Teachers to learn signs of suicide

The governor signed into law today a measure that would allow teachers to get up to two hours of suicide prevention training.

The Jason Flatt Act, SB 1378, authorizes school districts to use some of their Professional Development Block Grant funding to pay for the training.

According to the bill, by Sen. Robert Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga), suicide is the third-leading cause of death for young people 15 to 24.

“It’s my sincere hope other states will follow our lead in helping ensure teachers across the nation are trained to recognize the warning signs of youth suicide,”  Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement.

The bill is named for Jason Flatt, who committed suicide at age 16.

-- Mary MacVean

 

Comments

[s h a r o n]

Well, how about this?! As if teachers weren't burdened with enough already.

Note that that's "up to" two hours--it could be a mere 5 to 45 minutes, which would be great for harried teachers, right?

Well, consider that once a teacher has had said training, they are now "responsible" for one more thing in the classroom: recognizing "signs" of suicidal tendency in a student, then, of course, marching said student to--oh, wait...who's going to get the privilege of following up on this student and "preventing" said student from taking their own life?

Geeze, does anyone ever follow through with the probable scenarios in connection with these "better ideas"?

[Suicide Malpractice]

Thanks for the Business, But This is a Waste of Time

Young people rarely commit suicide. Every discouraged word will now require a wasteful evaluation.

It would be far more useful to provide 2 hours of training yearly to all employee supervisors, and to all staff where elderly people live. They have high rates of suicidal urges and completions.

[susan belter]

Shame on the teacher who isn't interested in their students enough to learn the signs of potential sucide.
As a retired,inner -city Chicago teacher, I have lifelong satisfation knowing that I improved the lives of my students...and saved more than a few of them. Compassion!!!!

[Survivor of Suicide]

Every bit of knowledge can only prove beneficial. Teachers do more than teach these days and always have. Educators are part of the link on the chain of a society relies on and supports public education financially. Those who willingly decide to pursue public education as a career surely must realize what they are getting into when they decide to teach. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds. Hello! Wake up, America. Suicide Malpractice is truly misinformed about suicide rates for youths, but tragically correct about elders who take their lives. Suicide can be prevented in many instance. I hardly think a few hours of continuing education would be wasted.