According to a September Bark survey, 21 percent of students self-reported having experienced suicidal ideations and 17 percent of students reported losing a loved one to suicide. But suicide is more than a statistic. Suicide affects teens, adults and children daily and can be prevented.
In the month of September, a time dedicated to Suicide Prevention, Bark’s three classes of student journalists watched the documentary “Not Alone,” created by former Bay Area High School student Jacqueline Monetta. When Monetta was in high school, her best friend and six other teens lost their lives to suicide. The documentary discussed the severity of suicide within our community and highlighted a need for more attention to the issue at the district level. This documentary broadened the perspectives of our Advanced Journalism class to the reality of suicide prevention and drove us to suggest that the Tamalpais Union High School District’s (TUHSD) schools would benefit immensely from more guided suicide prevention education.
Watching this documentary from the point of view of someone who was once in our shoes opened our eyes and encouraged us to share our take-aways as the student press. The scenes from the Redwood gym and lunch area made these heartbreaking stories all too real to us. In light of our viewing of the documentary, we believe a district-wide viewing of “Not Alone,” with a content warning written by the Bark, would best equip our community to fight this issue. We understand that suicide is an extremely intense subject which is why adults in leadership who make curriculum and content decisions district-wide should watch this documentary themselves if they have not. After viewing and reflecting on the film, we hope that these same adults, including the TUHSD School Board, might show the documentary to all of TUHSD.
This documentary is an incredible lead-in to the topic and has the power to educate students with personal vignettes on how suicide affects our community; we are sure it will inspire and inform students to make change. Showing this film in social issues classes or at a school-wide event would keep students informed on the identification signs of suicide and how to support themselves or their peers who are struggling with depression.
Over the past year, TUHSD has addressed issues affecting our community through emails, stop-and-learns and webinars. Suicide should be one of these issues highlighted. Our community needs to come together and discuss how our actions affect each other and find ways to be there for each other. Students should be educated on ways to seek help whether for someone or themselves so they are aware of the available help on campus.
Knowing the warning signs for suicidal ideation is the first step towards prevention. If someone displays signs of depression, loss of interest in activities, or excessive drowsiness they may be at risk of suicide. It is crucial to reach out and show support by connecting them with trusted adults and peers. Reaching out can often feel uncomfortable, but being willing to connect someone to the resources they need is the first step in helping prevent suicide.
There are several methods one can use when seeking help for themselves or for a friend who is expressing suicidal behavior. First, on the Redwood website under the ‘Wellness’ column is a referral form titled, “Wellness appointment request form.” Answer the few short questions on this form to report yourself or a friend. QR codes are posted on the walls of the hallways that take you right to this form if you are unable to locate it on the website. In addition, physical versions of the form are located in the Wellness Center. Simply drop the form in Wellness Coordinator Spencer deWoody’s office, and your tip stays anonymous.
Second, students can speak directly with a trusted and trained professional such as Spencer or any wellness staff member, who can maintain anonymity while ensuring that critical information is reported for the student’s safety. The wellness staff is trained to handle situations involving someone experiencing suicidal thoughts and by telling them in person, they can understand more about this individual and the severity of the situation.
Suicidal thoughts can accompany a feeling of desperation, hopelessness and darkness. But from this documentary, our staff learned that just checking in on your friends and classmates, having real conversations and advocating for inclusivity can save a life. We urge students to practice these behaviors, even if it is uncomfortable, awkward or scary. Simultaneously, we urge TUHSD to create opportunities to ensure all students have access to the following:
– The important, real, local stories showcased in “Not Alone”
– The signs to identify depression and suicide
– Action steps for themselves or a friend
We’ve done what we can with our voice, what will the district do with theirs?
To learn more about the stories of suicide survivors in Marin County, watch the “Not Alone” documentary here and enter the password notaloneshort.
