SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – Last night, Central New York held its first ever suicide prevention training for school faculty from 32 districts at the Oncenter in Syracuse. The training aimed to equip educators with essential tools to support students facing mental health challenges, a growing concern across the country.
Sophia Hoyos Murray, a psychology student from Syracuse University, stressed the importance of the training, especially in light of the rising mental health issues among youth.
“Suicide is becoming more common and it’s happening younger and younger. But right now, specifically, I know there’s a lot of people who might be worried that people aren’t accepting of them anymore, and that can be a really big reason why someone would start having thoughts like that,” said Murray.
This initiative comes at a critical time, as suicide is now the second leading cause of death among young people in the U.S. Additionally, one in five students faces mental health challenges. The training aims to provide school staff with the knowledge and skills to recognize warning signs, offer support and prevent suicide within the school environment.
Murray also emphasized how necessary these tools are for educators, because students can often put extra stress on themselves and be afraid to ask for help.
“When students are going through mental health challenges, school can feel like an extra burden and they may not feel comfortable asking for accommodations. So, if teachers were able to recognize those signs that would help students get through those challenging times, ” said Murray.
By focusing on mental health awareness and fostering a more supportive educational atmosphere, the training hopes to create safer spaces for students and provide educators with the skills they need to make a difference in the lives of struggling youth. The event marked a significant step towards addressing the mental health crisis affecting young people today.
AUDIO TRANSCRIPT: Central New York hosts first suicide prevention training for school faculty
Ryan Storie: Last night at the Oncenter, Central New York held its first ever suicide prevention training for school faculty from 32 districts. NCC News reporter Ella Armbruster has more on the story.
Ella Armbruster: The training aimed to equip educators with the tools needed to support students facing mental health challenges. Syracuse University psychology student Sophia Hoyos Murray emphasized the importance of this training at a time when mental health issues are increasingly prevalent.
Sophia Oyos Murray: Suicide is becoming more common and it’s happening younger and younger but right now specifically I know there’s a lot of people who might be worried that people aren’t accepting of them anymore and that can be a really big reason why someone would start having thoughts like that.
Armbruster: This initiative is important currently because suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people in the U.S,. and mental health challenges affect 1 in 5 students. The event provides school staff with training to create a safer and more supportive environment. It will cover key concepts and strategies for recognizing warning signs, offering support and preventing suicide within the educational environment. Ella Armbruster, NCC News.