About the Program

What is it?

SOS for Students offers evidence-based suicide prevention for middle and high school classrooms. The programs use the ACT (Acknowledge, Care, Tell) framework to teach students to how to recognize signs of depression and suicide risk, and how to seek help if they are concerned about themselves or a friend.

Trusted by thousands of schools across the country and listed on the Suicide Prevention Resource Center's Best Practices Registry, multiple randomized controlled trials have shown that SOS for Students effectively increased students’ knowledge about suicide and depression, strengthened adaptive attitudes, and reduced suicide attempts.

Who is it for?

Designed for all students in grades 6-12, SOS for Students takes one class period and can be taught in many settings, from Health/PE classes to camps and youth groups.

Highlights:

  • Reduced suicide attempts by 64%
  • Delivered in a single class period with no training required
  • Refresher lessons for each grade
  • Includes teaching materials and implementation guidance
  • Affordable at $500 per school (annual license)

Resources:

What's Included?

Each curriculum includes facilitation guidance with prompts for classroom discussion, age-appropriate videos featuring real stories and modeled scenarios, and a brief depression screen that encourages students to reflect on how they are feeling. The core lessons can be taught in a single class period, with refresher lessons available for each grade. 

Implementation Guidance

The SOS Resource Library offers comprehensive guidance on how to get started with the program. Topics include tips for program preparation, classroom training, following up with students, engaging parents, and more.

Videos and Discussion Prompts

Age-appropriate videos show students how to identify signs of depression and suicide. They encourage help-seeking behavior through the ACT® technique: Acknowledge signs of suicide in a friend, show your friend that you Care, Tell a trusted adult.

Videos contain dramatizations of students demonstrating common signs of depression and suicide along with the right and wrong ways to respond using the ACT technique. The middle school videos combine dramatizations with roundtable discussion, while the high school videos include real-life stories from young adults who have sought help and who share their journeys of recovery.

Depression Screening Activity

The screening activity encourages students to reflect on their own well-being and consider whether they may benefit from seeking support. This anonymous, self-scored activity reinforces learning by moving from recognizing warning signs in others to considering signs in themselves.

After reviewing the questions, students read help-seeking guidance tailored to their results. 

 

 

Exit Slip
Exit slips provide students with a confidential opportunity to request support for themselves or a friend. School staff review these slips and follow up with any student requesting support.
Refresher Lessons

Refresher lessons contain recap videos, new video content, and facilitation guidance for classes of students who received the main lesson previous years.

Reinforcement Materials

Giveaway materials such as posters, wallet cards, and more reinforce the ACT message throughout the year.

Parent & Caregiver Materials

Keep parents and caregivers informed and involve them in your suicide prevention efforts. Materials include a presentation for parent night, a customizable parent letter, suicide prevention handouts, and a parent page where parents and caregivers can explore SOS for Students from home.

All parent materials are available in English and Spanish.