At the beginning of each school year, school counselors provide training in suicide recognition and reporting to staff members at each school. The Counseling Services Team also presents guidance lessons for students.  Additionally, the Kindness Crew members at secondary schools are trained to recognize and alert Counseling Services team members of students that might be struggling. 

Whether it is in teaching the school faculty, doing guidance lessons with students, or providing parent meetings on suicide recognition, intervention and reporting, it is always best to approach the subject from a proactive stance. If teachers, students and parents are empowered by understanding suicide and equipped with the tools to address it, the problem can often be addressed before there is an unnecessary death. Together, all of us can provide a support system to help our students find a safe haven when they are troubled. 

GPISD counseling services uses the evidence-based Jason Foundation curriculum to support students in the areas of suicide prevention and building positive social skills. www.jasonfoundationmaterials.com 

Crisis Text Line: 

Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, and provides access to free, 24/7 support and information through texting. Call or Text 988 for support.

More information on the Crisis Text Line. 

Mental Health 24 Hour Hotlines: 

• Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas: 24/hr Crisis Line: 214-828-1000 
• Transicare Mobile Crisis Outreach Team: 866-260-8000 
• National Hopeline: 1-800-442-HOPE 
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 
• Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386 
• 911 

Community Resources (PDF document)

Parents Can Make a Difference 

Parents can help prevent suicide by recognizing warning signs, identifying risk factors (characteristics that may lead a young person to engage in suicidal behaviors), promoting protective factors (characteristics that help people deal with stress and reduce their chances of engaging in suicidal behaviors), and knowing how to talk to their children and seek mental health services. You can empower yourself and your teen by following these 7 steps. 

1. Know your facts 
2. Recognize the warning signs 
3. Know the risk factors 
4. Know the protective factors 
5. Take preventive measures 
6. Talk to your teen about suicide 
7. Last but not least, seek mental health services  

Read the complete blog post from the American Psychological Association:  7 Essential Steps Parents Can Take to Prevent Teen Suicide. 

If you have questions or concerns, please contact your child’s campus counselor or social worker. Parents can use the Counseling Resources link above as an aid to finding mental health services.