Wolf Point School Staff Listens To Suicide Prevention Message

The Sunshine Committee at Northside Elementary School organized a 988 or suicide prevention program last week. All staff members were invited to the after- school training on Tuesday, May 20.

Patricia Payne, chair of the Sunshine Committee, said the group aims to improve morale at the schools and promote a positive work environment.

One of the projects of the Sunshine Committee has been dividing staff members into 11 teams and have them walk around the perimeter of Northside School eight times. Payne said the distance equals to about three miles. Individuals were also urged to drink 80 or more ounces of water daily.

In recognition of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, the Sunshine Committee encouraged staff members to attend the QPR training on Tuesday. Prizes, food from Wolf Point Mercantile and continuing education credits were offered. About 30 staff members registered for the event.

Training coordinators Joetta AllRunner FourStar and Laykin Cantrell of Fort Peck’s suicide prevention program provided the information at the training.

They noted that QPR stands for Question, Persuade and Refer. “It’s OK to ask the question,” AllRunner FourStar said of information relating to suicides.

According to information from Native Connections, people should be alert to warning signs of suicide. Those signs include the following: • Looking for ways to kill oneself: Seeking access to pills, weapons or other means.

• Talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself, especially with a plan for how to do so.

• Engaging in self-harm or non-suicidal self-injury.

• Saying goodbye to friends and family. Giving away possessions.

• Posting distressing messages on social media.

• Showing dramatic mood shifts and talking about being a burden to others, expressing hopelessness.

• Feeling trapped, like there is no way out.

• Acting reckless; increased use of alcohol or other drugs.

• Sleeping too little or too much.

• Withdrawing from friends, family and society.

• Additional warning signs specific to youth include: they have a peer or friend who has died by suicide, they have suffered a recent humiliation or embarrassment, their qualify of schoolwork is decreasing.