Each of the games requires the students’ participation, and encourages discussion. They teach students about the signs and symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation and the best ways to respond and do so in an engaging, non-threatening way.
Middle School: The Categories Game
This game takes about 30 minutes, and involves breaking up the class into groups of four to six students, and the task of the students is to determine what a list of things has in common. The facilitator will read a list with items such as:
- Tell them to snap out of it
- Keep it a secret
- Leave the person alone
These are all, of course, things you should not do when someone expresses symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts. There are five different categories and each category has six lists, so there is enough to fill an entire 30-minute lesson block.
Middle School: Connections Game
This game is similar to Apples to Apples, and allows the facilitator to play the game as a whole class, or by breaking the class up into teams of four to six students. Students receive descriptor cards and the person in the group serving as the judge (or the class facilitator) chooses a noun card, and each of the players choose descriptor cards that they think matches best. For example, a facilitator may say the term “text messages,” and the students playing choose from their cards the most applicable descriptors that match the noun. The idea is that there are no right or wrong answers, but that the students defend their choice and explain how their descriptor matches the noun. This is a great way to encourage dialogue about the topics at hand.
Middle School: Lights, Camera, ACT
This game involves role playing and presents a selection of scenarios that students can act out. The goal of the exercise is to help students develop and practice effective ways to handle situations that involve being concerned for a depressed or suicidal friend. The implementation guide includes “Do’s and Don’ts” to tell the students before the roleplaying, so that you start them off in the right direction. Below is one scenario.
It’s the end of the school day, and Shawn is talking to Marcus about the upcoming weekend. They usually make plans to hang out and play basketball on Saturdays with some other guys, but Marcus hasn’t shown up for the last couple months. Shawn asks Marcus about it, but he becomes annoyed and angry and tells him to just back off. Shawn thinks it’s strange considering Marcus is typically energetic, happy and always is always up for shooting hoops.
High School: Scripts for Suicide Prevention Hotline
These scripts are a really fun activity, and are especially helpful because students can really apply what is going on in their own community. After facilitators teach the students about the warning signs of depression and suicidal thoughts, and the ACT acronym (acknowledge, care, tell), pairs of students create scripts and talk out a call to a suicide prevention hotline. As your students hear the warning signs, it’s a great way to reinforce the lessons they have already learned.
High School: Myths and Facts Quiz
This quiz is very powerful and really challenges students’ beliefs about suicide and depression among teens. You can involve the students in any way you want, whether you discuss the myths and facts included in the implementers’ guide, or you pass out sheets and students read them and choose whether something is a myth or fact.
Of course, every school and community is different. If you have an SOS program and have any questions or comments about the games, feel free to contact us at anytime at CBiggs@MentalHealthScreening.org.