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The Virginia Department of Health Division for Injury and Violence Prevention
has made available 150 SOS Signs of Suicide® Program kits for Virginia’s high
schools. The program will be offered free of charge to schools that are able to
commit to implementing the program in 2006/2007 and attend a free training on
implementing the SOS Program in a school setting.
The SOS Program has been shown to reduce suicide attempts by 40% in a randomized
controlled study (American Journal of Public Health, 2004). SOS is listed in SAMHSA’s
National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices. Existing school personnel
can implement the program during one or two classroom periods. SOS empowers students by
helping them to understand the connection between undiagnosed and untreated mental illness
and suicide by teaching teens the Signs of Suicide and the action steps they should take
should they know someone who may be at-risk or if they experience problems themselves.
Parent and staff educational materials are provided to help engage them as partners in
prevention. Self-injury resources are provided for school staff as well.
For more information about the SOS program or the outreach described here, call
(800) 253-7658, ext. 108 or
Email:
Champions @
mentalhealthscreening.org
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Screening for Mental Health, Inc.
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