Suicide Prevention Considered for Virginia Health Curriculum

The Virginia Board of Education met Thursday in Richmond to discuss a revised Health Education curriculum that could include teaching suicide prevention to all Virginia 8th graders.

When the Virginia Department of Education asked for comments on how to update the 2008 health curriculum earlier this year during a 30-day online public comment period, 137 of 156 online comments suggested teaching suicide awareness and prevention.

The revised curriculum would teach students a number of essential health concepts, including how to identify the signs and symptoms of depression and suicide, risk factors for suicide, and other self-destructive behaviors as well as warning signs for suicide and self-harming behavior.

Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among youth between the ages of 10 and 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.