Santa Fe takes a stand on suicide prevention | Community Spirit

It is National Suicide Prevention Month, and Santa Fe educators and students are taking a stand to improve outlets for students to prevent suicidal incidents and even suicidal thoughts.

Data collected form Santa Fe Public Schools in 2011 revealed 27 percent of seventh-graders and 18 percent of ninth-graders said they considered suicide. Santa Fe Public Schools’ Office of Students Wellness director, Tita Gervers, stresses that there is always help available, but students have fears of reaching out to an adult in or out of school. Gervers says that district employees never belittle cries for help.

Presbyterian Medical Service’s Community Guidance Center is providing a full-time counselor for Ortiz Middle School and students have formed groups like the Student Wellness Action Teams to support fellow struggling students. There are numerous resources about the issue online including the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and New Mexico Suicide intervention Project.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s number is 800-273-TALK (8255).