This summer, hundreds of thousands of children will be staying up late, spending hours in the sun, relishing in the freedoms of summer camp. It is a precious time when children get to breathe in some fresh air and spend hours, and days, away from their phones and computers.
Parents pack their children’s suitcases with everything they might need, and directors work hard to organize the perfect schedules. Kitchens are stocked, staff is hired, beds set up, activities planned. The stage is being set for yet another wonderful summer. Counselors, ready to give this summer their all, will take CPR and first aid trainings to learn how to care for children who are away from home. They will learn all about camp policies, and what campers are allowed and are not allowed to do during this time.
And yet, there is one more thing to do before summer begins:
Suicide prevention training.
Rather than approaching (or avoiding) the topic with fear, by being trained, our counselors can feel empowered and knowledgeable – and hopefully never use the skills they learn.
The same way we ensure our counselors are CPR certified, being trained in understanding how and what to do when a camper is struggling with their mental health is integral. Today, it is part of the basic safety measures every camp should be taking as they welcome children to a joyful summer away from home.
Our counselors will be faced with vulnerability from campers they may not know how to navigate. In terms of facts, 1 in 4 individuals as young as 10 years old is at risk for suicide, and it’s the 2nd leading cause of death in teens. Our children admire and build trusting relationships with their counselors and other camp staff – and ensuring that the individuals in those positions are prepared for those harder conversations is a gift to them, and our children.
The Long Short Road is a non-profit organization that has trained hundreds of individuals in suicide prevention, and can tailor trainings to your camps needs. If you want to schedule a suicide prevention workshop for your staff over the next few weeks, please reach out to [email protected].
Wishing all a healthy summer, physically, mentally and spiritually.
Thank you
Years ago the mental health books were hidden in the back of the store if there were any now thank goodness there out in the open may we help everyone by being open non judgmental and caring
I personally know Leigh. This is a must for every camp (and school). Please take advantage of this opportunity. Let’s have a safe safe summer.
This is a course people might want to look into.
Very important thank you! I was a staff in a Jewish overnight camp once and I was given a kid who clearly had some kind of mental health issue and tried committing suicide twice(!) throughout the one month he was in camp. The camp didn’t us anything about this kid… Would have really appreciated this kind of training last year!
Glad this is being done. It’s so important. People tend to neglect emotional health and it’s a big crisis with teens now.