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ZEBULON - Georgia became the 14th state to enact the Jason Flatt Act on May 5, 2015. Named after a 16 year-old Tennessee teen that ended his life in 1997, Georgia House Bill 198 takes effect on July 1 and requires each school district to adopt a policy on suicide prevention. With the passing of this bill all certificated public school personnel will now receive annual training in suicide awareness and prevention as part of existing in-service training programs and professional development.
For middle and high school age youth (ages 12-18), suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death nationwide. According to the Jason Flatt Foundation more teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, combined. Each day in our nation, there are an average of over 5,400 attempts by young people grades 7-12. Among all demographics suicide takes more lives each year than automobile accidents and has now surpassed the 40,000 mark nationwide.
In early 2014 Michael Powell, Executive Director of Pike Community Resource Network initiated a meeting with Pike County School Superintendent, Dr. Michael Duncan and Dr. Kenneth Koon, Executive Director of Armed Forces Mission (AFM) and the Master Resilience Institute which led to the first I WILL INTERVENE CHALLENGE for Pike County. Seventeen Pike County School District administrators, counselors and community leaders attended the first two-day workshop in May 2014. United Bank, Pike County Division, helped to underwrite the Challenge. Says Dr. Duncan, “It is not hyperbole when I say that this workshop was the most impactful professional learning I have encountered in my 20 year career. I left the training a different person, equipped with the skills to save a life.” On June 4th this summer, 28 individuals took part in the one-day workshop hosted by Harp’s Crossing Baptist Church-Hollonville campus.
Since its inception in 2012 AFM and the Master Resilience Institute has trained more than 24,000 individuals in personal resilience and suicide intervention. Says Dr. Koon, “We are especially grateful for the opportunity to be of service to Pike County Schools and for the community partners who make it possible for us to do what we do in training the teachers and various other individuals. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health there have been 17 suicides in Pike County in the past five years. While larger communities may have higher losses, the suicide rate for Pike County is actually 66% higher than the state average. Through the generosity of United Bank of Pike County we are developing a video training program which will be used for in-service training when the teachers return to school. Additionally, the I WILL INTERVENE CHALLENGE workshop will be offered again this fall in Pike County in partnership with the Pike Community Resource Network. Individuals from all walks of life are welcome to attend. CE credit is also available for mental health professionals. Working together we can build stronger community where all people are able to find hope as more individuals are trained in the skills of intervention.”
Suicide intervention training gives participants the skills to recognize the warning signs for those who may be at risk of harm. It is never intended to replace professional care, but is used as a means of first-aid much in the same way that individuals learn CPR or the Heimlich Maneuver until professional care is available. To learn more or register for an upcoming workshop visit www.NoMoreSuicide.com.