins 18 other states in passing this important legislation that will help identify and assist at-risk youth who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide. Kansas also included that this access to information and resources be available through each school should be available to parents. We are proud to work with The Jason Foundation to provide all schools in Kansas the availability of The Jason Foundation’s Parent Resource Program (PRP) via a school’s website. This PRP is not a replacement for professional / clinical assistance, but rather provides parents information, tools and resources that will help a parent in understanding, identifying, and knowing how to respond to a young person who may be demonstrating signs of suicidal ideation – Four out of Five young people who will attempt suicide will show clear “warning signs.”
Suicide is a serious problem for our youth. Working together with students, educators and the community, we can help prevent this tragedy and reduce the number of suicides in Kansas. If you have any questions about the safety of any student, ALWAYS contact your school’s principal and/or counseling department. If an emergency situation…CALL 911.
Kansas:
- Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10-14. (*)
- Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 12-18 (middle and high school age youth. (*)
- Overall age group 10-24, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for Kansas youth. In Kansas, every 5.98 days on an average a young person is lost to this “Silent Epidemic” of youth suicide. (*)
Only “Unintentional Injuries” claims more lives nationally or in Kansas than suicide does annually.
(*) Center for Disease Control (CDC) WISQARS 2014
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