The Snoqualmie Valley Community Network coordinates two programs aimed at preventing youth suicide, How to Help a Friend and #BeKindSV.
How to Help a Friend
Older teens are engaged to become peer trainers for the How to Help a Friend suicide prevention training. We find that younger students pay closer attention to the message when it is being delivered from an older student than if it is being delivered by an adult. It is our goal to provide this training at least every two years to students in the valley with a shorter booster training in the middle years. In the 2018-19 school year, more than 1500 students in the valley received this training. The community also received training related to stress, depression, and suicide prevention to build awareness and intervention skills.
This program is currently being implemented in all Snoqualmie Valley Middle Schools.
#BeKindSV
Positive climate is key in establishing a foundation of regular, proactive support while preventing unwanted behaviors. #BeKindSV supports positive climate by introducing, modeling, and reinforcing #BeKindSV and inclusion.
In our schools, this program is a universal support for all students, school-wide.
Through the #BeKindSV campaign, students:
- Practice using kindness behaviors with one another.
- Practice recognizing when others have been kind.
- Celebrate kindness within the school.
Through the #BeKindSV campaign, adults (school staff and parents):
- Practice reinforcing kindness behaviors.
- Practice recognizing when kindness behaviors are being used.
- Celebrate kindness within the school and the home.
This program is currently in all elementary schools in Snoqualmie Valley School District, with future plans to enter the Riverview School District.
In our community, this program fosters the foundational efforts towards creating and supporting a positive climate.
Through the #BeKindSV campaign, our community (individuals, families, and organizations):
- Receive kindness reminders.
- Engage in community-wide activities and events that supports this campaign.
- Recognize and celebrate community kindness-in-action.
Click here to learn what’s going on in our kindness community!
Give A Night Save A Life
Our annual fundraiser for Suicide Prevention takes place each fall. Please watch the video from our Oct. 7, 2020 event for more information about youth suicide and the ways you can help with prevention.
