ARIZONA NEWS

Phoenix-area teacher has hopes for suicide prevention training law

May 10, 2019, 10:29 AM | Updated: 11:05 am

(AP File Photo)...

(AP File Photo)

(AP File Photo)

PHOENIX – Training teachers and faculty in Arizona schools to recognize suicidal warning signs in students is extra work that is welcome, said a Tempe teacher and public education advocate.

Gov. Doug Ducey signed SB 1468 this week, requiring faculties who work with students in grades 6-12, to complete suicide prevention training starting in 2020-2021 school year.

“I am very supportive of this bill,” Tempe grade school teacher Beth Lewis of nonpartisan, grassroots Save Our Schools told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Chad Benson Show on Thursday.

“I do think it’s going to have a very positive effect on our kids for the long haul.”

Lewis, who helped direct the state’s Red for Ed movement last year that eventually led to raises for teachers, said that while teachers wear many hats already, “We truly will do anything it takes to make sure that our kids are happy and healthy.”

Teen suicides are rising in Arizona and around the country. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention listed suicide as the leading cause of death among Arizona’s 10-to-14-year-olds in 2017.

“It’s a problem,” Lewis said and the training is smart because it will identify warning signs.

“Us parents, us teachers, we think we know, but then sometimes we find out too late, we had no idea” of a child’s internal struggles.

A report said Arizona had the worst student-to-counselor ratio in the country at 905 to 1.

Lewis said her school shared a counselor with another elementary school.

“She has about 1,000 kids on her plate. It is unsustainable. It’s not OK for kids.

“We’re doing everything we can, but we have kids in foster care, we have kids who have had severe family violence, kids who simply don’t even eat enough or get what they need at home and they need to be counseled every single morning,” Lewis said.

The governor’s budget included $12 million for his Safe Arizona Schools Plan.

“It’s a start,” Lewis said.

“But we need more from our government, we need more from our Legislature. Unfortunately, even seeing these budget conversations is not enough at all,” she said.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Stock image of police tape and file photo of a Glendale, Arizona, police department cruiser....

KTAR.com

2 hospitalized with gunshot wounds after domestic dispute, police standoff

One victim and one suspect have been hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after a domestic dispute and a police standoff in Glendale.

3 hours ago

Follow @KTAR923...

KTAR.com

Tempe Festival of the Arts returning this weekend to Mill Avenue

A decades-long tradition is returning to Tempe this weekend to bring together the community, art and food.

5 hours ago

Casa Grande police...

KTAR.com

2 teenagers arrested for murder at Casa Grande house party

The Casa Grande police department arrested two teenage boys in connection with the death of 17-year-old Hailey Stephens.

6 hours ago

Follow @KTAR923...

KTAR.com

Police, family seek answers after 22-year-old Tempe woman found dead in burning car

The family of a 22-year-old Tempe woman who was found dead in a burning car is still seeking answers seven months after her murder.

9 hours ago

A 1-year-old girl is in critical condition after being pulled from a backyard pool on Tuesday after...

KTAR.com

1-year-old girl in critical condition after being pulled from pool in Phoenix

A 1-year-old girl is in critical condition after being pulled from a backyard pool on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

10 hours ago

Valley Metro saw a nearly 40% increase in light rail ridership the three days the D-backs hosted Wo...

KTAR.com

Valley Metro saw boom in light rail ridership with D-backs in World Series

Valley Metro saw a nearly 40% increase in light rail ridership the three days the D-backs hosted World Series games.

10 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Dierdre Woodruff

Interest rates may have peaked. Should you buy a CD, high-yield savings account, or a fixed annuity?

Interest rates are the highest they’ve been in decades, and it looks like the Fed has paused hikes. This may be the best time to lock in rates for long-term, low-risk financial products like fixed annuities.

...

Midwestern University

Midwestern University: innovating Arizona health care education

Midwestern University’s Glendale Campus near Loop 101 and 59th Avenue is an established leader in health care education and one of Arizona’s largest and most valuable health care resources.

...

DAY & NIGHT AIR CONDITIONING, HEATING AND PLUMBING

Importance of AC maintenance after Arizona’s excruciating heat wave

An air conditioning unit in Phoenix is vital to living a comfortable life inside, away from triple-digit heat.

Phoenix-area teacher has hopes for suicide prevention training law