Holding the Lifeline
A Guide to Suicide Prevention

Module 6: Prevention and Early Intervention for Suicide and Substance Abuse Problems - Page 19 of 28

Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program

Physicians, school counselors, religious leaders, and others may be one of the last points of outside contact for an individual with a suicide plan.

Another suicide prevention program that has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing suicidal behavior is the Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program, a SAMHSA Promising Program. This is a program targeted at high school students and it has been successfully run in Columbus, GA and Hartford, CN. In both locations, use of this program in area high schools resulted in significantly lower rates of suicide attempts and greater knowledge and more open-mindedness and understanding of depression and suicide.

SOS is the first school-based suicide prevention program to show marked reductions in self-reported suicide attempts. ref

The SOS Program brings two important suicide prevention strategies into one program: (1) combining a curriculum that raises awareness of suicide and related issues, with (2) a brief screening for depression and other risk factors. ref

One unique aspect of SOS is that it seeks to develop an understanding that suicide is part of mental illness, and is a key diagnostic criterion for major depression. This is in contrast to many other suicide prevention programs which try to de-stigmatize and normalize suicide, by separating it from mental illness. The SOS Program is clear in its belief that suicide is not a normal reaction to stress or problems. ref

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