SANDPOINT — Middle school students will find new sources of strength in the upcoming school year thanks to their principal, Casey McLaughlin, and the Lake Pend Oreille School District. McLaughlin announced in a June 29 LPOSD newsletter that suicide prevention will continue to be part of his agenda.

According to McLaughlin, Sandpoint Middle School was able to piggyback on the funding Sandpoint High School received to host Sources of Strength training in the fall.

"I have been in contact with the group who awarded the grant to SHS, and they have received more money and would like to include us for next year. We are currently working to schedule a date for the training in October or November. In addition, we are working with the SHS and Clark Fork to bring in a speaker on Sept. 27," he said.

Sources of Strength is a national program that has been in practice since 1998. Through a collaborative approach that included the North Dakota Adolescent Suicide Prevention Task Force, Mental Health America of North Dakota, and the North Dakota Department of Health, the fledgling program significantly reduced the risk of suicide among adolescents throughout the state, according to survey data. 

"The project showed very encouraging reductions of teen fatalities and reductions in 3 of 4 suicide markers in North Dakota’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey," organization officials said.

The prevention program is based on adult-supported peer leadership, which has proven to be effective in preventing suicide among school populations in several states.

"In 2009, Sources of Strength was listed on the National Best Practices Registry by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In 2011, Sources of Strength was listed on SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, the gold standard of prevention programs in the United States," according to SOS.

Last spring, McLaughlin helped bring representatives from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to the district for training sessions and an informational parent night. In the upcoming year, he plans to introduce additional strategies to strengthen the support system for SMS students.

A small group arrangement in homerooms will facilitate daily student check-ins, peer support and teacher advocacy.

"We are starting a leadership class that will focus upon teaching students resiliency skills, and then those students will go to the homerooms to help teach others," McLaughlin said.

"Adam Tajan is looking into a new health curriculum that is focused upon bringing character education and coping skills into every unit."

Tom Albertson, principal of Sandpoint High School, also shared plans for upcoming suicide prevention. Erin Roos will teach a year-long course called SHS Mentors based on the Sources of Strength program, he said. The creation of a Connections group, comprised of students from all four grade levels, are also on his to-do list.

"Connections will meet once per month and will be led in an activity derived from Sources of Strength by their mentor and staff member. In addition, the mentor groups will be hosting prevention campaigns before school, at lunchtime, and after school throughout the year," he said, adding that he expects Sahar Paz, who spoke at SHS last winter, to take part in an Oct. 4 suicide prevention walk planned by Jennifer Wyman and Underground Kindness.

LPOSD Superintendent Shawn Woodward noted that small group meetings will take place prior to Sept. 30. Their focus will be on community awareness, available resources and minimizing the stigma associated with mental health issues.