You want to know if any school districts in the state have implemented the “Signs of Suicide” program.

Since 2000, more than 30 schools have offered Screening for Mental Health (SMH) Inc. 's Signs of Suicide Program. SMH is a Massachusetts non-profit organization that offers programs for a variety of mental health issues. The organization's Signs of Suicide or SOS youth program is a depression awareness and suicide prevention program that can be implemented in middle or high school classrooms by existing school staff or used in alternative settings serving youth. The program features a video and accompanying discussion guide. Its primary objectives are to educate youth about depression and to equip them to respond to a friend or family member's potential suicide using the SOS ACT (Acknowledge, Care and Tell) technique. The SOS program also provides educational materials for youth, parents, and school staff.

According to SMH, SOS is the only youth suicide prevention program shown in a randomized controlled study to reduce suicide attempts (by 40%) among youth exposed to the program compared to a control group. We enclose a copy of that study, which included Hartford schools, for your use. A number of other schools in the state have offered the program. Table I below shows schools or agencies that have participated in the program since 2000. Additionally, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recently awarded grant funds to the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to, among other things, implement the SOS program in Connecticut high schools. Questions on this initiative should be directed to DMHAS mental health program manager Andrea Duarte at (860) 418-6801.

Table I: Schools/Agencies Implementing SOS Program Since 2000

SC: dw