Grow with Green Hills Summer Conference 2024

Scanlan Center for Mental Health is sponsoring the keynote speaker, Dr. Scott Poland.

Suicide is now either the second or third leading cause of death for youth in the U.S. depending on their age. Elementary-age children are threatening suicide at increasing rates. Suicide rates have increased for children of color. The 2021 YRBS results from the CDC survey of high school-age youth found that 57% of girls and 29% of boys
reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless two or more weeks in a row during the last twelve months. A few states survey middle school students about at-risk behaviors and the results are equally alarming. Schools play a key role in youth suicide prevention by partnering with local and state prevention resources. Schools must be alert to warning signs of suicide and screen students for suicide risk, notify parents and refer for community-based services, and provide follow-up at school. This keynote will provide extensive information on the role of schools and communities in
youth suicide prevention. The suicide of a student is a very traumatic and challenging time and best practices for suicide postvention will be outlined.

In this session, participants will be able to:
1. Know the incidence of youth suicide and analyze the foundational issues for youth suicide.
2. Identify adverse experiences for youth and how they contribute to youth suicide.
3. Identify protective factors that prevent youth suicide.
4. Learn how to develop a comprehensive best practices model for suicide prevention.
5. Learn how to develop a comprehensive best practices model for suicide intervention.
6. Learn how to develop a comprehensive best practices model for suicide postvention.
7. Analyze the complex relationship between bullying and suicide.