Suicide Prevention: An Analysis and Replication of a Curriculum-Based High School Program‪.‬

There appears to have been a clear and persistent decline in the number (and rate) of suicides among 15- to 19-year-olds in the United States from 1988 through 2003 (the last year for which data are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], n.d.). Two possible explanations for this decline are (1) greater awareness of behaviors associated with suicide and (2) greater help-seeking activities by and for those who are at risk of suicide. The most prevalent strategy for increasing awareness and help-seeking behavior has been curriculum-based presentations given to students in schools. However, a 2003 report prepared by the University of California, Los Angeles, Center for Mental Health in Schools stated: "For instance, many studies have found that while general education programs may increase students' general knowledge about suicide and warning signs, they do little to change students' attitudes about suicide and help-seeking behaviors" (p. 30). CURRICULUM-BASED PRESENTATIONS