AFSP: Understanding and Preventing Suicide through Research, Education and Advocacy

In light of the past two posts, I decided it would be relevant to post a link to the American Foundation for Suicide Pervention website.

One of my close friends died by suicide during our senior year of high school, and I've participated in the AFSP walk in Charlotte the past two years as a way to honor his memory. The AFSP walks have always been an eye-opening experience for me. You never really realize how many people have lost a loved one or have struggled with suicide themselves until you see a mass gathering of survivors, and friends and family of those lost.

While I won't be able to attend the walk this year, I do plan on still donating what I can to the foundation.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, a 501(c)(3) organization, has been at the forefront of a wide range of suicide prevention initiatives in 2010 -- each designed to reduce loss of life from suicide. We are investing in groundbreaking research, new educational campaigns, innovative demonstration projects and critical policy work. And we are expanding our assistance to people whose lives have been affected by suicide, reaching out to offer support and offering opportunities to become involved in prevention...

AFSP: Understanding and Preventing Suicide through Research, Education and Advocacy

It is important to realize as future educators that some of our students may have lost loved ones to suicide or may be struggling with suicidal thoughts or behavior themselves. Last year, a student at my sister's school tried to commit suicide.

S/he was nine years old.

It's easy to forget that the children in our classrooms may have experienced things in their lives that we, as adults, may not have had to deal with or simply do not expect children to have to deal with at such a young age.

I believe part of being a teacher is nurturing our students' emotional health with the help of the school counselors, administrators, and the students' parents; in order to do this, we must be as aware and observant of student behavior as possible.

And while it may be easy to forget while focusing our attentions on helping our students, we must take care of ourselves as well.