September 24, 2024

SOS Presentation Fall 2024

Dear Parent or Guardian:

The adolescent years are marked by a roller-coaster of emotions which can be difficult for students, parents, and educators. It is easy to misread depression as normal adolescent turmoil; however, depression appears to be occurring at a much earlier age. Depression, which is treatable, is a leading risk factor for suicide.

To proactively address these issues, Batavia High School is providing depression awareness and suicide prevention training as part of the Signs of Suicide (SOS) ® Prevention Program. The program aims to increase help seeking by students concerned about themselves or others. SOS is listed on SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices and in a randomized control study, the SOS High School Program showed a reduction in self-reported suicide attempts by 40% (BMC Public Health, July 2007).

Our goals in participating in this program are straightforward:

  • To help our students understand that depression is a treatable illness
  • To explain that suicide is a preventable tragedy often a result of untreated depression
  • To provide training to identify serious depression and potential suicidality in themselves or others
  • To impress upon students that they can help themselves or others by talking to a responsible adult
  • To help students know whom in the school they can turn to for help, if they need it
  • To provide support for students who may be struggling with depression

The program is being presented to all 10th grade students during their history classes. Students in first semester history classes will attend presentations beginning in October 2024. Students can check with teachers on what day they are scheduled to have the presentation. Tenth graders who have history second semester will participate in the presentations beginning February 2025.

 At the presentation, facilitators will show an SOS video and lead students in discussion. Students will then complete a brief depression screener and response card to request a follow up appointment, if needed. The depression screening tool addresses thoughts and feelings of which a parent may be unaware. This tool does not provide a diagnosis of depression, but rather alerts school staff to students who may need further attention. Qualified staff will view the collected information and work with students to provide additional support. The information collected will also be analyzed in a larger assessment of sophomore students’ needs. School mental health staff as well as qualified community mental health partners will be available to meet with students in need throughout that day.  School staff will notify parents/guardians regarding any needed next steps.  This information will not be part of the student’s permanent record file.

The SOS program seeks to empower students to respond to potential suicide and prevent teen suicide through positive action. These goals are accomplished through the ACT technique: Acknowledge that you or a friend may be depressed or suicidal, Respond with Care and Tell a Trusted Adult.  Students will be taught each element of the ACT technique so they can apply it outside of the classroom.

The SOS program is brought to us by Elyssa’s Mission, a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention. Elyssa’s Mission is the only organization in the state to fund, distribute, and implement SOS. For more information, visit their website www.elyssasmission.org. Parents are encouraged to view the Parent Presentation for information on warning signs and keeping your child safe.

If you have any questions and/or do NOT want your child to participate in the SOS program, please contact Haley Nickolaou at Haley.Nickolaou@bps101.net prior to the program date. If we do not hear from you, we will assume your child has permission to participate in this program.

Sincerely,

Haley Nickolaou

Assistant Principal – Sophomore House

Haley.Nickolaou@bps101.net

630-937-8618