ected suicide attempt ED visits were 50.6% higher among girls aged 12–17 years than during the same period in 2019. This report suggests these trends have persisted among young persons as the pandemic has progressed. The authors emphasize that suicide prevention requires a comprehensive approach that is adapted during times of infrastructure disruption, involves multisectoral partnerships, and implements evidence-based strategies to address the range of factors influencing suicide risk.
'I Miss the Interaction': The Pandemic Has Thrown Curveballs at School Counselors: Shares reflections by school counseling professionals about both challenges and “silver linings” when supporting students throughout the pandemic, including through distance-spanning/virtual formats. Education Week’s 3/31/21 article also describes some innovative adaptations counselors have developed to address the chief challenges.
School Disruption as a Dropout Risk Factor: Examines short and long-term effects of school disruption on the nation’s dropout rates in the context of the current pandemic. This discussion by Dr. Sandy Addis, director of National Dropout Prevention Center, is shared in a video presentation.
Unmasked Stories of Inequity: Emerging Voices from the Pandemic: Highlights young people’s experiences with remote learning throughout the pandemic and their recommendations for how policymakers, administrators, youth development specialists and other adults can better support them. In this 13-part film series from the National Urban League, young people tell their stories in their voices.
If Your Child is Worried about a Friend: Provides information parents can use to familiarize their children with the signs that a friend needs help dealing with emotional issues or may be dealing with a mental health problem. This resource, developed for the JED Foundation’s Set to Go program, teaches signs of depression or apathy, severe anxiety or stress, increased use of alcohol or drugs or compulsive behavior, that should be taken seriously.
Have a #RealConvo: Provides tools, resources, and creative ideas for peers to “have a #Real Convo” about mental health to help oneself or another person to get support or treatment if needed. This American Foundation for Suicide Prevention [AFSP] webpage offers quick tips, guides, actual stories, and other resources designed to support individuals who are struggling with mental health challenges.
MH LIT: Student Mental Health in Action: Provides a resource for secondary school educators to support student mental health literacy and help-seeking. This comprehensive toolkit from School Mental Health Ontario includes a four-part lesson series focusing on mental health and mental illness (the dual continuum); signs of mental health problems; strategies to support mental health and well-being; and how/where to access help for yourself and your friends, when needed. The resource also offers supportive materials including a school readiness checklist, a secondary school leader’s implementation resource, and educator preparation suggestions. All materials are available in English and in French.
Why More Schools Are Excusing Student Absences for Mental Health: Chronicles trend among state legislatures and school districts to allow excused absences for mental health reasons, and shares strategies systems are using to identify student needs for well-being support that avert stigma and can support a culture of constructive follow-up. A vice president for Mental Health America encourages schools to envision their mental health programming as a spectrum that includes prevention, recognition, and services. “Granting excused absences for mental health days can help prevent a serious problem, or facilitate getting treatment.”
Teens on a Year That Changed Everything: Presents words, images and video presentations by dozens of students across the nation, showing how they have met life’s challenges in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The New York Times synthesized contributions from more than 5,000 students who responded to prompts f