May 19, 2020
Suicide: A Topic Worth Talking About
The following essay was written by SPTS Youth Council Member and high school student, Fatima, who wishes teenagers would feel more comfortable talking about suicide to help spread awareness and identifies the stigma surrounding mental health as a barrier to getting people help. We want to thank Fatima for using her voice and speaking up about suicide prevention through this essay. As a member of the SPTS Youth Council, Fatima meets monthly with other high…
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Apr 06, 2020
Staying Focused And Grounded During Quarantine
Staying Focused and Grounded During Quarantine: An Open Letter From a School Counselor Hello, everyone! I am Jenna Cavadas, the Student Assistant Counselor at Ocean Township High School. I have students who participate in SPTS Youth Council as members and I wanted to share some helpful tools and resources as we all experience new and trying times due to the Coronavirus. As many of us dive into virtual learning for the first time, it is…
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Mar 18, 2020
March Madness or Sadness: Dealing with disappointment due to Coronavirus cancellations
How can we help our children deal with disappointments due to Coronavirus Cancellations? By Susan Tellone, RN, BSN, CSN, MSN During this Coronavirus outbreak, a majority of what l I keep hearing on social media are the disappointments of children and their parents as events are canceled due to social distancing to try and keep the spread of this virus limited. We are certainly in a new day and with it comes so much adjustment…
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Mar 16, 2020
Keep Calm and Carry On: Taking care of our fears in the midst of Coronavirus
The Corona virus has created such a sense of uncertainty, it is a natural response to feel increased anxiety and fear during these difficult times. However, it is not helpful to think in terms of worst case scenarios as it contributes to worry and a sense of dread. We must stay focused on self-care and safety. Now is a time to practice mindfulness, positive affirmations and self-talk. We need to come together for the common…
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Sep 03, 2019
Back to School: Helping Your Child With School Transitions
Helping Your Child With School Transitions September is upon us again and as always, it is a time of transition for all! For some kids going back to school alone can be an anxious and scary time, but what if your child is a kindergartener transitioning to school for the first time? Or an eighth grader going on to high school? Or a high school graduate on their way to college? Whether they are transitioning…
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Aug 09, 2019
Fostering Resilience In Our Children in Scary Times
Fostering Resilience in Challening and Scary Times Parenting has never been an easy job, and there is no manual on how to be the best possible parent, especially in our current challenging times. As we hear about the recent mass shootings and other traumatic events in our country, how do we help our children deal with what’s happening and support their emotional resiliency? We must not assume that our children are as upset or traumatized…
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Aug 06, 2019
Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide Partners with School of Rock
The School of Rock has partnered with Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide to give support to an incredibly important cause. Teen suicide rates have risen at an alarming rate, making young people's mental health support more vital than ever. The School of Rock knows that music can change lives, and so can mental health awareness. School of Rock is committed to spreading SPTS's message of reducing the number of youth suicides. SPTS is…
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Apr 17, 2019
Resilience Tips for Parents
You hear a lot these days about ‘helicopter’ or ‘snowplow’ parenting as a way to define parents who remove all the obstacles in their kids’ path to protect them from failure, disappointment – whatever. What you hear less about are ways in which parents can support their children from the sidelines and give them the space they need to fail at something. This will help them figure out, on their own, how to do things…
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Oct 31, 2018
Coach Awareness Series: Suicide Prevention is a Team Sport
When you’re a coach, you’re not just someone who provides your athletes with help and direction about their play. You often become a surrogate parent, a big brother or sister, a confidant- an important person in your players’ lives. The one thing all these roles have in common is that they demonstrate that the kids you coach trust you. So, whether or not you know it, your influence in their lives goes way beyond the…
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Sep 10, 2018
Why School Assemblies Surrounding Suicide and Other Traumatic Loss are Not Recommended
In the aftermath of the traumatic death of a young person, the question of assemblies and large scale presentations is posed frequently as loved ones and community members want to provide youth suicide prevention education to adolescents. It is important for us to remember the essence of prevention is keeping youth safe. According to the Lifelines Postvention curriculum, second edition, published in 2018 by Hazelden Publishing and written by Maureen Underwood, LCSW, large gatherings and/or…
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