Students enjoyed the day off from class but teachers and staff had other plans for the day, “today is an in-service day for our teachers and I am doing a suicide prevention training,” said Suicide Prevention Specialist Genevieve Morris.

The training is provided through a group called NAMI with a program called ‘Ending The Silence’.

“It’s really about raising awareness around mental health issues, as well as recognizing the signs that somebody, specifically a student, may be struggling with thoughts of suicide, and what to do,” said Morris.

All staff throughout District 51 are being trained, “our bus drivers, our custodians, our teachers, our paraprofessionals,” said Morris.

Morris says this type of training not only helps raise awareness, but also reduces the stigmas behind mental health, “as well as giving information to our staff, they have relationships with our students, so what to do when they are concerned.”

Morris says students in the past have felt like they couldn’t talk to adults in their world about mental health struggles and suicide. “With this training were changing that, so that our youth has trusted adults when they are struggling,” said Morris.

The heart of this program is teaching staff how to recognize the signs of suicidal thoughts, a first step in stopping a possible tragedy.

District 51 says that through these suicide prevention trainings they’ve seen an increase in mental health awareness, and with that awareness comes a connection to help.

If you or anyone you know may need more information on suicide prevention or mental health assistance visit National Alliance on Mental Health.