It’s that time in Michigan. I’ve heard it lovingly referred to as fake spring. You know, the spring that comes before the third winter, only after which we finally arrive in actual Spring. The glorious time of year when the days get a bit longer and the weather a bit milder. Students (and many educators) can see the finish line and dial it in for that one last push toward the sweet, sweet relief of summer vacation.

Springtime Pressures in Education

Spring time also brings many added pressures for educators and students.

It’s State Testing season, where students and educators alike learn about their competency with the Michigan Academic Standards. Many of these students will wrap up State Testing, only to turn around and participate in District Testing a few weeks later. These tests will once again assess each student’s academic competency and, as an added bonus, assign them a number that compares their performance to their peers’ and other students in their grade around the U.S.

Educators will also use this information to glean insight into their competence as a teacher, as reflected in their end-of-year evaluation. This will play out as an extreme test of educator cognitive dissonance, where teachers try their best to shield students from unhealthy test pressure, while simultaneously encouraging them to perform their very best because the data does matter.

Our seniors are rapidly marching toward a day they’ve fantasized about for years. Graduation is just around the corner! Except for seniors who don’t have enough credits to graduate. They’ll be left behind. And even those who are graduating are coming to terms with the very real stressors that life has to offer, may be recognizing for the first time that High School did provide some positive aspects and routine to their lives. For many students, continuous questioning by well-meaning folks that sounds like “where are you going to college?” or “what are your plans for next year?” is a regular reminder that there is an implied right answer to the “after high school” discussion, and the pressure to achieve doesn’t end at the schoolhouse doors.

For others, the path seems very clear. They’re graduating with honors, headed to college with endless opportunities before them. Nonetheless, they’re still leaving behind friends, family, their community and the comforts of home. Some of them will arrive on a college campus only to find more freedom than they can safely handle and that, for the first time in their school career, they aren’t the highest-achieving kid in the class. In fact, some of them will feel completely mediocre in the big sea of university life and, at least initially, it will be crushing.

It’s true; spring does bring celebration, excitement and great optimism for many of us. It’s also true that our minds can be deceiving and this thinking can be dangerous. What happens to those of us who just know that things will be better in the spring? The flowers, the warm weather, new and exciting changes… Those things will surely shake the feelings of loneliness, inadequacy, and despair. But what happens if Spring doesn’t bring all of the promise and healing that we hope for? What happens if we arrive at the next destination only to find that it is not at all what we had imagined?

Suicide Prevention and Risk Management Curriculum

All this to say, spring can be deceiving. While September is Suicide Awareness Month, we must be vigilant of risk factors for suicide at all times throughout the year. TRAILS’ Suicide Prevention & Risk Management Curriculum offers FACTS or warning signs that indicate someone may be at risk of suicide, especially if they have attempted suicide before.

Strategies to Respond to Warning Signs

If you notice any of these warning signs, please know that you CAN help! Here are some strategies to get you started.

Express your concern about what you are observing in their behavior in a calm and non-judgmental way. This could sound like, “I’ve noticed that you appear more tired than usual and seem to have a more difficult time completing your work since your breakup with your partner. How are you doing?”

Ask directly about suicide. It is false that asking directly about suicide will put the idea of suicide in someone’s head. In fact, asking directly about suicide reduces stigma and has been shown to lower the person’s anxiety level and serve as a deterrent to suicide. Your openness and concern in asking about suicide will allow the person to talk about their challenges and may help them feel less lonely or isolated.

Encourage them to call 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. We all learned as young children to call 911 in case of an emergency. We now have an emergency line dedicated specifically to mental health emergencies, 988. 988 is a national network of crisis hotlines and can be used by people experiencing mental health crises or suicidal thoughts, and for supporters of those experiencing mental health crises. If you’d like to learn more, this resource provides an overview of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Involve an adult they trust. The role of the family cannot be overstated and can include anyone identified by the person you’re supporting. Notifying parents, caregivers, or family is a vital part of suicide prevention when supporting children and adolescents. As always, communicate your concern for the person you’re supporting to the family in a calm and reassuring manner.

Please remember, if at any point you are concerned about the immediate safety of the person you’re supporting, call 911 for immediate medical help.

Supporting Suicide Prevention Efforts

Spring is coming, friends. For some of us, the change in the weather alone helps fill our buckets and lift our spirits. But for those experiencing mental health challenges or significant distress based on their circumstances, not only may the new season withhold the respite they seek, but it could actually exacerbate symptoms.

We all play a vital role in suicide prevention, regardless of the weather outside. This spring, let’s resolve to engage, learn more, and be the help our community needs to dispel myths, notice risk factors and warning signs, and connect people with resources and support to raise suicide awareness and prevent death by suicide.

To learn more about how you can support suicide prevention, visit the suicide prevention resource center or consider TRAILS Suicide Prevention & Risk Management Training or Youth Mental Health First Aid for your school.

Upcoming Professional Learning at Kent ISD

Youth Mental Health First Aid on June 12th

#MentalWellnessMatters #WeLeadLearning #KentISDpd

This blog post was written by Chelsea Kittridge, Social Emotional Learning Coach for Kent ISD and edited by Amanda Walma, Professional Learning Coordinator for Kent ISD.