Before beginning to write this article, I looked up when Suicide Prevention Month was so that I could get accurate information and be prepared to gather quotes, data, or anything else that might help my case.

What I found and what completely derailed my train of thought, was that Suicide Prevention Month is during the month of September. The National Suicide Prevention Week began on September ninth and ended on September fifteenth. So, before hearing anything about Suicide Prevention Month or plans to spread awareness, the majority of the month is gone and the main week of awareness has passed us by.

I would have thought that a school who takes so much care and time to provide us resources for the well being of our mental health would make a bigger deal about such a serious issue.

The fact that I heard very little from Roseville High School about this “Prevention” month kind of shocks and disturbs me. I remember through the early years of high school, when teachers would herd one or two classes worth of students into the gymnasium and have Peer Helping assemblies to spread awareness. These were very helpful and the speakers would cover a multitude of issues in one sitting. However, as a freshman these assemblies happened three or maybe four times a year.  As a sophomore, about the same, maybe less. As a junior, once or twice. Now, being in my Senior year, we had a quick blurb on the first day of school about being good to each other and they sent us off with, basically, a reminder of the golden rule.

I know Peer Helping cannot do everything and I am in no way trying to blame them. The gradual removal of the assemblies is sad and I miss them, but it’s understandable and we should be maturing enough to reach out and ask for help when we need it. I know, though, that not everyone is strong enough to do so and may be afraid. Some individuals may be struggling and going through a really hard time and they should have plenty of opportunity to get help and support from the school.

So, Suicide Prevention Month should be a time in which Roseville High advocates support and spreads awareness around campus so that students can even check in with each other. And the fact that I have not heard one word from Admin or the newly installed wellness center seems a bit hypocritical if I’m honest.

I paid a visit to the Wellness center. I know that they are fairly new and need time to adjust. That being said, The sign left on the locked door said to me that I must have an appointment and if I did not, to go to the office and schedule one; they would take me out of class later. Now, at this time I just wanted to see what the Wellness center was like and ask about their plans for Suicide Prevention Month – but what if I was going to have a breakdown? What if the stress was getting to me and I just needed somewhere to go and cry, relax a little and calm down, so that I could get back to class?

I can’t schedule a rough time.

This all being said, I do appreciate what we are given at Roseville High. The teachers themselves are usually very supportive and make time to talk about our mental health. In fact, the few things I’ve heard about Suicide Prevention Month awareness was a quick blurb from a teacher during class something along the lines of, “Yeah sometime next week you’re gonna have a presentation in your second period about it, it’s a serious issue,”, and a tweet or two from the official RJUHSD twitter account providing resources for those who may be in need of help (and a nod to the LGBTQ+ community and their needs as well, which was a nice thing to see.) and they’re right.

It is a serious issue. So why is that all we’re doing?

I have faith that Roseville High will be there for us when we need it, whether it be teachers or admin counselors, the nurse or the wellness center. I would just like to hear some sort of plans as to what we’re doing, or have a longer amount of time dedicated to this important cause.