Dead Serious: Breaking the Cycle of Teen Suicide

https://amzn.to/2uW3BIc 

Many of you have likely read recently that the current generation of adolescents is facing higher levels of anxiety and depression than ever before. I've read a number of articles highlighting that fact. Today's teens face challenges in life that anyone over 25 has not experienced and to generalize, the individual teens often do not have the coping skills needed to cope with those stressors. In addition to creating relationships with students so they have a trusted adult in their lives, there are some more impactful steps teachers can take.

Dead Serious: Breaking the Cycle of Teen Suicide, 2nd Edition is an updated book that gives both teens and adults some excellent advice on recognizing anxiety and depression, recognizing warning signals, bullying, surviving another's suicide, LGBTQ-specific concerns and issues, and making connections. The stories are powerful, the information is solid and accurate, and the book is incredibly valuable.

As a person who has experienced suicides of friends, students, and a family member, I found this book to be incredibly powerful. If only I had such a resource earlier in my life. . .

Below are a list of chapters Jane Leder covers in this important book.

Forward

1. When It's Someone You Know
2. Behind the Statistics
3. Anxiety and Depression
4. Exploding the Myths / Recognizing the Warning Signals
5. Suicide Survivors
6. Over the Edge: Interviews with Suicide Attempters
7. Bullying: A Power Play That Hurts
8. LGBTQ Teens: Overcoming the Stigma with Resiliency and Pride
9. Connections

I personally had a chance to read a pre-publication version of this book and was impressed. This is a valuable book that should be required reading for all middle and high school employees and made widely available for students. I personally bought five copies for my classroom and am encouraging anyone in education to read and purchase copies for your classroom or your library. Yes, I am biased, but human life is that important to me.

Yours in survival and prevention,

Chuck Schallhorn