Frequently Asked Questions About The Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program®

Frequently Asked Questions About The Yellow Ribbon® Suicide Prevention Program Table of Contents Why should we have the Yellow Ribbon program? We don't have a problem and we don't want to create one. We don't want to glorify suicide by talking about it What's our liability if we talk about suicide in the school? Who should be trained in the Yellow Ribbon program? Is there a charge for the training? How can we get funding for the training if the school budget isn't sufficient? What do we do if the school's administration won't consider the Yellow Ribbon program Can we do our own training using local school/community trainers? What, specifically, does the adult Yellow Ribbon training include? What, specifically, does the youth Yellow Ribbon training include? How successful is the program? Do you have references What materials are available from Yellow Ribbon? Why should we have the Yellow Ribbon program? We don't have a problem and we don't want to create one. Talking about suicide DOES NOT cause suicide. Not talking about it isolates the student and makes him/her feel that there is something wrong with only him/her. This makes the student unwilling and unable to ask for help. BACK TO TOP We don't want to glorify suicide by talking about it. Prevention does not equate glorification. Just as the DARE® program talks about drugs and their causes, effects, and the consequences of using them in order to prevent drug use, the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program® helps prevent suicide by creating awareness of the scope of the problem of teen suicide, and teaching the signs of suicide ideation and how to ask for help. BACK TO TOP What's our liability if we talk about suicide in the school? None. Refusing to teach students how to ask for help when they need it and not teaching adults how to respond to a request for help may lead to liability issues in the future. BACK TO TOP Who should be trained in the Yellow Ribbon program? Everyone in the school. This includes the teachers, counselors, social workers, nurses, custodians, secretaries, cafeteria personnel, school resource officers, administrators, and students. All adults and students can easily be trained to help someone who is potentially suicidal. BACK TO TOP Is there a fee for the training? Yes. Call, fax, or e-mail our office to discuss training needs and costs. The Yellow Ribbon program can be customized to meet the needs of any setting. BACK TO TOP How can we get funding for the training if the school budget isn't sufficient? Many schools have used Safe and Drug-Free school monies for the Yellow Ribbon program trainings as well as community-based grants from local service groups such as the PTA and Rotary Club. BACK TO TOP What do we do if the school's administration won't consider the Yellow Ribbon program? Many communities utilize their churches as their sites for the Yellow Ribbon training. Parent groups, school counselors and social workers can encourage the school to reconsider the request for the Yellow Ribbon program. Local police often know about and support the Yellow Ribbon program. The school's resource officer may be a source for convincing school administrators that the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program® is needed in the school and the community. BACK TO TOP Can we do our own training using local/community trainers? Yes. A program manual, including instructor notes, is available for purchase. Regional trainer-of-trainer seminars can also be organized. BACK TO TOP What, specifically, does the adult Yellow Ribbon training include? An assessment of the participants' background knowledge Statistics about the scope of the problem of teen suicide Suicide myths and facts Reasons people commit suicide How suicidal people feel How teen suicide affects all of us Teenage stress factors Clues to recognize suicidal behavior Tools for helping a suicidal person BACK TO TOP What, specifically, does the youth Yellow Ribbon training include? The story of how and why the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention® program was started Abbreviated statistics about the scope of the problem of teen suicide Abbreviated suicide myths and facts The Yellow Ribbon Card as a tool to ask for help and to give help to others. BACK TO TOP How successful is the program? Do you have references? Since the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program® started in 1994, it has spread to schools and communities in all 50 United States and in 47 other countries. The international office has letters and e-mails documenting that the Yellow Ribbon program has saved more than 2,500 lives. You can receive names, addresses, and phone numbers of references in your area, or just about any area in the world. BACK TO TOP What materials are available from Yellow Ribbon? Suicide prevention training curriculum for youth and adults Postvention guides and protocols Yellow Ribbon cards, brochures, enameled pins, videos, and "It's OK to Ask4Help!" stickers BACK TO TOP

The Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program® is based on the premise that suicide is not about death, but rather about ending pain and that it's OK to ask for help. Yellow Ribbon cards are distributed and carried as a simple, effective tool to use to ask for help when feelings of suicide arise. The cards have proven to be lifelines because they are a reminder to young people that they have permission to ask for help. It helps them talk when they may not have the words and it tells the recipient of the card how to help the suicidal person.
The Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program® (An Outreach of Light for Life Foundation of Southern California) All rights reserved. (Revised: July 25, 2006)
All contents copyright © 1998 - 2006 by The Light for Life Foundation of Southern California. All rights reserved.
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Frequently Asked Questions AboutThe Yellow Ribbon® Suicide Prevention Program

Frequently Asked Questions About
The Yellow Ribbon® Suicide Prevention Program