Depression Awareness and Suicide Prevention Training

Attention, parents and guardians of 8th grade students! The Ralph C. Mahar Regional School is offering depression awareness and suicide prevention training during the during your child’s 8th grade scheduled health education class as part of the SOS Signs of Suicide® Prevention Program. The program encourages students to seek help if they are concerned about themselves or a friend. The SOS Program is the only youth suicide prevention program that has demonstrated an improvement in students’ knowledge and adaptive attitudes about suicide risk and depression, as well as a reduction in actual suicide attempts.

Students will view videos, engage in discussions, and complete assignments in their health class. Each day students will complete an exit ticket where they can indicate if they wish to speak to a counselor after participating in the SOS lesson that day.

If you do not wish for your grade 8 child to participate in the SOS Program in school, please call or email our school nurse, Susan Jillson by Friday, October 18 to opt your student out of this program. Mrs. Jillson can be reached via email or phone at (978) 544-2542 .

If we do not hear from you, we will assume your child has permission to participate in this program.

Please take a moment to read our depression awareness and suicide prevention training letter for more information.