• Research has demonstrated that in over 80% of suicides, warning signs were given.
• Suicide crosses all socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Suicide is often preventable. Not every death is preventable, but many are.
• Suicidal behavior should not be dismissed as "attention-getting" or "manipulative"; it may be a serious cry for help. People who talk about suicide DO kill themselves.
• We must take every threat seriously.
• Most suicidal youth do not really want to die; they want to escape their pain and may see no other alternative course of action.
• Youth who are discriminated against or victimized because of physical differences, sexual orientation, or other reasons are at higher risk for attempting suicide. 
• Any trained individual can greatly increase the likelihood of a youth getting the help they need and may very well make the difference between life and death.

Schools are ideal settings to address the topic of suicide and attempt to prevent adolescent suicide because the school provides an environment capable of reaching the largest number of students and therefore represents the highest likelihood that a student potentially at risk for suicidal behavior will be exposed to a prevention strategy. A plan that implements a systematic approach has the potential to increase both emotional and academic performance stability.

MVSD’s comprehensive approach to suicide prevention includes establishing policies and procedures, training staff, providing information and in-school support for students, disseminating information to parents and the community, employing screening tools, responding appropriately to suicide attempts and deaths, and capturing data to drive interventions.