Las Vegas: Students with suicidal thoughts rose 32% in one year

Jan 1, 2018, (Las Vegas) Luxora Leader: Warning signs on suicide in Clark County schools spark concerns https://luxoraleader.com/warning-signs-on-suicide-in-clark-county-schools-spark-concerns/339395/ Beyond guns, knives and fights, there’s another aspect of student safety that’s raising concerns in the Clark County School District. The number of documented cases of students demonstrating suicidal thoughts rose 32 percent in a year, from 1,585 in 2015-16 to 2,096 in 2016-17, according to district data. Numbers from the county coroner’s office tell a similar story. Since 2014, the number of children and teens committing suicide has increased steadily, from eight to 10 to 15. So far in 2017, that number stands at 11. Just as worrisome: School psychologists are seeing suicidal “ideations,” or thoughts, among younger students, said Katie Dockweiler, president of the Nevada Association of School Psychologists. “I can say that collectively we hear reports from members that ideations are happening at a much younger age, into the elementary schools, and with much more frequency,” she said. … Schools follow a protocol when a student expresses thoughts of suicide. Members of an intervention team that may include counselors, psychologists, nurses and social workers first assess risk. … There could be multiple reasons behind the reporting increase. The district may have improved its documentation of such cases, or, as Weires suggests, students and families may be more willing to seek help.