Why suicide prevention in Kentucky schools?
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth and young adults in Kentucky. According to the Kentucky Youth Risk Behavior Survey (see Related Links), 15 percent of Kentucky high school students (1 in 7) reported having seriously considered suicide within a 12-month period. In addition, 17.4 percent of Kentucky middle school students (nearly 1 in 5) reported that they had seriously considered killing themselves at some point in their lives. However, experts say that suicide is preventable. When educators, students and communities learn warning signs and how to take action when a young person might be at risk of a suicidal crisis, lives can be saved. What do the new suicide prevention laws require?SB 65 – Suicide Prevention Education for Middle and High School Staff Signed by Kentucky’s Governor on April 13, 2010 Amends KRS 158.070 to require all high school and middle school principals, guidance counselors and teachers to complete a minimum of two hours of self-study review of
