The suicide prevention program is presented at TJ to help make Spartans aware and alert to the signs of suicide.
DPS School Psychologist Ellen Kelty presents the SOS program to students at TJ. Photo By Leanna Ramirez
The program, Signs of Suicide (SOS), is a nationwide research based program that has been in Denver Public Schools for four years. This is the first year that it has been brought to TJ and presented by DPS Psychologist Team Leader Ellen Kelty, with help and support from the school Social Worker Samanda Davis.
SOS has been implemented in 55 DPS schools this year, a number dramatically up from last year’s fifteen DPS schools that received the training. The main purpose of this program is to help educate students and help prevent students around the nation from committing suicide. The SOS program was presented to three groups of TJ students: the Leadership Class, the ROTC students, and the Special Education Students. “When Ellen came into our leadership class and spoke to us about suicide prevention, I feel like I learned a lot of valuable tips that will not only allow me to help others here at TJ, but to help me throughout my whole life,” said Senior Leadership Student Kevin Kumar.
The leadership class and special education class was taught by Ellen Kelty. The students spent two, one hour and thirty minute classes learning, listening, playing a connection game, role-playing, and watching a presentation about suicide by Kelty, who pointed out to the students that Colorado has the highest rate of suicide in the U.S., meaning many students are at risk of attempting or trying to attempt suicide. Kelty believes that by educating students with many important facts and research about suicide that it can help them if they are ever presented with that challenge or have to deal with this issue. “It was a really great opportunity for the students to get information about suicide symptoms so that we could help the cause, educate others, as well as build on our leadership skills,” said Senior Anna Becker.
Kelty says that schools should learn about the nature of suicide attempts and become aware about the warning signs, and that they should strive to teach students about these subjects for their own safety. “Students have an ability to save a life; it’s important for students to be aware so they can get other students help,” said Kelty.
Kelty also mentioned that Latino, (LGBTQ) students, students in jail or foster care, and students with disabilities are more likely to attempt suicide than other students are. “It’s important for students to learn about the risks, so they can be careful what they say to other students or what they do, because you never know everyone’s background and what they are going through,” added Kelty.
Kelty informed students that more people die from suicide than car wrecks, homicides, and disease. In 2009, there were 940 suicides in Colorado. Ellen taught TJ students about the important ACT method: A stands for Acknowledging the signs of depression, C stands for letting the person know you Care, and T means you should Tell a responsible adult about the situation. “The SOS program is important because it’s preventing suicide and because we want to save kids. We want to have no more deaths, because one death is too many,” said Kelty.
Samanda Davis and her assistant are now teaching the SOS program to the JROTC students. Davis says that people in the military have a high risk of suicide, so it is good teaching the JROTC students who may join the military in the future, and she feels the presentation has been very successful. “It’s important that people know about suicide, and I feel more confident now that I know students know about suicide and depression and know how to deal with them,” says Davis.
Principal Sandra Just says she feels that the program was a success for TJ students. “Anytime we do programs that supports students’ well-being is a positive thing; anytime students can find ways to express their feelings and access resources there is a benefit,” said Just.
