Boulder Elementary School is committing to the health and well-being of students and their families. One of the ways is by providing information and training on how to talk about, and prevent, suicide. For the past 30 years, Montana has ranked in the top five for suicide rates in the nation – in all age groups. In the National Vital Statistics Report for 2020, Montana has the third highest rate of suicide in the nation (300 suicides for a crude rate of 25.9 per 100,000 people).
What is being done? In 2015, the Montana Legislature passed the Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training Act. House Bill 381 requires school boards to provide suicide prevention and awareness training to staff and implement policies around this issue. In 2017, the legislature clarified and added information directing each school district to develop policies and procedures related directly to suicide prevention. Boulder Elementary is working with the Jefferson County Health Department and the county school nurse to provide this education to staff, parents and students.
Using a program called Signs of Suicide, or SOS, the suicide prevention team at BES is hosting staff training and a parent information night before offering a training for junior high students on accessing resources and recognizing the signs of suicide.
