Signs Of Suicide (SOS) Program

Signs of Suicide (SOS) is a universal, school-based prevention program designed for middle school (ages 11-13) and high school (ages 13-17) students.

The goals of this program are:

Decrease suicide and suicide attempts by increasing student knowledge and adaptive attitudes about depression
Encourage personal help-seeking and/or help-seeking on behalf of a friend
Reduce the stigma of mental illness and acknowledge the importance of seeking help or treatment
Engage parents and school staff as partners in prevention through “gatekeeper” education
Encourage schools to develop community-based partnerships to support student mental health

Through a video and guided discussion, students learn to identify warning signs of suicide and depression in a single class period. At the end of the session, students complete a seven-question screening for depression (anonymous or signed) to further encourage help-seeking and connect students at risk with trusted adults. The curriculum raises awareness about behavioral health and encourages students to ACT (Acknowledge, Care, Tell) when worried about themselves or their peers.

The SOS Curriculum is taught in the SPS during health class in 8th grade, 9th grade, 10th grade, and 11th grade. The curriculum combines age appropriate videos, engaging discussion guides, and virtual and/or in person reflective response slips that when used together encourages help-seeking behaviors.

This year, the district is training SOS to our faculty and staff to better equip our teachers, administrators, and staff with the tools to effectively recognize and appropriately handle someone presenting a possible mental health crisis. Parents and community members looking for more information about the SOS program can look in the parent portal https://sossignsofsuicide.org/parent