Trainings/Programs Resources

Educating school communities about youth mental health and suicide prevention is key to promoting the well-being and academic success of youth. Staff, teachers, parents, and students all need a foundational understanding of youth mental health and gatekeeper training skills in order to promote student well-being and reduce the risk of suicide among school-aged youth. It is well understood that children cannot learn when they are experiencing trauma or stress. Unmet mental health needs decrease a student’s ability to learn.

Psychiatric illnesses begin in 50% of lifetime cases by age 14. “First onset of mental disorders usually occurs in childhood or adolescence.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1925038/ Moreover, research has shown that clinical depression in adolescents can be prevented or reduced in severity through educating youth in effective ways to deal with stressful life circumstances. Early intervention can prevent worsening symptoms of depression. Early recognition and treatment does prevent the worst outcome of these illnesses, suicide.

Learning about youth mental health, either various mental health conditions or the practical aspects of youth mental health such as self-management and interpersonal relationships, can make talking about and seeking help for mental health struggles or challenges the norm. A foundational understanding of youth mental health is needed in order to realize the importance of intervening in a crisis, should one develop. Once staff or parents have a basic understanding of youth mental health they can be trained as gatekeepers. A gatekeeper is someone who knows how to safely talk with a student they are concerned may be at risk for suicide and how to then get the student to the help they need. We strongly recommend beginning with mental health trainings before moving on to trainings about suicide, especially for youth.

Everyone in the school community should learn how or improve their ability to support youth behavioral health. This chart is designed to help schools and school districts identify what programs suit their needs. It offers an overview of evidence-based and evidence-informed programs. Basic information about each program is provided. If a program fits the needs of a school or school district, its website is provided for further information. The resources are organized using the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) model:

• Tier I: Universal/Prevention trainings are for students and parents. These programs/curricula educate about understanding, supporting, and improving youth mental health, as well as basic gatekeeper skills. Learning about mental health and when/how to seek help if needed are “upstream” suicide prevention skills.
• Tier II: At-Risk/Intervention trainings are for school staff and teachers. These programs/curricula improve skills needed to recognize, intervene with, and refer students who exhibit concerning behaviors or who may be at-risk for mental health crises, including suicide.
• Tier III: Crisis Response trainings are for counselors and mental health professionals. These enhance crisis response skills.

When youth and families become aware of what youth mental health needs look like and the supports available for these needs, referrals will increase, either through help-seeking or teacher/staff referrals. This expected increase is healthy, as it means youth are recognizing a need and seeking help before their symptoms worsen or a suicidal crisis occurs. Therefore, it is recommended that mental health professionals and counselors should be the first ones prepared to support students in crisis. Teachers and staff should then receive intervention and referral training, followed by student and parent/guardian youth mental health and gatekeeper trainings.