Dear Parents,
On Monday, February 10th we will show a video on Suicide Prevention at 7:00 pm at school for parents of the 5th through 8th graders. You will also view the video that the students will watch. The Archdiocese produced this video in conjunction with St. Louis Counseling. A counselor will be in attendance to speak with parents, as well as answer any questions you might have afterwards. We would like at least one parent from each family that has a 5th through 8th grader to attend. We will also have some handouts and list of resources available. This is a very important topic for all of us to talk about which is why the Archdiocese requires us to show this video.
We all like to think that we will never have to worry about this but is a reality we must deal with. I would like to give you some statistics about suicide.
The rate of suicide from 1999 through 2017 has increased 33%.
Suicide ranks as the second leading cause of death for people age 10-34 years old and the fourth leading cause of death for people 35-54.
Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death overall.
3,900 young people die by suicide every year.
More Missouri teens die by suicide than DWIs, cancers, or AIDs combined.
Gender ration for suicide is 4 males to 1 female.
For each completed suicide there may be as many as 100-200 teens who will attempt it.
90% of adolescents who attempt suicide will do it at home between 3pm and midnight.
One out of every 10 teens will think about suicide.
If you have any questions please contact Mary Ann Zimmerman at 314-961-2891.
Also we will show the intruder training video for all parents of grades pre-school to 4th grade. The intruder video for older kids will be shown at 7:00. Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks for your co-operation and help to keep our children safe.
Mary Ann Zimmerman R.N. – School Nurse
Erin Towey- Counselor