Teachers+ suicide?

Question

How are teachers trained to look out for suicide symtoms and what are the symptoms thanks

Answer 1

Watch the body language among your students.

Answer 2

In one of our staff dev seminars, we were told to look for two or more of the following:

1. Frequently telling classmates "the world would be better off without me" or things to this effect (including the "what if" like "what if I died today, what will you do?" etc.).

2. Depression, deeply withdrawn attitude.

3. Uncontrolled, sudden bouts of crying/anger for no apparent reason.

4. Self-inflicted lacerations

5. When conversing with the student concerned, s/he often mentions longing for a dead relative

6. Frequent absences.

Answer 3

Teachers are typically not trained in suicide symptoms.  Parents are much more likely to notice changes in behaviors than teachers are.  When a student commits suicide, teachers look back and say that they should have seen this or noticed that.  But, the truth is that most of the same behaviors are symptomatic of adolescence.  Inasmuch as teachers are not psychologists, telling the difference is almost impossible.

Answer 4

i think that teachers should be aware of all of there students and try to be aware of any signs that they may be suicidal, they are the ones that see them everyday. i went to school to become a teacher's asst. and have never heard of training to look for those symptoms. i think that there should be though def.

the symptoms would be

1. talking about it/joking

2. poor hygeine

3. drop in grades/attendance

..thats all i can think of.

Answer 5

I'm not sure if they're training specifically for signs of depression and suicide though perhaps the topic is talked about during teaching seminar or such.  Abnormal psych may also briefly talk about the subject too.

Here is a website from the American Association of Suicidology:  http://www.suicidology.org

Just fyi, for anyone feeling like hurting themselves (or others):  1-800-SUICIDE

Answer 6

I don't see the purpose of training teachers to specifically look out for symptoms of someone who may commit suicide. I would think it the duty of any teacher to take proper recourse when dealing with a student who is showing destructive behavior whether it be outward aggression or signs of depression.

Answer 7

At my school we have had to watch a video about it and had someone talk to us about it.

Basically it's common sense stuff like:

1. The students has threatened to kill them self.

2. The student is exhibiting changes in appearance and/or behavior.

3. Grades going down.

4. Less interest in school.

5. Spending lots of time alone behind closed doors.

6. The students language has changed to more graphic vocabulary regarding violence & s*x.

7. The student shows physical signs of self-inflicted wounds.