January 28, 2018

Do you know that the 2nd leading cause of death for 10-24 year olds in Missouri is suicide? Have you been asking yourself why there are so many youth suicides in the news of late? Do you want your schools to be a reactive school or a proactive school? Start by finding out if your state has passed the Jason Flatt’s Act. This act requires all teachers in your state to complete 2 hours of youth suicide and prevention training each year. Not just high school and middle school teachers…all teachers. 19 states have passed the act so far, but Missouri is not one of them. Some districts do not implement or require any kind of training for their teachers on prevention. You might be thinking that suicide will never and has never touched your family, but maybe..just maybe down the line your child will grow up and marry the love of their life to only find their beloved dead in their garage one Wednesday evening with a suicide bag wrapped around their head…and be traumatized for the rest of their life. It can happen. I saw every single warning sign in my late husband, but only in hindsight. He didn’t tell his family..he didn’t tell his friends..and he sure didn’t tell me. It is a “silent epidemic.” I highly encourage you to visit http://jasonfoundation.com. Click on the menu option How to Get Involved on the website and fill out the contact form letting the The Jason Foundation, Inc. -Youth Suicide Prevention and Awareness know that you need your state to pass the Jason Flatt’s Act.