Pros And Cons Of Suicide Screening

Are you aware that thousands of teenagers commit suicide every year in the United States? According to At Issue (SIRS Database) most young people do not understand that death is final and they are looking for a way to end their problems. Other factors may include violence on TV, lack of mental healthcare and abuse. The pro view is screening for suicidal ideation can get help to those young people. The con view believes screening violates family privacy and will label students. This paper will examine the pro, con, and my view point on should schools screen children and teenagers for signs of mental illness and suicidal tendencies. First, the pro viewpoint is mental health screening can help professionals and parents identify children at risk for depression and suicidal urges. Screenings have proven an effective method in helping children. Firstly, thousands of children are helped in screenings. For Example, Kelli Kennedy journalist for the Miami Herald shares, the program helps 7,000 children per year at all grade levels through prevention and early intervention treatments. (Kennedy) Thus, suicide screenings have proven to be effective. Secondly, screenings conducted at Kindergarten and first grade level are helpful. For instance, Kelli Kennedy reports, primary project screens kindergarten and first graders. Helped
As a reminder the pro position is mental health screening can help professionals and parents identify children at risk for depression and suicidal urges. The con position is mental health screening in schools violates family privacy and unfairly labels children as depressed or suicidal. My viewpoint position is students should be screened for mental illness and suicidal tendencies. Suicide accounts for 24 percent of all deaths of 15-to24-year-olds in Canada – one of the highest youth suicide