NYC public school nurses to receive suicide prevention training
Launched during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, the Jed Foundation will train 1,500 nurses to identify, screen, and refer students at risk of suicide.
New York City public school nurse Gloria Henderson supervises Nicole Davila's pump medication in the nurse's office at Public School 48. (Photo by Jon Naso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
The Jed Foundation, a national nonprofit that aims to prevent suicide and help teens navigate mental health challenges, is partnering with the New York City Office of School Health to develop and provide a suicide prevention training course for public school nurses.
A pilot course was originally launched in June of 2024 after testing with 30 public school nurses. Now, it will train approximately 1,500 nurses serving 1.1 million students by the end of October 2024.
“Our youth spend a majority of their time in school, and school nurses are often the first faces students turn to in their times of physical or emotional need,” said Tony Walker, Senior Vice President of Academic Programs at JED. “Whether it’s supporting a student through a stomach ache, or screening for a mental health concern, our nurses must be prepared and equipped with the tools to support comprehensive student health. We hope this program reduces barriers to help-seeking for students and promotes a culture of openness and trust at school – and serves as a model for the nation.”
About 9% of students have reported a suicide attempt in the last year. According to a 2023 Teen Mental Health Survey from the New York City Department of Health, 48% of teens experience symptoms of depression that can range anywhere from mild to severe. Additionally, 24% of teens have said they needed or wanted mental health care in the past 12 months but did not receive it.
Nurses are typically the first point of contact for those seeking out help. The 90-minute, eight-module course uses scenario-based learning and an Ask Suicide-Screening Questions tool, which allows nurses to identify, screen, and refer students who are at risk of suicide. Nurses will also learn different signs of distress and common mental health challenges when its time to mobilize a crisis team and tips for burnout.
“Our school nurses show up to promote the health of students and families every day,” said Dr. Ashwin Vasan, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner.
“As a city, we are recognizing that mental health is health, and we need to give nurses as many tools as possible so that they can holistically work with the children in our schools. This training will help them develop their abilities to recognize distress and step in, as a trusted adult, if they see a student who is hurting.”