Chapter 10: Problem 5

Some schools are reluctant to offer suicide education programs, especially if they have never experienced a suicide attempt by one of their students. What might be their concerns? How valid is their position? pp. 321,337

Short Answer

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Schools may be concerned about inducing distress, promoting suicidal behavior, lack of adequately trained staff, or they may be in denial if they have never faced a suicide attempt. The validity of these concerns can be largely disputed based on evidence showing that well-delivered suicide education programs can increase awareness and help-seeking behaviors without negative impacts. Therefore, while schools' hesitations are understandable, implementing suicide prevention programs can be beneficial and life-saving.

Step by step solution

Understanding Concerns

First, identify potential reasons why schools might be hesitant to offer suicide education programs. These could include fear of inducing distress among students, a belief that such discussions might promote suicidal behavior, concerns about not having trained staff to properly conduct these programs, or simply denial about the relevance of the problem if they have never had a suicide attempt.

Analyzing the Validity

Next, evaluate the validity of these concerns. You should consider existing research and professional opinions on the matter, for example, by looking at studies and guidelines from reputable organizations in the field about the effectiveness of suicide prevention education and its potential side effects. There is evidence suggesting that appropriately delivered suicide education programs can raise awareness, improve students' abilities to recognize warning signs, and increase help-seeking behaviors, without inducing distress or promoting suicidal ideation. So some of these concerns may not be valid.

Formulating a balanced argument

Having analyzed both the concerns and their validity, you can then form the response. While it's important to respect the schools' concerns and their comfort levels in dealing with such a serious issue, there must be an emphasis on the responsibility and potential benefits of having such programs in place.

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Some schools are reluctant to offer suicide education programs, especially if they have never experienced a suicide attempt by one of their students. What might be their concerns? How valid is their position? pp. 321,337

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understanding Concerns

Analyzing the Validity

Formulating a balanced argument

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