Canal Winchester
Local Schools
Suicide Awareness and Prevention
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
If you or someone you know is contemplating self-harm or suicide, call, text, or chat with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. Simply dial or text #988 from any phone.
In-School Programming
Our district uses SOS Signs of Suicide to teach suicide prevention to students. SOS is an evidence-based youth suicide prevention program that teaches middle and high school students how to identify warning signs of suicide and depression. Trusted by thousands of schools across the country, SOS can be delivered in a single class period and encourages students to ACT (Acknowledge, Care, Tell) if they are worried about themselves or a friend. To preview the videos and curriculum, check out MindWise Innovations SOS Parent Guide.
Hope Squad
Hope Squad is a peer to peer suicide prevention and awareness program.
Canal Winchester High School currently has a Hope Squad Team and Advisors. In Ohio, suicide is the leading cause of death among students aged 10-17. Hope Squad is a research-based, highly effective way to raise awareness, reduce stigma and empower our students to assist their peers in getting to the help they need when in crisis. Hope Squad Team members do not take on the role of counselor or therapist, but rather serve as a point person for students in crisis to get to the adult help that they need.
Students are already talking about mental health with each other. Hope Squad saves lives.
At Home
We encourage you to talk to your child about their suicide prevention education. Through SOS, students are learning to ACT: Acknowledge signs of suicide, show their friend they Care, and Tell a trusted adult. It can be tough to bring up the topic of depression and suicide, but these conversations are essential. Ask your child about what they are learning in school and encourage them to come to you with any concerns for themselves or their friends. You can help protect your child and their friends by starting a conversation about mental health today and keeping it going throughout the years.
Staff
Mental Health Specialists
Our district employs specialists that work with special education students presenting mental health needs that significantly impact their academic success. We have a Mental Health Specialist housed in each one of our school buildings. Mental Health Specialist staff members are trained mental health professionals who collaborate with schools, families and communities to reduce barriers to student learning and enhance positive mental wellness. Services focus on enhancing the student’s ability to acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary for becoming a healthy, productive individual.
Our Mental Health Specialist team by building are:
Canal Winchester High School - Danny Morales
Canal Winchester Middle School - Samantha Melnik
Winchester Trail Elementary School - Megan Hernandez
Indian Trail Elementary School - Jaclyn Tissue
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Our district partners with Nationwide Children’s Hospital to house Behavioral Health School-Based Clinicians in our buildings. The licensed mental health professionals from NCH can provide comprehensive, preventive and therapeutic behavioral and mental health services on a year-round basis. They help our students to overcome life’s problems, feel better, manage relationships and improve how they do in school.
Our Nationwide Children’s school-based team by building are:
Canal Winchester High School - Sarah Dorsett
Canal Winchester Middle School - Aden Moges
Winchester Trail Elementary School - Abigail Ruane
Indian Trail Elementary School - Sara Stacy
Mental Health Interns
Our district Mental Health Supervisor, Mr. Morales (also the CWHS Mental Health Specialist), supervises mental health interns from clinical mental health counseling graduate programs who work in our schools. These interns work throughout the district buildings supporting students for 1 full academic year and then graduate from their program/move forward in their licensure as clinical mental health professionals. The current university partnerships for our mental health internship students are: The Ohio State University, Capital University, and The University of Dayton.
Our schools also employ a district-wide School Social Worker, Kim Vojacek, and a district-wide Behavior Analyst, Autumn Makridis, who work to support our student and community mental and behavioral health.