Assemblies include free S.T.O.P. bracelets with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number on it to every student and S.T.O.P. T-shirt giveaways to participants in the assembly as well as a special speaker who is fun and interactive and can connect with the youth and relay the message of ‘hope’ and ‘you are not alone.’

We work directly with the teachers on campus and provide a course training in Youth Mental Health First Aid with a 3-year certification to create an environment of educators that are better prepared to serve the mental health needs of the students, recognize symptoms of suicidal ideations, and properly intervene at their campus. Includes Emotional Backpack (EMP) training modules.

EMOTIONAL BACKPACK TRAINING

Children carry a backpack almost everywhere they go, and if you look inside it, you may find school supplies, snacks, clothing, a phone, or other items that help them to feel secure or prepared to handle situations. While those things are important to include in a child’s physical backpack, it is equally important to fill a child’s Emotional Backpack with information, ideas, words, thoughts and other self-care tools that will help them to build and support a solid foundation for their emotional wellness and mental health.

The Emotional Backpack Project will teach youth, parents, and educators about mental health and local resources so that all of our children can grow up to lead happy, healthy lives.

Additional training modules, lesson plans, and activities are available to schools to help infuse mental health in the campus culture. The training modules also fulfill the requirements of SB 460*.

Watch a video about Emotional Backpack

* Senate Bill (SB) 460, passed by the 83rd Texas Legislature in 2013, requires school districts to provide teachers, administrators and staff with training in mental health intervention and suicide prevention to help them identify red flags in a child’s behavior and respond effectively. House Bill (HB) 2186, passed by the 84th Texas Legislature in 2015, requires suicide prevention training for all new school district and open-enrollment charter school educators annually and for existing school district and open-enrollment charter school educators on a schedule adopted by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) by rule.

Training for support classes that focus on reaching high at-risk students, campus by campus, in an safe environment, including open discussion with a special speaker who is a pro athlete or performer. S.T.O.P. provided speakers are gifted at breaking through mental barriers to help students understand that it is okay to ask for help and who to go to.

S.T.O.P. will work with your school district to customize a fun, energy packed community wide event or meeting and use that platform to educate parents on the risks and symptoms of suicide and where to get help.