Post by Lex Hurley on Oct 23, 2016 19:04:57 GMT
In searching for public measures to increase interpersonal involvement to recognize potential signs of suicidal thoughts instead of relying so heavily on mental health providers, police, and hospital-based professionals, as our guest speaker had mentioned several times, I came to find the US National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. In it, the authors noted multiple times that a major factor which must be addressed by the American public is to reduce stigma & preconceptions regarding suicide and that suicide is only undertaken by "troubled individuals".1
Among other entries specified in their opportunities for changes in public mindset of this issue, the authors made reference to the "Good Behavior Game" as an evidence-based strategy to positively influence school-age children. The Good Behavior Game is a classroom behavioral management strategy which provides positive reinforcements and rewards to students for good behaviors such as working quietly, following directions, and being polite -- but only if everyone in the class does so.2 This encourages students to be mindful of each other and cooperate in order for everyone to receive their just rewards. I believe that this can be a fantastic method to teach younger generations to be empathetic to those around them and watch for signs of personal distress amongst other classmates. This system could be initiated in K-6 classes so that students will already be familiar with its mechanics and then carried over into 7-12th grades with more mature themes such as suicide and other risk factors such as substance abuse whenever the youths are of age to understand and digest such topics.
Hopefully in time, these lessons of watching out for fellow classmates both on and off school grounds will carry with these youths into their adult lives, creating a population to be more vigilant and reactive to signs of personal and professional distress that can serve as indirect warnings for suicide.
1) n.a. National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action, 2012. U.S. Surgeon General and the National Alliance for Suicide Prevention. Posted 2012. Accessed online on October 23, 2016 from www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/national-strategy-suicide-prevention/.
2) n.a. Good Behavior Game. American Institutes for Research. Updated 2016. Accessed online on October 23, 2016 from www.air.org/topic/p-12-education-and-social-development/good-behavior-game.
Among other entries specified in their opportunities for changes in public mindset of this issue, the authors made reference to the "Good Behavior Game" as an evidence-based strategy to positively influence school-age children. The Good Behavior Game is a classroom behavioral management strategy which provides positive reinforcements and rewards to students for good behaviors such as working quietly, following directions, and being polite -- but only if everyone in the class does so.2 This encourages students to be mindful of each other and cooperate in order for everyone to receive their just rewards. I believe that this can be a fantastic method to teach younger generations to be empathetic to those around them and watch for signs of personal distress amongst other classmates. This system could be initiated in K-6 classes so that students will already be familiar with its mechanics and then carried over into 7-12th grades with more mature themes such as suicide and other risk factors such as substance abuse whenever the youths are of age to understand and digest such topics.
Hopefully in time, these lessons of watching out for fellow classmates both on and off school grounds will carry with these youths into their adult lives, creating a population to be more vigilant and reactive to signs of personal and professional distress that can serve as indirect warnings for suicide.
1) n.a. National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action, 2012. U.S. Surgeon General and the National Alliance for Suicide Prevention. Posted 2012. Accessed online on October 23, 2016 from www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/national-strategy-suicide-prevention/.
2) n.a. Good Behavior Game. American Institutes for Research. Updated 2016. Accessed online on October 23, 2016 from www.air.org/topic/p-12-education-and-social-development/good-behavior-game.
