Largest Suicide Prevention Organization, Legal One and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care Join Forces to Train K-12 Educators to Fight Suicide

NEW YORK, May 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than one in six high school students will consider suicide. This morning, the nation's largest suicide prevention organization, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention joined with LEGAL ONE and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care to launch a new online training program for educators on how to prevent suicide in our schools.  Signs Matter: Early Detection will show K-12 teachers how and when to express concern and refer students to counseling staff or administration.

"Educators can play a critical role in the fight against suicide because they are in a unique position to notice changes in the mental health of their students and identify signs of suicide risk," said Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer of AFSP. "The Signs Matter school-based training is clear and simple, and it can help our teachers save lives."

"This may be the most important training we do," said David Nash, director of LEGAL ONE. "There is no greater legal or moral obligation than the need to keep our children healthy and safe. Signs Matter empowers educators to effectively work together, so that students at risk do not fall through the cracks."

"In order to prevent suicide, everyone must play a role in building a safety net for our children.  All school personnel play a critical role in this effort. Signs Matter brings together leading experts on child psychology, suicidal ideation, school counseling, bullying, school law and school administration. Their straightforward insights and advice will empower educators to take effective action to help kids," said Christopher Kosseff, president and CEO, Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.

There are 24 states in the U.S. which have laws dictating mandatory suicide prevention school personnel training. This program will fulfill many state requirements for educators to have two hours of instruction on suicide prevention.

The online, school-based training program includes:

• A close look at the most common mental health problems and how they typically present in a school setting
• Real-world scenarios (vignettes) in an elementary, middle and high school setting to help educators better identify students in need of help
• An online assessment tool to ensure that all participants have gained an understanding of the material covered
• Resources for understanding a school's role in suicide prevention
• Review of legal requirements for schools to keep in mind

Learn more by visiting www.afsp.org/signsmatter and http://www.legalonenj.org/signsmatter.

LEGAL ONE
LEGAL ONE (Law, Ethics, and Governance for All Leaders, including an Overview of New and Emerging Issues) is the leading provider of school law training for educators, offering a comprehensive array of live and online courses for administrators on a multitude of critical issues, including tenure and evaluation, bullying, special education, affirmative action, student safety, and many others. Originally formed in 2009 in response to the state requirement for all New Jersey school leaders to complete 12 hours of training in school law, ethics, and governance, LEGAL ONE continues to provide the courses and training sessions that administrators need to fulfill their duties most effectively and to comply with new state laws regarding professional development. LEGAL ONE has expanded to serve other states, and is also offering courses on federal laws that are applicable across the nation.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention leads the fight against suicide. We fund research, offer educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, AFSP has 75 local chapters with programs and events nationwide. Review our Annual Report to learn more about AFSP's life-saving work, and join the national conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

University Behavioral Health Care
University Behavioral Health Care is dedicated to excellence in providing behavioral health services to the people of New Jersey and the nation.  We are committed to being a leader in the delivery of effective, compassionate and accessible care that is informed by research and education.  University Behavioral Health Care is a part of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, one of America's largest, most comprehensive university-based centers for studying and improving human health and health care.

University Behavioral Health Care offers a full continuum of academic based, behavioral health and addiction services for children, adolescents, adults, and seniors throughout New Jersey.  Services are readily accessible and include:  inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, screening, crisis stabilization, family/caregiver support, community outreach and case management, supportive housing, supported employment, prevention and consultation, employee assistance programs, and a licensed therapeutic school from preschool through high school.  Specialty services include the New Jersey suicide prevention helpline and national peer help lines for police, veterans, active military, teachers, mothers of special needs children and child protection service workers.

Additionally, UBHC established University Correctional Health Care (UCHC), which provides mental, physical and dental health care, and sex offender specific treatment services to the inmates, residents, and parolees of the New Jersey Department of Corrections, the Juvenile Justice Commission, and the State Parole Board. 

Video - http://youtu.be/C-9DThm4lAI

SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Related Links

http://www.afsp.org