In early 2018, teen suicide rates in Johnson County have nearly doubled since last year.

    Due to this statistic, the United School District 232 has come up with a campaign to help prevent teen suicide in Johnson County called the Zero Reasons Why campaign.

    It all started with a meeting at Mill Valley High School on Sept. 13.

    “There were several relatively publicized teen suicides in Shawnee Mission and Blue Valley. We [Johnson County superintendents] were talking about supporting each other in the response part,” said USD 232 Superintendent Frank Harwood. “Then the conversation moved to ‘You know, we all have these processes that are pretty well practiced in what we do after something happens, so what can we do on the prevention side?’”

    The school districts, partnered with the Johnson County Mental Health Convening and came up with the public service campaign known as Zero Reasons Why.

    “We don’t want somebody that’s contemplating suicide to think that their reasons aren’t valid, because everybody’s reasons are valid,” Harwood said. “It’s really more from a social point of view that there are Zero Reasons Why somebody’s going through that alone or that we can’t do something about it.”

    A parent meeting hosted by USD 232 social workers, superintendent and assistant superintendent was arranged to insight awareness and prevention in parents of students. A presentation was given, as well as a training video that is shown to all staff members each year to teach people of the signs and steps to go through when a student is at risk.

    “The biggest thing we’re working on right now is to help parents have a greater capacity for having those conversations with their kids … We don’t expect teachers or parents to be therapists or to solve the problems,” Harwood said.

    For parents of students, like Jennifer and Jeff Jones, those conversations are not always the easiest, but they are crucial.

    “When you get in that moment where a student might indicate something … I do want to have the right tools. They know I love them, but I need more than just love at that point. I need some effective strategies and tools,” Jones said.

    For parents and administration alike, they know this is only the beginning of the prevention of suicide in Johnson County.

    “I think the district could do more things like this. I think it’s an ongoing education process, especially as quick as your guys’ world is changing. But I’m really thrilled that USD 232 is on the forefront of this,” Jones said.

    While the school holds some responsibility in instilling a message of self-worth within students, many parents believe it should start at home.

    “That is just a huge issue across the board: that students don’t feel they have value. If we can’t make sure that’s happening in the home, the next thing is in churches and schools to have campaigns,” DHS parent Jennifer Jones said.

    USD 232 social worker Debbie Gudenkauf stated in her speech that kids have a lot of pressure on them coming from many different sources. Oftentimes this stress can be transformed into something else if a conversation is not started. USD 232 wants critical conversations about suicide to no longer be taboo in our society as well as community.

    “I want them [the students] to hear that the people of DHS care about them, both the staff members and their classmates. No matter what is going on in their life, there is somebody that is there that can help them,” Harwood said.

    Although not many parents attended this meeting, the district will continue to implement this plan of action until people recognize the severity of the rise of suicide today. USD 232 wants to start the change right here in Johnson County and needs the help from each and every individual in Johnson County.

    If you would like to learn more or get involved with the Zero Reasons Why campaign, visit zeroreasonswhy.org.