Suicide Prevention and Education in Olathe, Kan.
As mourning of two Olathe teens who died by suicide continues, students and parents across Kansas are encouraging each other to seek professional help for depression, anxiety or any other mental health concerns. According to reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this year alone, suicides among 10- to 24-year-olds increased substantially nationwide due to factors including COVID-19 pandemic pressures, economic stressors, racism injustice climate change fears as well as fears regarding school shootings.
On Monday at Olathe Northwest High School, hallways were quiet as students comforted one another over a tragedy that had rocked their community. Counselors and social workers were available to provide guidance as students attempted to process these deaths that have so profoundly shocked Olathe.
Though Olathe School District has taken steps to provide support for students, many believe more can be done. Allyson Scott of Olathe South High School believes there should be more conversation around mental health from teachers; she feels they don’t discuss it enough and don’t show sympathy when saying things like: ‘Mental health happens to everyone or you have plenty of time to complete this assignment.”
Students report feeling as though counselors aren’t readily available to them and would welcome an “intensive focus on mental health day or month.”
The Johnson County School Suicide Prevention Coalition is working closely with superintendents from Blue Valley, De Soto, Gardner Edgerton, Olathe and Shawnee Mission districts in Kansas to address teen suicides in their respective communities. Through partnerships with mental health professionals, religious leaders and businesses.
Depression, anxiety or other mental health disorders increase one’s risk of suicide. But most who commit this act don’t intend to die; rather they’re seeking relief from their pain but cannot see another solution.
Suicide rates peak in spring, stay elevated throughout summer and decrease between November and January. Rural areas and women tend to have higher suicide rates.
When someone is feeling suicidal, it’s crucial that their words or actions be taken seriously. While they may not be thinking rationally about suicide at this moment in time, acting out of anger or impulse could trigger suicidal acts that cannot be controlled later. They could be struggling with communication or just feeling helpless – these signs indicate a serious crisis and should be taken very seriously.