FOR WHAT GRADES OR AGES IS THE SOS MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM APPROPRIATE?
The SOS Middle School program is appropriate for grades 6-8 and ages 11-14.

HOW DOES THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM DIFFER FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM?  The Middle School Program:

• Provides a new video focused on middle school issues (i.e., being socially ostracized, bullied). Like the high school program, the middle school program includes an accompanying discussion guide and a video featuring dramatizations of youth first responding the "wrong" way to a friend who's depressed or suicidal, followed by a student responding the "correct way". The video also has a discussion group of 5 middle school students discussing the problems of depression and suicide with one of the discussion group members asking questions about these problems with a school counselor.
• Because of the variability in cognitive development among youth of this age group, the middle school program does not include a universal screening tool. Instead, the middle school program uses interactive classroom games, a student newsletter with short articles, word jumbles, and crossword puzzles focused on the problems of depression, suicide and related risk factors reinforcing the ACT technique. The BSAD screening tool is provided just for school staff to use with individual at risk youth identified through the program
• Features a parent newsletter that has short articles to help parents identify warning signs of depression, suicide or self-injury and to encourage them to initiate a discussion about these problems with their children.
• Includes ACT stickers as a student give-away to promote peer to peer marketing about the ACT message
• Includes an optional section at the end of the video about self-injury. It stresses that the ACT technique should be used if a friend is self-injuring. It does not include any graphic component showing injuries nor does it interview those who self-injure for affect regulation.

DO SCHOOLS NEED TO BE TRAINED TO IMPLEMENT THE SOS MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM?
The SOS Middle School kit is designed to provide everything needed to implement the program successfully. The kit includes a procedure manual with guidelines and templates that can be used to implement the program. Those implementing the programs provide the staff and time for program planning, implementation, and follow-up with youth identified as at-risk through the program.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PREPARE FOR THE SOS MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM?
The time it takes to prepare the SOS Program varies depending upon a number of factors, such as whether a parent night is planned as part of your program, if community-based providers will be invited to help implement SOS, if in-service training will be provided for school staff, etc. You should allow yourself at least two weeks to get acquainted with the materials, plan your program, and orient the team and your staff about the program.

HOW MANY STAFF MEMBERS DOES IT TAKE TO IMPLEMENT THE SOS MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM?
The number of individuals involved can range from one person to an entire team of individuals, depending upon how the program is planned. Factors that can influence the number of staff needed include whether planning will involve a parent night, staff in-service training, and if community-based providers will be assisting in program implementation.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO IMPLEMENT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM?
The Middle School program can be implemented in one to three classroom periods. The essential piece is for students to view and discuss the 17-minute video. Additional options include reading and discussing the Student Newsletter and conducting one or more of the classroom games.

CAN NON-SCHOOL SITES IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM?
Yes. Any professional organization that serves youth can register and implement the program. However, at least one person on the implementation team should be a licensed mental health provider familiar with mental health concerns among youth.