Upstream Suicide Prevention in Connecticut Elementary Schools
September 17, 2019
News Type:
From the Field,
Prevention in Practice
Publisher:
Education Development Center, Inc.
Speaker:
Heather Spada, MA, LPC, Suicide Prevention System Manager, United Way of Connecticut
Speaker:
Connecticut
In this five-minute story, Heather Spada from United Way of Connecticut describes her state’s effort to create and implement an upstream suicide prevention curriculum in elementary schools. Featuring Gizmo the therapy dog, Gizmo’s Pawesome Guide to Mental Health is helping elementary school staff effectively teach children about mental health, life skills development, and social connectedness.
This effort was funded by a Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded to the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
Additional Resources
- Visit Gizmo 4 Mental Health to learn more about the curriculum, including its main components, and to read testimonials from adults and youth on Gizmo’s impact.
- Visit the National Resilience Resource Center to read the research behind life skills development and to find strategies that can help school systems promote resilience in youth.
- Find suicide prevention partners and SAMHSA grantees in your state.
- Learn how enhancing life skills and promoting social connectedness are critical parts of a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention.