Speaking Teen Mental Health at Fairfield City Schools …
I just arrived Fairfield High School for tonight parent and community presentation.
A teacher had been waiting for me. How long I didn’t know,
I walk in the doors. I’m tired. I tried not to show my exhaustion. I just finished – 5,000 teens, 250 teachers, 12 assembly presentations in three days. Oh, I also did a finale – Parents and Community presentation. Yeah, I’m tired and I’ve lost my voice, but I need to get to Iowa tomorrow for a big Suicide Prevention/Crisis Intervention Talk. No time to be tired or lose my voice when I’m saving lives and working with teens and schools.
“Hi, Mr. Yalden!”, she said. I reply with, “Hi!” As she extends her hand and she tells me how much she enjoyed yesterday’s Teacher in-Service on Teen Suicide and Mental Health. I said, “Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.”
She then goes on to tell me about her 6th grade daughter and as a result of hearing my talk yesterday, this happened:
A day prior her and a friend heard one of their friends talking about suicide. The girls were smart enough to ask if he knew how he’d want to take his life.
The boy said he had three different ways in which he could. He also mentioned his dad was a hunter and they had guns in the house. (Red Flags)
After hearing me speak yesterday, the girls immediately went to their counselor and shared what they knew because they heard me say, “It’s OK to speak up if you know or suspect a friend is showing signs or symptoms of suicide or self harm (RED FLAGS).
The appropriate action was taken. Counselors from two different schools immediately got involved as well as parents. Boy is where he needs to be.
These girls may have saved a life because they spoke up. Proud of these young ladies for the courage they showed and for them taking action right away.
6th grade my friends. Here in Fairfield, OH. Actually, this is every where in our country. This just happened to be where I was speaking this week.
Fairfield School District is one of the largest school districts in the state of Ohio. It’s a beautiful community with outstanding schools. It was a pleasure to spend three days in Fairfield. Students were fantastic. Respectful. Kind. Appreciative. The teachers and staff were very inviting. The boys and girls soccer teams were playing and I got to witness them winning a playoff game. Beautiful Ohio community, yet, they’ve experienced three suicides in three years. Hard to imagine that such a beautiful community with great schools would suffer so much, but statistically, they’re experiencing what our statistics are saying.
I was proud to be present for three days while this district wants to be proactive and meet their kids at every angle. We did a great job.
These girls did a great job. What we really need to focus on is teaching our kids that it’s OK to ask for help. Mental Health, math class, or on the athletic field, asking for help gives you answers. However, our youth today are always afraid of being stupid for asking questions or raising our hands and fear what others might say. Furthermore, I hear from a lot of youth as well, that they don’t know how to ask for help. As simple as it is to ask for help, our youth are struggling with reaching out to a trusted adult. This combined with our youth lacking coping skills and problem solving skills is what created my Theory on Teen Suicide.
Mental Illness will be the largest health care crisis of our time. We need to address these issues and meet teens where they’re hurting. In their heart. Teach them about coping skills and problem solving skills. Teach them that opening their heart to trusted adults is nothing to be ashamed about.
Education is where we need to bring Mental Health classes into every school and make it a part of our curriculum. This is a necessity to the Suicide Epidemic we are experiencing today with our youth.
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Who is Jeff Yalden?
Jeff Yalden is a three time Amazon best-selling Author, a Mental Health Advocate, and leading authority on Teen Mental Health and Teen Motivation. Jeff has traveled 50 states, every Canadian Province, and 48 countries speaking to Mental Health Organizations and Agencies. He’s traveled as a Youth Motivational Speaker, Mental Health Speaker, and Education School Climate Consultant working with teens, youth on college campuses, teachers and staff, educators, parents and community members. He’s widely sought after for Teen Suicide Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention. He’s been a Celebrity Teen and Family Life Coach for MTV’s longest reality television show MADE and has appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines across the country as well as news stations and radio interviews. His Podcast, “The Daily BOOM – One Word” is widely popular for his straight talk and how BOOM is a factor and an affect in your life.
For more information, please visit www.JeffYalden.com.
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