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How to Talk to Teens About Suicide & Mental Health: 4 Actions Educators Can Take
Suicide touches us all—and those in schools can be the first to notice. Dr. Dave Schramm outlines four vital steps: ask directly about suicide, recognize warning signs like sudden emotional shifts, share accessible resources for support, and remember that even one caring conversation can save a life. Educators truly can make a difference.
Mirroring Children’s Emotions: How Emotional Reflection Builds Connection and Calm
When your child is overwhelmed by emotions, logic won’t help. In this post, Dr. Dave Schramm explains how ‘holding up an emotional mirror’—reflecting back what your child is feeling—validates their experience and soothes their nervous system. Backed by expert insights from Gottman and others, he shows how empathy and emotional labeling become the foundation for connection, calm, and emotional intelligence.
Suicide Warning Signs & Risk Factors: What Educators and Parents Must Know
About 80% of students show clear warning signs before a suicide attempt, and nearly 90% have identifiable risk factors like depression or substance challenges. In this critical post, Dr. Dave Schramm emphasizes how educators and parents can spot persistent behavioral changes—such as withdrawal, mood shifts, or academic decline—and take safe, trust-building steps to listen, connect, and act. Because noticing and asking, 'Are you OK?' can save a life.
Suicide Prevention Stats & Facts: Key Numbers You Need to Know
Suicide remains a significant public health crisis—but knowledge can be a powerful tool. In this post, Dr. Dave reveals critical suicide prevention statistics: over 49,000 Americans died by suicide in 2023 (one every 11 minutes), 1.5 million attempted it, and rates have risen nearly 37% since 2000. These facts underscore the urgency—and hope—in prevention efforts.
Suicide Prevention: Choose to Be One Who Lived — A Story of Hope and Resilience
On October 30, 2010, Josh Smith made a suicide attempt by jumping off a bridge—but survived. Today, he’s a psychologist, father, and mental health advocate who openly manages ongoing struggles. Dr. Dave Schramm shares Josh’s extraordinary journey as a message of resilience and hope—encouraging us all to “choose to be one who lived” and reminding everyone that help and healing are possible.
Parents, Let’s Talk About Suicide: How to Open the Conversation & Support Your Child
Nearly 90% of young people who die by suicide have treatable mental illnesses. In this crucial post, Dr. Dave Schramm urges parents to ask directly and compassionately: “Have you been having thoughts about wanting to die or killing yourself?” Backed by powerful data, he shares practical, empathetic steps to foster openness, detect distress early, and act—because listening can be life-saving.