BISMARCK – Parents Lead has released a new Suicide Prevention and Response Toolkit for Schools, developed in collaboration with North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) suicide prevention and school behavioral health experts, HHS announced.

Recent surveys show that 10.8% of North Dakota middle school students and 7.4% of high school students attempted suicide within the past year, according to the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Suicide remains the second-leading cause of death among North Dakota youth ages 10 to 19, HHS reports.

“Schools are on the front lines of supporting youth mental health,” said Sara Kapp, HHS behavioral health program administrator, in a news release. “The guidance and care educators provide create safe spaces where students feel seen, heard and valued. This toolkit provides school staff with the tools to build supportive environments where every student feels connected. Prevention starts with connection.”

The Parents Lead Suicide Prevention and Response Toolkit includes resources such as posters and handouts, crisis response tool such as a model school police and safety plan templates, awareness materials to share with families and training opportunities for staff to help recognize risk factors and start supportive conversations with students.

Parents Lead is an evidence-based prevention program that provides parents and caregivers with a wide variety of tools and resources to support them in creating a safe environment for their children that promotes behavioral health.