Florida School Toolkit for K-12 Educators to Prevent Suicide

Social media use among youth is extensive and has a significant impact on their lives. Many parents have shared that social media is consuming the lives of their children, especially adolescents who are on social media almost constantly. Because social media is where our youth are spending many hours daily, we must be attuned to their interactions. The need for adult involvement is clear. Young people who use social media are more likely to communicate their emotional distress online than to an adult. School personnel are encouraged to keep up with social media platforms and know the best practices to not only educate youth, but to model responsible use of social media. We recommend that someone on the Suicide Prevention Task Force be responsible for keeping up with social media best practices to be prepared to educate students and staff on appropriate media use and the latest most-used platforms. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a statement in 2019 which explains that social media becomes a tool or a risk for teens’ health based on how they use it, which is in turn shaped by the guidance they get from caring adults. The risks and potential effects of social media are very important for school mental health professionals to be aware of, and school IT professionals can be helpful in keeping SMHPs up- to-date on social media. While estimates suggest that 18 people are profoundly affected in the aftermath of a suicide of someone they knew, the estimated number of people who are in some way affected has expanded to 135 people. Social media has increased the number of people exposed to a suicide, as it is the primary method in which teens are exposed to suicidal content. It is important to know the implications that go with the increased use of social media by teens. Lieberman, Poland, and Niznik have written articles on this topic, published in the National Association of School Psychologists Communiqué, and all readers are encouraged to review them. Part 1 can be found through the following citation: Niznik, M., Poland, S., & Lieberman, R (2019). “Adolescent Suicide Prevention in the Context of Social Media,” “Part 1: Overview” Communiqué , 48 (3), 1, 28–30. Part 2 can be found through the following citation: Niznik, M., Poland, S., & Lieberman, R. (2019). “Adolescent Suicide Prevention in the Context of Social Media,” “Part 2: Suggestions.” Communiqué , 48 (4), 1, 17–20. Social media is always changing, and it is important for school personnel and parents to do their best to keep up with the latest trends, applications, and social networking platforms. Benefits of Social Media • R esponsible reporting about suicide helps to educate the public, encourages those at risk of suicide to take alternative actions, and inspires a more open and hopeful dialogue about prevention (WHO, 2017). • V ulnerable youth find each other through social media, which allows teens to connect (Joiner, 2010). This means teens may have the benefit of sharing experiences and emotions, as well as receiving and providing support to each other and understanding the necessity of obtaining adult help if they or a friend are suicidal. • S ocial media provides a place to reduce the stigma about seeking mental-health services. • S ocial media can play a very important role in prevention, as many platforms provide suicide-prevention resources and screen for suicidal terms posted by content users. Tool 12 Social Media Notes Florida S.T.E.P.S.